RTA establishes award for excelling project management

Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Bill McDermott, SAP SE, Chief Executive Officer with other officials during The Dubai International Project Management Forum at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai today

An international award on project management, chaired by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), was announced at the 3rd Dubai International Projects Management Forum (DIPMF) on Monday at Madinat Jumeirah.

The Hamdan bin Mohammed Award for Innovation in Project Management, which carries a total purse of Dh2m ($550,000) will have three categories. First is Individual category, which includes Innovative Project Manager Award and Innovative PMO Manager Award. Second category is Innovative Team Award and third is Innovative Ideas of Organizations Award which is sub divided into three awards: Innovative PM Idea, Innovative Program Management Idea and Innovative Portfolio Management Idea.

The award was established to "achieve world class reputation for Dubai through innovation in project management and to establish Dubai as a hub for project management, in line with the UAE Vision 2021." It will be open to all project management professionals and organisations involved with management of projects or portfolios

Laila Faridoon, chairperson of DIPMF organizing committee  and  president of Project Management Institute-UAE, told reporters that the registration cycle will be announced soon.

Meanwhile, Bill McDermott, keynote speaker at the DIPMF said: "Developing a customer-driven culture is the key to connecting with the people and ensuring their happiness."

Addressing an audience composed of local and international project managers and experts, McDermott encouraged them to "dream big and unleash their indomitable will to shape the future and achieve extraordinary new frontiers."

"The important question is where we must go," added McDermott who is also the CEO of SAP SE, the leading global business software firm.

"Our society today needs us to be design thinkers. Design thinking means first focusing on the desirability of the project then reviewing its feasibility and viability - if it makes financial sense," he explained.

The DIPMF, held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council,  will conclude on Tuesday. Also being  discussed are sustainable project management, academic and youth project management, enterprise management, leadership in multi-culture environment, talent management and public-private partnership.

- angel@khaleejtimes.com