About the Topic:

Often the difference between a good and excellent project is the ability of the project manager (PM) to develop a motivated team.  Motivating multi-disciplinary team members to effectively work together toward a common goal as a team is critical to project success.

This presentation will review the strategies and processes involved in creating a project environment which best motivate the project team members and other stakeholders.  Various motivating and demotivating factors will be ranked and examined from both the executive and employee viewpoints.  For many, these will be new and motivating applications.

It is recommended that organizations first place their effort in fixing the problems causing their most demotivating factors.  Then, and only then, they should work on improving the motivating factors for project team members.  Some of the practical motivators presented should be implemented in audience member’s organization as they best fit the specific situation. 

In addition the special behavioral styles that PM’s need to effectively motivate and lead their teams to project goals will be examined.

During this program each attending member will learn:

1.        Best motivators for project team members are: recognition, responsibility and achievement.

2.        Most demotivating factors for project team members are:  inadequate PM leadership, inadequate team relations, inadequate relations with the PM, and inadequate salary.

3.        Most perceived, most desired and greatest actual behavioral styles among “analytical”, “driver”, “supportive”, and “influencing”.

About the Speaker:

Robert J. Yourzak, P.E. is President of Robert Yourzak & Associates, Inc., a Minneapolis management consulting company founded in 1982.  Mr. Yourzak has over 30 years experience in engineering, manufacturing, management and education… initially at The Boeing Company.  His management positions have included serving as Director of Project Management, Director of Project Development & Administration, Project Systems Department Manager, Program Manager (for teams up to 55 members), and Project Manager.  He is registered and/or certified as a:  “Professional Engineer”, “Certified Management Consultant”, and “Project Management Professional”, He earned master degrees in business administration and engineering from the University of Washington, and a bachelor degree in engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Also since 1979, he has taught 40 undergraduate and/or graduate credit courses as an adjunct faculty member and/or instructor at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Hamline University and Concordia University in St. Paul, and Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights.  At the University of Minnesota, Mr. Yourzak has taught 23 “Project Management” or “Engineering Project Management” courses.  He has also taught “Introduction to Work Analysis” including fundamentals of operation analysis, methods engineering, work measurement, work design and plant layout.  In addition, he has taught “Introduction to Business and Business Careers” at Carlson School of Management at University of Minnesota.  Mr. Yourzak served on Board of Advisors for Institute of Technology at University of Minnesota from 1989-93.  Finally, he has taught “Operations Management” at Hamline University, and “Principles of Management” at Concordia University; and “Project Management and Planning Skills” at Inver Hills Community College.

His nationwide seminar/workshops amplify his books on:  “Project Management” and “Motivating & Managing The Project Team”.  Included among his numerous publications is “Motivation In The Project Environment”, Chapter 19 in 1998 “Field Guide to Project Management” edited by Dr. David Cleland and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.  Since founding his company, he has also given over 100 presentations / papers on project management and management topics at the professional societies:

International and/or National Conventions

He has served as International Chairman and President of the Project Management Institute (PMI), President of Minnesota Chapter PMI, and President of Twin Cities Chapter of the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE).  Finally, Mr. Yourzak has been honored by being named a PMI Fellow and IIE Fellow, and with current listings in:  Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering.

Cost:

$10 payable at the door in cash or by check (sorry we are unable to accept credit cards at this time).