REPORT
By Reinhard Wagner
Programme Manager for the International Research Programme: “Capabilities for delivering projects in the context of societal development” (CaProSoc)
Alma Mater Europaea ECM
Maribor, Slovenia
The year 2020 was certainly a very extraordinary year for all of us. A year of challenges but also of opportunities. Many events, trips and assignments were cancelled, postponed or carried out on a purely virtual basis this year. Working on a virtual basis is certainly an opportunity, especially for international networks like CaProSoc, but we miss the interpersonal exchange a lot. In addition to the preparatory meeting for CaProSoc in March at the Vienna University of Economics, we also had a virtual kick-off meeting in June and meetings of individual CaProSoc partners in various constellations for projects, discussions and the exchange that we so much need.
What we´ve achieved this year despite the pandemic and the challenges associated with it:
- Two publications in the PM World Journal, edited by our member David Pells (USA) about the CaProSoc Research Programme (https://pmworldjournal.com/article/research-programme-capabilities-for-delivering-projects; https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pmwj92-Apr2020-Wagner-corona-pandemic-and-importance-of-societal-projects.pdf)
- An interview with our member Jonathan Norman (UK), facilitating the Major Projects Association´s Knowledge Hub, was released just a few days before the outbreak of Covid 19 in Europe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tfVSzmLUeo&feature=youtu.be)
- Preparatory meeting in Vienna and virtual kick-off meeting with the participants (see results and documentation on Slack)
- A Call for Action on “Cognitive Readiness in Disruptive Times” was published by our member Ivano Di Filippo (Italy) who received interest from universities in Italy, the European Commission and some PMI Chapters and wants to get started in 2021 with a research programme. Learn more at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/201230-Cognitive-Readiness-call-for-action.pdf
- A Call for Action of Professor Jiwat Ram (Australia) led to a joint research endeavor on the “Capabilities of project personnel coping with a crisis such as Covid-19 pandemic”. Publication of results is expected in 2021
- Based on a proposal of our member Dr. Eckhard Heidling (Germany) an approval for a 3-year research grant of the German Government was received during fall supporting a research programme on business development, innovation and project management, which will be jointly undertaken by CaProSoc members in Germany and Serbia
- Call for Action of our member Professor Vladimir Obradovic (President of IPMA Serbia) regarding a new research project “Sustainable business change: Project management toward circular economy” (was shared with you in an eMail on August 22nd)
- Our member Professor Arvi Kuura (Estonia) published an article regarding “25 years of Projectification Research” in the PM World Journal (https://pmworldjournal.com/article/25-years-of-projectification-research)
- My article “Projectification and its impact on societal development in Germany” was published through the proceedings of the Annual Conference of Alma Mater Europaea “All about people 2020”, which was conducted as an online event this year
Our member IPMA has performed several activities that contribute to the purpose of CaProSoc:
- Initiation of a new Journal “Project Leadership and Society” (https://www.journals.elsevier.com/project-leadership-and-society/). It´s worth mentioning that the journal will waive the APC (Article Publishing Charge) until 31st March 2021. This will be applicable for any submissions received before this date, which are accepted for publication after peer review. I am preparing an article and hope that others will follow…
More…
To read entire report, click here
How to cite this article: Wagner, R. (2021). CaProSoc 2020 Update, PM World Journal, Vol. X, Issue I. January. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/pmwj101-jan2021-Wagner-CaProSoc-2020-update-report.pdf
About the Author
Reinhard Wagner
Germany
Reinhard Wagner has been active for more than 35 years in the field of project-related leadership, in such diverse sectors as Automotive, Engineering, and Consultancy, as well as various not-for-profit organizations. As Managing Director of Tiba Managementberatung GmbH, a leading PM Consultancy in Munich/Germany, he supports executives of industrial clients in transforming their companies towards a project-oriented, adaptive and sustainably successful organization. Reinhard Wagner has published 36 books as well as several hundred articles and blogposts in the field of project, program and project portfolio management. In more than 20 years of voluntary engagement he served the German Project Management Association (GPM) as well as the International Project Management Association (IPMA) in a range of leadership roles (including President and Chairman) and was granted for his international commitment with the Honorary Fellowship of several IPMA Member Associations. Reinhard is Senior Lecturer at the Alma Mater Europaea and is currently finishing his doctoral thesis on the topic of Project Society. He can be contacted via reinhard.wagner@almamater.si
