Fissure
Dear Fissure Friends,

Spring is coming!  Well that's an obvious point to start with. Not that I can't be a little more creative, but I wanted to be positive and as a good Minnesotan (yes, I have lived here long enough), I turn to the weather when I can't find anything else to talk about. Of course there are lots of things going on in the world today to talk about, but how much of it is positive? Most people are probably thinking "not much", as most of us have experienced a substantial negative hit from the economic downturn. We have all been impacted; it is just a question of how hard each of us has been hit so far.
 
If you didn't already know it, I'm an optimist, so I want to say that the economy will turn around soon and everything will start getting back to normal and be even better than before. And that is what I hope for. But I can't just be an optimist and bury my head in the ground and hope things will improve, especially as a business owner and family provider. I also have to be a realist and recognize that I can't continue to run my business as before and I can't continue to run the family finances as before either. So like most of you I'm watching the financial parts much more closely as we are putting off and cutting expenses while trying to be more productive with less.
 
Wow, that sounds a lot like project management! There are situations and projects when the PM can take more risk, sometimes failing and sometimes succeeding, and there are situations and projects when it's appropriate to take only very calculated risks. Good PMs know how to plan and manage in risk adverse environments and most companies are currently taking on little risk while tightening their belts. As a result it is even more important in today's economic situation to have good PMs on board and good PM processes to follow.
 
As part of our cost cutting efforts, we have also cut the price of our training to help us and our clients in these tough times. A lot of our clients cut back on training 6 months or more ago and now there is a pent up demand for training to help their PMs develop skills that will enable them to manage their projects better, especially in this risk adverse environment. If you're in that situation where you need PM, BA, Leadership or Change training and budget dollars are tight, contact us (952-882-0800) and we'll work with you to provide training that is customized to your needs, your budget and your timeframe. But best of all, it will be effective, engaging and provide a ROI that will help your organization prepare itself to not only survive this downturn, but be ready for rapid growth when it does turn around.
 
Merrill Ronning, of Ronning Leadership Seminars, provides an article on Communication - Formal and Informal.  He looks at the very important 3 "L's of good communication. Merrill has worked with Fissure the last three years in bringing a comprehensive, multi-level leadership development program to a major division within the state of South Dakota.
 
Only Geof Lory can find a way to combine the Sunday family dinner and team calendar sync-meetings. You'll appreciate how his family stays coordinated while each member works on their own deliverables (not pizza!).

Our upcoming public workshops can be found on our website (http://www.fissure.com/workshop_registration.cfm) - our computer simulation powered workshops are an effective and fun way to learn AND EARN PDUs.  Make sure you also check out what's happening at Fissure (Fissure News).
 
Thanks for reading and I wish you all the best as we manage through these tough times,
Jesse Freese
Fissure, President
Business Analysis - Coming of Age
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Article by Hans Jonasson, CBAP, PMP
 
Thirty-eight years ago The Project Management Institute (PMI) was founded. Since then, the project management profession has changed, become recognized globally and its practitioners are sought after. The ones that have earned the PMP designation, over 250,000 so far, have improved their personal growth, as well as their professional status.
 
So what was it that PMI did? They defined and standardized the processes and techniques used to develop or implement a product or service. Improved the schedule, cost, and quality performance of the development effort. Which is great. However, if the product that was developed wasn't the right product, then all we did was develop the wrong product faster, cheaper, and with fewer bugs. While I am not suggesting a lack of value in that, I do suggest that developing the right product would bring a pretty high value to the process. And that's what the business analyst's job is.
 
In 2003, the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) was formed. Their goal is to improve and standardize business analysis practices. They are accomplishing this by identifying the key knowledge areas of business analysis and defining the best practices for those areas. This effort will greatly help the business analysts in their day-to-day efforts.
 
While the knowledge areas are not purely sequential, there will tend to be a general order to them. Enterprise Analysis makes sure that the business environment is understood and that the projects that are worked supports strategic and tactical initiatives and are looked at from an enterprise view rather than functional silos. Business Analysis Planning tasks the business analyst with planning their efforts. Who should be interviewed? Who approves the requirements? What methodology do we use for the requirements effort? What risks do we see? This becomes part of the overall project plan. In Elicitation, the requirements are gathered though interviews, job shadowing, surveys or other best practices techniques. Requirements Analysis helps us model and document the requirements, while Solution Assessment and Validation seeks to ensure that the final solution traces back to the requirements and the business need. In Requirements Management and Communication, the requirements changes are dealt with and the status of requirements efforts are communicated to the stakeholders.
 
So where is the business analyst profession heading? With the new version of the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (the BABOK) and the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP™) certification becoming popular, the profession is likely to be heading for a time of more standardization and best practices. Based on the success of the PMP certification, and its impact on the project management profession, it is also likely that the status and appreciation of the business analyst will grow in the industry and become increasingly important. After all, the business analyst defines the right things to do, rather than just doing things right, and that will always give a competitive advantage.
 
Hans Jonasson, PMP
 
 
Hans Jonasson, PMP founder of JTC Unlimited, has over 25 years of experience in the areas of project management, business analysis and professional development training. Hans started his career with Volvo LTD in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1980 as a systems analyst/programmer. In 1984 he moved to United States to work on new development projects for EDS and General Motors. He has managed all aspects of software development projects varying from $100,000 to $10 Million for the automotive industry. JTC Unlimited, LLC is a PMI Registered Education Provider (REP®) and the first Endorsed Education Provider (EEP) by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA™).
 
Hans is a popular speaker at PMI chapter dinner meetings and conferences such as BAWorld and ProjectWorld, and has spoke at BA World in Chicago and Toronto, as well as PMI's North American Congress. He has been a Project Management Professional (PMP®) and member of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) since 1996. He is a member of the Great Lakes Chapter of PMI® and a founding member of the Southeast Michigan chapter of IIBA, as well as a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP™). He has recently authored a book titled 'Determining Project Requirements' which was published in October 2007.


 
Article Headline
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Try using case studies, success stories, testimonials or examples of how others used your product or service successfully.
Stick to simple words, short phrases and paragraphs consisting of 1-3 short sentences. Your recipients should not have to think too much, parse long sentences or read big sections of text. Add a "Find out more..." link to additional information on your website.
 
Another Day in Iraq
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Sandy Kimmer M.D., Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy
 
I just experienced one of the most amazing days of my life. Sometimes, when you least expect it, opportunities present themselves that clarify for you that you are on the right track. I knew when I learned about this deployment that Iraq was precisely where I am supposed to be at this point in my life. When I heard about the Iraqi Women's Engagement program, I knew I needed to be part of it.
 
The opportunity presented itself suddenly when I was asked to go on my first engagement. The details fell together at the last minute and suddenly I found myself on an Osprey, exchanging glances with the corpsman who accompanied me, and wondering if flying in that thing might be the most dangerous thing I did on the mission! All of the women interested in participating in the program had received "outside the wire" training so I had some idea of what to expect, but my learning curve was still steep!
 
Thank goodness for the Marines...some of the most trustworthy, squared-away men and women I have ever met. The mission leader met us at the airport and I knew I was in good hands. He made sure we had all the information we needed and set us up with a place to sleep for the night. The next morning, he picked us up and took us for breakfast. Good thing because wearing all my protective gear for nearly 12 hours burns a lot of calories...my flack vest alone weights 40 lbs!
 
The mission had been arranged by the Iraqi Army, with the assistance of a Marine transition team. Our mission leader and his men have been living and working with the Iraqi Army, providing guidance and support. We headed out to a small village and, thanks to the design of the armored vehicle, I had a great view of the Iraqi countryside. In contrast to the constant red-brown of the base at Al Taqaddum, the Iraq outside the window was green and sprouted huge palm trees. We saw sheep, goats, cows, and chickens. The people were out in their yards gardening or enjoying the sunshine. When we passed through the town, the shops were bustling. Many men, but mostly children, called out greetings and waved as we passed by.
 
We were welcomed with enthusiasm when we arrived at our destination and the Iraqi Army men and journalists were very interested in taking pictures of us with the children. These engagements are publicized widely to show the people the good things that the Iraqi Army is doing for them. We set up our little clinic in the home of one of the village's prominent citizens and his children were the first to be seen.
 
What beautiful people! The children have huge brown eyes with long lashes and they smile easily. Only a few of the young ones were frightened but, just like American children, they relaxed after I talked with their mother and allowed me to examine them. Most of the mothers were afraid that their children were too thin, but this was not the case. The children were healthy appearing and I was able to judge their age easily, which attests to their normal growth and development. The mothers voiced common concerns about their children; fever, cough, and stomach aches. I tried to educate them on care of simple childhood illness. Pinworns are common so I treated many children for this, although they are likely to catch them again.
 



Thanks to an amazing female Iraqi interpreter, I was able to really connect with the women. Some female complaints are universal! One woman had 14 children and complained of fatigue, backache, and headaches. I asked the interpreter if she could translate "motherhood is a bitch!" She did and the Iraqi women erupted with laughter! Another woman was having marital trouble. She wants to divorce her husband but he won't allow it. She complained of headaches, fatigue, and difficulty enjoying her life. Her symptoms suggested she was depressed. I lightheartedly had the interpreter tell her that "I can't fix her husband, but I can give her something for her headaches." Because of the rapport built over the course of the afternoon, this brought a warm smile to the woman's face.
 
After we finished seeing the women and children of the village, the Iraqi General who accompanied us invited me, my corpsman, and the Iraqi interpreter to join the men for dinner. Bright table cloths were spread on the grass and large platters of food were served. There was an abundance of their flat bread, which was warm and tasty. The platter contained rice, spiced noodles, and dates topped with chicken and lamb. Many of the men ate with their hands but we scooped up food with the bread...it was delicious. Sliced cucumbers and tomatoes sprinkled with sea salt were also served. The meal ended with hot tea, which they drink sweetened with lots of sugar. The pictures attached capture the mood of the day perfectly!
 
It was incredibly heartening to see the close relationships between the Marines and the Iraqi Army. The men talked and laughed and obviously enjoy each other's company. All of the men wanted pictures with us before we left and the gratitude was overwhelming. Connecting with patients is the most rewarding part of my job. The fact that I could connect with the Iraqi people in this way was such a thrill. I can't wait for the next mission!
 
Sandy April 3, 2008
 
Project Parenthood
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Reframe for Clarity
 
By Geof Lory
 
Last Friday my oldest daughter Jenna asked if she could go to a late movie that I knew would not end until after 11:00 pm. She was going to be with a group of her friends, so I agreed. Then she informed me that I would have to pick them up from the theatre at 11:15 pm and then drive her three friends home. Having driven her friends home before after earlier movies, I knew they live all over town. It would be at least a 45-minute job to do what she was asking. I was just about to tell her that I was not willing to do that, when I stopped myself and decided to try some reframing instead. (What good are kids if you can't practice on them?)
 
"So, let me understand this Jenna. You would like me to wake up 30-45 minutes after I have been sleeping in my warm comfortable bed, get dressed, go out into the cold Minnesota winter night, drive 15 minutes to pick you up and then another 30 minutes to drop off your friends just so you can see a movie tonight that you could see tomorrow for half-price at the matinee? Have I essentially captured the gist of your request?" Unfortunately I had, and from the look on her face, I had made my point, too.
 
When we see things exclusively from our own perspective, looking at it from someone else's perspective can be surprisingly humorous, disarmingly ridiculous or perhaps even insensitive. Regardless, someone else's perspective is not typically the same as your own. Each person brings to the situation a combination of their history and priorities, which by definition are their own. It is the rare individual who doesn't operate from primarily their own frame of reference. Because, what other frame of reference do we have? Getting out from behind your own eyeballs and out of your own head and into someone else's is inherently an unnatural act.
 
This personal parochial perspective is why teams of diverse people are typically better at producing complete solutions to complex problems: because they can represent complementary and varied views of both the problem and how to address it. On diverse teams, inviting the alternative view becomes the norm, not the exception. I have been working on teams that represent such different views so much that when we reach consensus too quickly it raises a red flag for me. Have we thought this through completely? Is everyone checked in and comfortable representing their ideas? Do I need to reframe this to promote some thought before confirmation? Don't get me wrong, I like consensus, I just want to make sure it is conscious consensus. Reframing helps me assure that.
 
Reframing is a deliberate and conscious approach to communication that uses the same technique that comedy does. I once read "good comedy is just real life presented at its extreme." Taking a reasonably common occurrence, such as a phone call or swearing, and turning it into the absurd is what Bob Newhart and George Carlin do so well. They didn't think of things we didn't think of, they took things we were all familiar with and reframed them in the extreme. They are masters of making the obvious more obvious, to the point of ridicule.
 
Now, I'm not suggesting you turn to comedic reframing to communicate better on your team, but periodically we could all benefit from the small dose of reality reframing can bring. Brainstorming sessions that use reframing can reveal the foolishness of long-held practices that no longer serve a productive purpose. Deliberately walking through the details of a use case will many times show the fallacy of the design not apparent in the code or on paper. Using reframing in risk assessment also can bring to light assumptions not thought of before.
 
Of course, this same diversity creates opportunities for friction. Unfortunately, we are not always open to other's perspectives. Think of how many times you "listened" to someone just enough to tell that they were done so you could then explain your point of view. Reframing is a technique that can be used to help listen as well as explain.
 
Trying to step into the shoes of someone else to reframe their ideas through their perspective will almost always create some new enlightenment or confirm previous assumptions. Both are better places to be than wondering. I almost always prefer certainty to ambiguity, especially in communication.
 
I use reframing even when it isn't obvious that I am. I do it silently to myself. (I'm easily entertained as you can tell from most of my articles.) I do it to try and shake my close-minded view and get out from behind my own eyeballs. I have to admit that I am challenged by it, mostly because it requires me to drop some of my ego, a practice I still need lots of practice with. When I can do it, however, it develops consciousness and compassion, both attributes that grease the wheels of high performance teams.
 
High performance teams embrace the alternative perspective, or even the absurdity of it, for what it is worth: another person's perspective. Not always valid, maybe not worth pursuing, but certainly something to consider. And that is all that reframing asks, that another voice is allowed to be heard for what it is worth: another person's perspective. If more clarity comes to the original idea via the reframing, it has served its purpose and caused the communication to be clearer.
 
So when Jenna says, "Dad, can you pick us up at 11:00 and drop off my friends too?" perhaps what she is really saying is, "Dad, I really like this hot guy who works the late shift at the movie theatre and it would be so cool if you let me go to the late movie and then drive him home so I could see where he lives."
 
Well, if you reframe it that way, "Absolutely NOT!" 
 
 
Geof Lory is a project management coach and father of two teenage daughters. He is a partner with GTD Consulting, LLC in St. Paul, MN. You can reach him at glory@gtdconsult.com.

Fissure News
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Fissure has added a new international partner in The Netherlands. Global Project Performance is known for developing and delivering 'state of the art' project management solutions that increase the return on investment for project management organizations. Fissure is working together with Global Project Performance to produce the first computer based simulation supporting the popular European  PRINCE2 Methodology. PRINCE (which stands for Projects in Controlled Environments) was first developed by the British government in 1989 as the standard approach to IT project management for central government. Since then, the method has been enhanced to become a generic, best practice approach suitable for the management of all types of projects, and has a proven record outside both IT and government sectors.
 
Fissure has expanded our public offerings to include Denver and Milwaukee. Please check our registration page (link to registration page is missing) for details on workshop locations and dates.
 

  
Fissure's new Simulation Powered Learning Workshop for Business Analysiswill be piloted this July. As with our other SPL® workshops students will not only learn about BA processes and skills but build competency by applying their new skills in team while running the simulation This offering is part of a four course track that will also prepare participants to sit for Certified Business Analysis Professional™ certification (CBAP™) if desired.  All Fissure BA courses are compliant with and support the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge ™ set forth by International Institute of Business Analysis™. Jon Firnstahl, Fissure's Sales Manager, will be heading up the new BA offerings to our clients. If you have interest in the BA workshops please don't hesitate to contact him. (info@Fissure.com).
 
Joining our cadre of guides for the new Business Analysts (BA) workshops is an old friend, Hans Jonasson. Hans has been a featured presenter at BA World in Chicago and Toronto well as PMI's North American Congress. Hans is a founding member of the Southeast Michigan chapter of IIBA, as well as a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP™) and PMP®. He has recently authored a book titled 'Determining Project Requirements' which was published in October 2007. Hans also authored a number of the workshops in our new BA Track. We are very happy to be able to work closer with Hans.
 
 
 
In the last Fissure News we mentioned that Fissure was selected to train 100 of Microsoft's elite Global Escalation Team members representing 22 different countries. The training was a resounding success prompting the sponsor to send us the following note:
 
I sent approx. 100 of my Technical Escalation Engineers through the Fissure Advanced Project Management SPL® Workshop. The goal was to take them out of their daily comfort zone with the in-depth simulation. The participant feedback was fantastic, the learning's were very eye opening, and apply both today and in the long term of their careers.

- Jim Chismar, Director of People Strategy Team, Microsoft
 
 


 
Fissure guide, Geof Lory will soon be training in Ettingen, Germany for Molex. Molex has chosen Fissure to help them mature their project management practices. Molex has over 33,000 employees worldwide and has a line of over 100,000 products in the interconnecting market.
 
PM "LITE" Simulation Powered Learning Workshop will be offered September 9th & 10th. This course is for those who manage small projects. It's perfect for professionals in Finance, HR, Administrative Services, Communication, Marketing, Sales really any person responsible for project results. If you are interested visit our website to register.
 
 


 
Fissure was re-certified as a Charter Global Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) in March of this year. The re-certification process occurs every three years and requires an extensive review of Fissure project management workshops, guide certification, and internal processes and quality improvement.
 
The PMI National Congress has asked Fissure to deliver our Advanced PM Simulation Powered® Workshop for their national gathering in Denver on October 22-24. This marks the sixth year in a row that Fissure will be a featured training company


 
Fissure Personals
 
Mike and Pam Wold have been blessed again! They have a new granddaughter, Gracie Louise Wold. She weighed in at 9 lbs 10 oz on April 14, 2008. She is the daughter of Chris and Eric Wold.
 
Not to be outdone, Jesse and Sue Freese are also celebrating a new granddaughter, Reese Pearl Craig! She arrived on February 4th with beautiful brown eyes. The very proud (and tired) parents are Kindra and Mike Craig.

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