Wessex branch - PM challenge knock out night at the Ageas Bowl

Bonfire night certainly went off with a bang as the knockout stage of the Wessex PM Challenge took place at the Ageas Bowl Southampton. Ready to undertake battle against each other were 3 teams each from the universities of Bournemouth and Southampton plus 2 from BAE Systems.

Motorway madness on the night meant the ‘bout of all bouts’ was delayed adding to the fevered brows of the students and apprentices not to mention the anticipative audience. Of the 51 in attendance 34 were attending their first APM event, many being students or apprentices and therefore the future generation of project management who will ultimately assist APM in striving to achieve ‘a world in which all projects succeed’.

Each of the 8 teams made a 10-minute presentation before being grilled for a further 5 minutes by the project board, made up of committee and local branch members alike. A wide variety of topics were covered including ‘an introductory book on project management for small businesses’, ‘an APP to assist funding whilst at uni’, ‘an inclusive series of lunches exploring Halal and non-Halal foods’ and ‘naval ships combat systems’.

Having listened to all of the presentations the project board adjourned to deliberate on who should progress through to the ‘final stage’ and receive funding of up to £250 to assist delivery as well as receive a mentor for support.

Whilst the project board deliberated Russel Jamieson put on his People SIG hat and led all in some research into ‘characteristics of a good leader’ with folks being given 2 relatively similar characteristics, plus definitions, and then deciding, on an individual basis, whether they favoured one over the other or were happy to ‘sit on the fence’. Examples of options included Optimist or Realist, Charismatic or Transformational, Visionary or Discerning and Supportive or Encouraging. 

All 11 pairings were worked through and the findings will be shared here shortly.

The project board returned to announce that a record 6 teams would be progressing with 2 from each organisation. 

Work is therefore now underway to complete their projects before Finals night in late March 2016.