Learning Organization

I attach a mind map on learning organization following an article from Peter Senge. Seems useful in helping to create a system thinking mind-set. I hope this can help try to work out our problems by having a better method of diagnosing the situation. In other words, making sense of chaos or some sort of situation analysis.

The mind map is more of how to develop a learning organization. A learning organization is a progressive unit supposedly that can adapt to change. But the absence of this environment is a challenge to the project manager. Is he responsible in changing the organization? Sometimes he is viewed as a change agent or a catalyst but really not part of the project scope. So knowing about the qualities of a learning organization maybe helpful in planning tactics or strategy in the project.

Project Management Institute Singapore Chapter's 2007 Annual Symposium

The Project Management Institute Singapore Chapter's 2007 Annual Symposium is scheduled on 22nd November 2007 (Thursday) at Suntec International Convention Center (Level 3), Singapore.

A big turnout is expected so please be there early for the Symposium. The registration starts at 8.00AM. Early comers will get a free car park coupon on first come first serve basis.

If you have not made the payment for the SPMI's Annual Symposium 2007,
kindly send your cheque, made payable to "Project Management Institute
Singapore Chapter" to:

The Treasurer,
PMI Singapore Chapter,
C/o 30, Tanah Merah Kechil Road,
#06-09 East Meadows,
Singapore 465558

Please see above attached Symposium Agenda.

Systems Thinking

I attach a map on systems thinking which I think comes from an article on Peter Senge which I read way back. This method is useful as it offers a way to improve one's cognitive and thinking skills. It provides a broader framework of thinking and understanding that is away from the self-centered model that usual happens in one's own thinking.

So it is a way to improve one mental processes similar to the work of Edward de Bono. But this new framework is much more helpful in resolving organization problems. It is also useful in project management because it takles issues that involve implementing change. Change not only in the processes or organization but also in the way one's thinks and addressess problems. Iam trying to finish an article on 'sense-making' which is another good tool that will prove useful soon.

Sense Making

I started to read articles on sense making and systems thinking to try to understand my recent troubles. There is a need to have a new framework to understand and analyse the current situation as I was unable to apply my usual tools to address the problem. I failed to take into account other factors which maybe beyond my usual field usual vision and understanding. I was blind sided as I found myself out of my compentency.

So concepts like systems thinking which considers the relationship between people within the organization. So I tried to make a mind-map to understand the relationship between the major stakeholder and the politics involved. So this gives me a different view to understand the situation. In this framework, it is not really about tools and techniques and procedures and more about relationship of each part that makes the whole system.

This allows a different aspect in making sense of the situation. 'Sense making' which is about situation awareness maybe is the key to understand the project failures which occurred. Mind maps helps to diagram the relationships between people or the parts within the system and display the whole system.

Mindjet Productivity Pack for MS Office

Mindjet Productivity Pack for Microsoft® Office® is now available.

I have tested the product and has extremely good links to Microsoft applications. Try it out to harness the full power and benefits of your existing Microsoft tools.

A detailed guide is available to help you maximize your applications. The Productivity Pack includes a whitepaper and MindManager maps to help you. See more details in the link below:

http://www.mindjet.com/us/productivity_pack_office/?cid=bridge3