Oliver Carrick

Aug152022 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

People’s participation in development Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

.NewWebsite., Development Sector, Entrepreneurship

A new article published in the journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies provides a case study from the Galapagos islands. Entitled “Entrepreneurial Ecosystems as contested spaces”, my article discusses entrepreneurship in a development context. Ever since I first became a researcher in international development, I had always wanted to observe people’s participation in a local government setting along with the nature of people’s dialogue and way they are able to affect change through their participation. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit the islands, I finally got my opportunity when the local government participatory development process was moved to a virtual environment. This meant that meetings were recorded in Zoom, and I was able to gain access to the recordings and the outputs produced by facilitators.The Galapagos islands have a Special Regime…

Sep152021 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

Project DPro Practitioner: Self-study or guided by a trainer?

.NewWebsite., PM4NGOs

Now you have decided to attain your Project DPro Practitioner certification you will need to choose whether to take charge of your own learning process or contact a mentor for help. Self-study All of the information you need in order to pursue Practitioner certification under your own steam is available on DPro+. You will decide when to study, what resources to use and you will take charge of ensuring that you perform all of the activity log tasks within either the final time limit or your desired period of time. To begin, go to the Project DPro Practitioner menu bar. Training organization PM4NGOs has a number of training partners who can guide you through the activities required to become a Project DPro Practitioner. If you prefer to be mentored towards…

Aug212020 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

The Blended Project Manager and Covid-19

.NewWebsite., COVID-19, Program Management

The catchwords currently on people’s lips encapsulating effective approaches to managing in the Covid-19 era and beyond include resilience and agile. Add to that list “Blended.” Who is the Blended Project Manager and what does it mean? Continue reading

Jun122020 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

Stakeholder engagement in the Post-Covid-19 era

.NewWebsite., COVID-19, Program Management

How will your approach to stakeholder engagement and communication change in 2020? As we attempt to exit the current health crisis which has consumed our energies and attention during the first half of the year, we will have to adapt many of our normal practices to accommodate the new “normality” of a post-Covid-19 world. Continue reading

May152020 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

Can development projects be Agile?

.NewWebsite., Development Sector, Project DPro, Project DPro

What is the potential of Agile Project Management for the development and humanitarian sectors? This article investigates the compatibility between Project DPro and Agile PM. The extent to which Agile PM could be useful in the humanitarian and development sectors remains largely unexplored. Originally conceived as a solution to problems presented by the traditional management of projects in software development, Agile has expanded to other sectors, and, in theory at least, can be used in any context. Continue reading

Apr292020 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

Project Risk Identification and Management Post-Covid-19

.NewWebsite., COVID-19, Project DPro, Project DPro, Project Management

This is the third in a series of articles looking at the effects of Covid-19 on project management in the development and humanitarian sectors. For the second article in the series, visit: Schedule and Time Management Post-Covid-19 Identification and management of risk is intrinsic and non-negotiable in project management, and certainly one area that will be irrevocably changed by the current health crisis. I believe we will change not the way in which risk is identified and assessed, but rather our relationship with risk. Continue reading

Apr232020 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

Schedule and Time Management Post-Covid-19

.NewWebsite., COVID-19, Development Sector, Project DPro, Project DPro

This is the second in a series of articles looking at the effects of Covid-19 on project management in the development and humanitarian sectors. For the first article in the series, visit: https://www.pmdpro.plus/a-post-covid-19-world-and-alternative-development-with-project-dpro/ How will our experience of coronavirus affect our approach to managing the time element of projects in future? Continue reading

Apr202020 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

A Post-COVID-19 World and Alternative Development with Project DPro

.NewWebsite., COVID-19, Development Sector, Project DPro, Project DPro

When we finally emerge from the current health crisis, it will be to a World indelibly marked by the events of 2020. The extent of human and economic loss exacted by coronavirus is not yet clear. What we do know is that life will go on and dedicated professionals will continue their work in the humanitarian sectors. But even before current events unfolded, calls for radical change were becoming ever louder as irreversible climate change becomes more imminent. I expect this trend to be magnified by the Covid-19 crisis. More people will consider alternatives to mainstream development that focus on culture and wellbeing rather than production based on economic growth. Concepts such as Buen Vivir, Ubuntu, and Degrowth may well become more popular. What does this mean for the Project…

Nov22019 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

PMD Pro+ and Continuous Professional Development

.NewWebsite., Project DPro, Project DPro Certification, Training

The necessity for lifelong learning is well-established. Having become certified, fresh learning experiences help professionals to maintain their knowledge and keep up-to-date with the latest developments. Many professional qualifications are no longer valid for life, and holders must demonstrate Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in order to retain their credentials. PMD Pro+ offers a range of activities for just this purpose. The PMD Pro and Program DPro certifications help you to gain and affirm knowledge of project and program management in the development sector. Becoming certified is a great achievement. But don´t stop there! Continue reading →

Oct242019 by Oliver CarrickNo Comments

Conflict Avoidance and Management through effective participation

.NewWebsite., Development Sector, Program Management, Project Management

One of the most significant differences between PM in traditional industries and the management of projects in the development sector, is the occurrence of and potential for conflict between stakeholders and beneficiaries. Our work with national NGOs reveals a continuing need to develop strategies and processes for conflict resolution between stakeholders. To give but one example, an NGO planning and implementing a project in an area containing several communities could be required to include numerous local grassroots organizations. Those organizations may well have different goals, interests and agendas. (more…)