Expertise
History
I studied Aeronautical Engineering at university and, although I never practiced as a licensed engineer, I have been immensely grateful for the insights and some universal knowledge that I have retained over the decades. My first (paid) job was as a systems engineer for IBM, which involved computer architecture, systems design, programming, systems installation, and of course, client liaison. I got involved in communications systems and after emigrating to Canada took a job as a planner with Alberta Government Telephones (now Telus). My project management career began for real after joining the DMR consultancy (now Fujitsu Consulting), a role that involved significant responsibilities and took me on international assignments. I progressed to a senior delivery management role with DMR, and later with Intergraph Canada (now Hexagon). Although increasingly in vogue, my work in delivery management was pioneering in nature. In 1997, I founded TMI and worked actively in the following disciplines for the next twenty years:
Delivery and Risk Management
Project and Contract Management
Project Management Office
Quality Assurance and Control
Project Planning, Assessment, Problem Solving and Reviews
Documentation Design and Authoring
Business Process Systemization
Education, Training, and Coaching
Seminar Facilitation and Public Speaking
Recognized for a commonsense approach to project management, an in-depth knowledge of PMBOK®, and familiarity with other PM standards such as PRINCE2, Macroscope, SSDM, and Agile, I could also respond to difficult situations with innovative and pragmatic solutions. I continue to research topics of interest, and write periodically on the business management of commercial projects, risk management, and quality methods.
I have been affiliated with Queen’s University Belfast (Alumni Association), Royal Aeronautical Society (AMRAeS ret’d), Canadian Information Processing Society (ISP ret’d), the Project Management Institute (PMP ret’d), PMISAC, and Mount Royal University (Faculty Ret’d).
Current Interests
My current interests are engaged on aspects of project management I believe are neglected – commercial practice, methodology for collaborative development and procurement of services, PM leadership to achieve project quality, and a more pragmatic systems approach to risk management.