Call for papers: Applied Project Management Systems

A special issue of International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies

Rich Karlgaard, Forbes editor, during the The Forbes Leadership Networks Forum that took place at Palo Alto, California, 2 October, 2008, noted: "...The practice of project management will be the activity that makes or breaks many global companies in this economic environment..."

So, as organizations continue to face tough challenges in this globalized and turbulent economic environment, the need for excellent applied project management systems becomes even more pronounced. Limited resources (5M - Money, Men, Materials, Machines and Methods) will always drive organizations to be more innovative, more productive and more agile.

Without adequate project management systems in place, the risks to estimate, cost, schedule, and complete projects can become insurmountable. All projects must be professionally managed by using efficient project management systems that must be in place.

Questions raised include:

• How can I assess and improve the project management maturity of individual team members?
• Are technical skills more important than soft (human) skills in project teams?
• How to measure and how to improve the project management maturity of an organization?
• What cost estimation and schedule estimation techniques are appropriate to use throughout the project life cycle?
• How can I avoid scope creep?
• Can I do simulation to my schedule plan?
• How can PERT help us increase estimations and reduce risks?
• How can I use quality as a competitive advantage tool?
• What is the appropriate method for change management?
• How can configuration management be handled in any project?
• What is an effective Project Management Information System (PMIS)?
• What is an appropriate team collaboration system?
• How risk is associated with different procurement contracts?
  

Papers to be included in this special issue should be focused on one or more of the following subjects (the list is indicative rather than exhaustive):

• Stakeholder management systems
• Scope creep avoidance systems
• Time estimation techniques for better estimation
• Cost estimation methods for fixed, variable, direct and indirect costs
• Earned value management (EVM)
• Quality management systems
• Dynamic critical path scheduling
• Critical chain techniques
• Human resources
• Soft skills quantification
• Communication systems for stakeholder effective communication
• Qualitative and quantitative risk management
• Project Management Information Systems (PMIS)
• Effective procurement systems
• Linking PMIS systems with ERP systems
• Configuration management systems
• Team collaboration tools

Important Dates
Deadline for (extended) abstract submission: 25 March 2010
Response by guest editor: 25 April 2010
Deadline for full paper submission: 31 July 2010