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In Episode 140 I spoke with Jerry Manas on how to manage complexity on projects. We discussed his general approach and then (in the premium episode) we looked at a case study and learned how Jerry actually does it. We saw here how he uses simplicity, clarity and focus not just in theory but on his projects.

But Jerry is not the only project manager out there who feels that we need more simplicity.

Sean Henriques MBA PMP, feels exactly the same way. In fact, he feels so strongly about it, that he went ahead and wrote The PM Simplicity Guide at http://www.scribd.com/seanhenriques/d/27897513-Project-Management-Simplicity and makes it available to everyone for free. Sean and I discuss the concepts and philosophies behind PM Simplicity and how you apply it on your projects.

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Today's episode is sponsored by the 7th Annual Project Management Conference for the Drug & Device Industry. The conference takes place from April 12-14 2010 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center in Orlando Florida. Learn all about cutting-edge tools and techniques to help you lead your team confidently and walk away with clear strategies for achieving project, program and portfolio success. To learn more, please visit www.iirusa.com/pdd.

I have a confession to make, and that is that I have moved over to the "dark side" of project management.

Don't worry - I'm neither wearing a black suite, cape or breathing apparatus, nor do I now call myself "Darth Cornelius".

But I have moved from being a Project Manager to the dark side and I'm now... a Project Sponsor. So let's take a look at my very first experience as a project sponsor and to keep it interesting we will hear from 10 other people what they love and hate about their own project sponsors.

Question of the Week:

Do we project managers make good or bad project sponsor? Please leave a comment and let me know!

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Do you have a PMP® or PgMP® certificate? Then this announcement will interest you!

As a PMP/PgMP you have to earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every 3 years. Here at The PM Podcast you can earn 15 of these PDUs for free. And starting on April 2nd 2010 we are going to offer The PDU Podcast at www.pducast.com. With this new podcast you will be able to earn 20 PDUs per year.

The benefits for you are obvious! You already know how to use a podcast and now with The PDU Podcast you can sit back, relax and let the PDUs come to you. Month after month.

Listen in for the details and get a 20% discount on The PDU Podcast.

This episode is reserved for subscribers of the Premium Podcast. Learn how to subscribe to the Premium Podcast to access this interview and transcript...

Last week we heard how Jerry Manas uses simplicity, clarity and focus to approach managing the ever increasing complexity in business processes. This means that project management processes consequentially are getting more and more complex as well. And we project managers need to be able to handle them.

But what does this approach actually look like in real life? What exactly does he do and how does he do it? Where does he begin his work and what hands-on advice does he have for us. In particular I want to know from him what the first 3-4 steps are that we should take when we begin working on a complex project.

Click "Read more..." below to read the transcript.