Event: PMSA Western Cape Conference 2012 - Project Management in Social and Local Economic Development

PMSA Western Cape Conference 2012 - Project Management in Social and Local Economic Development: The Challenge to Build a Secure And Sustainable Future for South Africa

Call for Papers & Presentation Proposals

Abstract Submissions and Presentation Proposals Deadline is 13 October 2011

Project Management South Africa (PMSA) (Western Cape) cordially invites academics, project management practitioners and support staff to participate in a conference to be held at the University of Stellenbosch Business School in Bellville, Cape Town on 27 and 28 February 2012  

Academics are invited to submit a high-quality, original abstract followed later by a final paper for presentation.

Project Management practitioners may participate either at academic level or by sharing their insights in a formal presentation to delegates. Support staff and / or undergraduate students are encouraged to prepare posters of relevant projects for display and explanation at the venue.

Breakaway sessions and panel discussions will be held on important topics led by experts in the field. 

Conference topics

The purpose of the conference is not to focus on the subject matter of Social and Local Economic Development but to consider the role of the project manager in these sectors. Papers, presentations and posters, therefore, should focus on project, programme or portfolio management that highlight the unique aspects of project delivery in these environments.

The writing or presentation style should be serious and prepared for a critical and informed audience. Academic papers and presentations should be based on closely-investigated knowledge and posit relevant ideas or arguments to shape current thinking and mould future practice.

The range of topics may include projects undertaken to provide any type of infrastructure required for the function of the sectors (i.e. physical, organizational or virtual), capacity building, operational systems, risk management, governance protocols, policy development, project funding, legislation, institutional alignment with other resources, and (naturally) projects undertaken to achieve specific social and local economic development goals. In this regard, Corporate Social Investment (CSI) projects undertaken in the private sector will also be particularly relevant.

The topics include but are not limited to:

• Feasibility studies
• Project Planning
•  Decision-making
• The alignment of project outcomes with policy objectives
• Stakeholder participation, communication or management
• Mechanisms for project implementation
• Monitoring and evaluation (time, quality and cost)
• Ethics in the project environment
• Project funding and finance
• The regulatory environment
• Management of the project office
• Procurement and contract management
• Risk management
• Management of cross-cultural project teams
• Reporting (review reports, completion reports, post project evaluation reports, etc.)
• Project sustainability
• Knowledge management.