Dear colleague,

Welcome to the March edition of the newsletter.  This month a helpful article on the project scope and why you should never leave home without it.

A preview of the new Managing Successful Programmes Method Template and reminders about the Year End Offer and Project Challenge. 

Malcolm West, Managing Director

Scope - don't leave home without it

This month Vince Hines considers the importance of agreeing the scope before you start!

"One of the primary reasons often cited for project failure is scope change.  Change within a project is not itself a bad thing and will happen whether we like it or not.  After all, every project is by definition a unique event and with anything that is unique there is inherently a certain amount of risk.  With risk, comes change.

So although we recognise that change is inevitable, there is a limit.  Having a robust agreed scope of work is a vital weapon in the armoury of any Project Manager.  You will be judged on the success of your project timescales, cost and quality way before anyone takes a look through your Change Control Log....."

Read full article... -  Articles Home page

New MSP Method Template

We have been supporting the Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Methodology since March 2007 and it has been popular, in particular with our larger public sector customers.

Late in 2007 OGC released the updated Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) methodology and now we have received our updated licence to use the authentic materials we are in the process of updating the MSP Method Template to match.  This will be made available to existing MSP Method Template customers who are covered by support and upgrades and can be purchased by other users for a one off fee of £1,000.

The Method Template includes the usual navigation diagrams, structure, template files as well as extracted guidance, all authentic and direct from the manual.

Year End Offer

Year end is always a difficult time with lots of work to finish and budgets to set for the new year.  But it is also an excellent time to think about investing in PROJECT in a box as we launch our Year End Offer.

If you are facing the 'spend it or lose it' dilemma in February and March and have been glad to assist as we can deliver and invoice quickly and you can be up and running on your software the same day as a purchase is made or the order is processed.

This year we are giving the choice of three offers:

1. Spend over £1,000 on Project in a box software and services and get 10% extra software free.
2. Save 30% on  a Corporate package - National licence just £13,300.
3. Get an Enterprise Hub for £1,000 (50% off)

All offers apply to orders received before the 31st March 2007 quoting the Offer code YE2008.  If you would like a quotation confirming this against which to place an order just contact us by email.  If you choose to purchase through the on-line store, your order exceeds £1,000 and includes the Offer code we will contact you to arrange which additional licences you would prefer.

Project Challenge

This year the annual curtain raiser of the Project Management year, the Project Challenge Spring show, moves across the road to the NEC.

12-13th March 2008
Hall10 NEC, Birmingham