International Correspondent Reports - September 2006
- Argentina Today: The Time for Project Management
by Ana Maria Rodriguez - Project Management in Austraiia Today
by Robert Posener
Argentina Today: The Time for Project Management
by Ana Maria Rodriguez
Argentina has always been a country that stands out within Latin America: Its legends about Tango, Evita, Wine, the Pampa and the gauchos are just a part of the magical charm Argentina brings to everybody’s mind when they are mentioned. Writers such as Borges and Sabato are just the “tip of the iceberg” of a country full of cultural expressions. Argentina is a country where elementary school is mandatory and public college education is free and great, unlimited access for everyone interested on obtaining a college degree. Argentina’s geographical regions are full of charm; you may travel from the tropical Iguazu Falls to the chilly Patagonia Iceberg “Perito Moreno”, or to the mountains at Bariloche, visit the large land plain extensions at the Pampa, or the long beach on the Atlantic Ocean.
Yes, Argentina is full of human and natural resources. But, in spite of all these marvelous facts, Argentina faced critical moments at the end of 2001, when President De La Rua resigned, forced by popular manifestations against economical measures. Five presidents ran Argentina in a period of two weeks; Argentina announced intentions not to pay its debts to international lenders. It was chaotic. But, after 4 years, Argentina has dramatically improved its situation, is now growing economically, and is developing projects and demanding good project managers.
After almost 2 decades of economic policies that did not support the development of national industry, Argentina is now experiencing a period of rebirth and growth for industries, mainly production of goods for export, construction industry, and tourism. Some of these industries are growing as a result of better global scenarios, but also because of the devaluated prices for production in Argentina. During the 90’s, the convertibility law implemented in the government of former President Menem, in which one dollar was always equivalent to one Argentinean peso, made it cheaper to import goods than to produce them in the country, considering local wages were paid in dollars. Hence, many industries reduced their production levels.
Read the full text of Argentina Today: The Time For Project Management
About the Author:
Ana Maria Rodriguez
International Correspondent Argentina
Based in Rosario
Ms. Rodriguez also manages CDS Project a division of NETCDS, a leading IT, project and business services company in Argentina, and is an adjunct professor of project management at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario, the largest university in Argentina outside of Buenos Aires. Colombian by birth, Ms. Rodriguez graduated with a Civil Engineering Degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota and from the University of Texas at Austin, USA with a Graduate Degree in Construction and Project Management. She is actively engaged in practicing, teaching and promoting project management best practices in Argentina.
Ms. Rodriguez can be contacted at
arodriguez@netcds.com.ar
More information can be found about NETCDS at
www.netcds.com.ar
Project Management in Australia Today
by Rob Posener
Australia has had a booming economy for the past 10 years, particularly when compared with other developed economies. Some would say that this has been because of good luck rather than good management. Whatever the reason, a stable political system, low inflation, massive mineral wealth and a well educated, multi-cultural population have made Australia a very fertile ground for projects. While there was a short pause in IT projects just after Y2K, this has now picked up and there are now many very large construction, public-private-partnership (PPP) and IT projects underway.
The cost of oil, a lack of rain, a drop off in housing construction, new industrial relations laws that make it easier to lay off workers, and the drop off in wheat sales may have a negative affect on the economy over the next few years. By how much, only time will tell.
Project management is represented in Australian by two bodies: the Project Management Institute (PMI®) with its main membership base made up of IT professionals and the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) with its main membership base of engineering and construction professionals. Both bodies have roughly the same membership numbers. Both bodies base their belief system on PMI’s Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). These bodies will probably never merge, even for the greater good of project management. This is a pity, because there is no single body that can represent project management to governments in Australia.
Read the full text of Project Management in Australia Today
About the Author:
Robert Posener
International Correspondent Australia
Based in Sydney
Mr. Posener is also founder and Managing Director of PMComplete Pty Ltd, a project management professional services company in Australia. A Project Manager for over 30 years, Robert has managed information technology and business projects and programmes for computer hardware, software and consulting companies in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Hong Kong and USA. He is an active member of PMI’s Sydney Chapter and College of Scheduling, and is a Fellow of the International Council for Project Management Advancement (ICPMA).
Mr. Posener can be contacted at
robert.posener@pmcomplete.com.au.
More information about PMComplete Pty Ltd
can be found at www.pmcomplete.com.
Express your views on any
PM World Today Featured Paper!
Visit the PMFORUM Discussion
Center
Editorial Policy: The PMFORUM® has no connection to any national or international project management organization nor does it reflect the policy of any project management professional or commercial organization. The PMFORUM® maintains an objective and impartial view of project management affairs. In the interests of advancing professional project management the PMFORUM® will publish contending and objective views on issues that reflect collegial differences and perspectives