Dr. Bill Warner has over 30 years successful experience as a project manager and IT consultant. Bill’s leadership experience is in financial institutions, health care industry, higher education, e-business/e-commerce, and the marketing sector. Please take a moment learn about his insights into the project management industry.

 

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As a university professor, Bill has taught a variety of MBA and MSPM courses for five universities. He specializes in graduate courses in risk management, quality management, change management, supply chain management, research methods, and IT/IS courses.

Project Management Institute leadership roles include Region 1 Mentor (for five states; British Columbia, and Alberta); President, VP, and BOD PMI Canadian West Coast Chapter, VP PMI Minnesota Chapter, VP and charter member PMI Mt. Baker Chapter.

 

Q&A with Bill Warner

You have held a number of leadership positions within a PMI Chapter from Webmaster to President. What were the highlights when you served as Region 1 Mentor for Alberta, British Columbia and five U.S. states?

Three highlights stand out:

  • First, the teleconferences with chapter presidents each month were amazing. We shared best practices with each other and discussed the organizational challenges faced by chapters.
  • Second, the Region 1 Annual Conferences in Vancouver and in Salt Lake were both very successful learning experiences for chapter representatives.
  • Third, I loved travelling to Victoria, Edmonton, and other chapters to work with the local chapter officers.

 

Comparing to your PMI CWCC tenure (2002 – 2006) how has project management changed over the last 10 years?

The profession of project management has significantly changed over the past 10 years. PMs are highly respected leaders and change agents throughout all sectors (government, NGOs, private enterprise) and from small scale to the largest scale projects/initiatives.

 

What advise or knowledge would you like to share with new project managers entering into the field?

  • Never stop seeking to learn and grow professionally as you interact with your colleagues.
  • Always strive to fully engage, empower, and mentor your team members and other key stakeholders.
  • Seek to preserve, leverage, and sustain your organization’s knowledge management system.

 

What is the most challenging aspect of change management (i.e. what keeps you up a night) and how do you overcome it?

The most challenging aspects of leading large scale transformative change projects is successful risk management. Starting with Day 1 of the project, you must be laser focused on identifying, managing, and controlling risks. Overcoming unknown, unknown risks or Black Swans is particularly challenging for project leaders. Everyone on the project team is committed to agile and adaptive responses to risks in real-time.

 

What books have inspired you or ones that you have recommended most?

Over the span of my university teaching career, I am particularly interested in “Systems Thinking” and the “Learning Organization”. Therefore, I have not only recommended books written by Peter M. Senge but his books have been required reading in one of the master degree courses that I have taught.

 

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The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization, Peter M. Senge.

 

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Presence: Human Purpose and the Field of the Future, Peter M. Senge.

 

Thank you Bill for taking the time to answer our questions and allowing us to get to know you better. We are looking forward to your presentation on change management.

For anyone that is interested in learning more about the event Dynamic Change Management Theories, Models & Strategies or to register please click below.