E-News
from Human Systems

Dr Lynn Crawford and Bruce Rodrigues of Human Systems are actively involved in this ground-breaking international initiative that promises to change the face of the profession.

In May 2000, representatives of industry, professional associations, educational institutions and national training/qualifications organisations met in London, confirming the importance of global standards and agreeing to proceed with the development of a framework for global performance based standards for project management. Since then, working sessions have been held at the University of Technology in Sydney (Oct. 2003), University of Cape Town (May 2004), ESC Lille (Nov. 2004), ANTA/IBSA Melbourne (Feb. 2005), International Banking Institute/PSM Consulting, St Petersburg (May 2005) and at Middlesex University, London (September 2005).

The aim is to facilitate global recognition and transferability of qualifications to benefit individuals, global corporations and all those operating in today's global business environment.

Support has grown through determination and strategic positioning so that the initiative now has the support of government standards and qualifications bodies (including DEST (ANTA) / IBSA, SAQA, NZQA), key project management professional associations including PMI and APM, industry (including Motorola and American Express) and academic institutions including the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Athabasca University, ESC Lille and Middlesex University.

Subscribing organisations have provided funds that enabled significant background research to be conducted. This research and the subsequent feedback provided during the public review process was incorporated into the standards and has contributed greatly to the way they have taken shape. In August and September in 2005 a draft version of global standards for two levels of project manager were released for public review and comment. These comments have been reviewed and incorporated into the standards which are soon to be officially launched.

Due to strong support from national standards and qualifications bodies, the global standards emerging from this initiative are expected to form the basis for mutually recognised national standards.

The next Working Session (8) of the Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (GAPPS) will be in Singapore and hosted by the Singapore Society of Project Managers from January 19-21 2006. They will be continuing development of global standards for Programme Managers which are due for release in late 2006.

Organisations wishing to subscribe to the initiative are able to contribute to the initiative and send representatives to participate in the Working Sessions. Find out more from www.globalpmstandards.org