2008 Submission Guidelines for Project Management Achievement Awards

The Australian Institute of Project Management has established the Project Management Achievement Awards (PMAA) to recognise, honour and promote outstanding achievements in program and project management.In the context of the PMAA, program and project management are considered synonymous.

There are two classifications of Awards:

1.Awards for management of projects.

2.Awards for individual project management achievement.

Each of these classifications encompasses a number of categories.

The PMAA has two levels:

1.Chapter level - winners are selected in each Australian State and Territory, and

2.National level - the state and territory winners are judged for the national awards.

These guidelines are in three parts:

Part One - Awards for Management of Projects.

Part Two - Awards for Individual Project Management Achievement.

Part Three - General Conditions relating to all Submissions.

Project Categories

The categories for project submission are:

Category 1:Construction / Engineering

Construction/engineering projects such as buildings, utilities, and infrastructure.

Category 2:Defence / Aerospace

Defence/aerospace projects.

Category 3: Product Development

Product development projects such as motor vehicles, production line products and manufactured items. They normally involve project management of the innovation, development and production or manufacture of a new product.

Category 4: Information Technology

Information technology projects that normally involve project management of software development and/or hardware upgrades in the information technology sector.

Category 5:Organisation / Change Management

Research, development and organisational change and management projects. They normally involve business initiative projects and/or the project management of organisational change.

Category 6:Small Projects

Small scale projects with a total project budget of less than $500,000, undertaken in any field.

Category 7:Regional Development

Projects undertaken outside of major metropolitan areas. These projects must demonstrate that value was added to the regional area. Value may be achieved in many ways such as increased employment opportunities, economic development, infrastructure improvements or health or education services.

Category 8: Community Service and/or Development

Community, cultural or volunteer-based projects as well as projects that are conducted by or underpin/promote the education, development, preservation and well being of, indigenous, disadvantaged or disabled groups.

1. Awards For Management Of Projects

1.1 Purpose

To recognise, honour and promote innovation and best practice in project management.

1.2 Eligibility

Any project with an Australian affiliation is eligible to enter the PMAA. A winning project will be one that demonstrates innovation and/or excellence in the application of project management. Projects may be of any size or dollar value, and from either the public or private sectors. The project itself can be located anywhere in the world.

The project must have an approved project plan and budget. The project must be recently completed or be a recently completed discrete part of a larger program or project. In either case, acceptance of the project or discrete part by the client/owner prior to submission is mandatory.Recently completed means within the last twelve months.

1.3 General Terms and Conditions

In instances where a project is undertaken across two or more States or Territories, the submission is normally to be made in the State or Territory that is the principal work place of the project manager, however, in instances where the project manager is located in a different State or Territory to the project team, the submission may be entered in the State or Territory associated with the project team.

A submission may not be entered in more than one State or Territory.

Submissions on projects that are managed from within Australia but which are implemented overseas are to be submitted in the State or Territory that is the principal work place of the project manager.

Submissions must be prepared in accordance with these Submission Guidelines and will be accepted on the following terms:

a.Projects may be submitted for up to three categories – entrants must at the time of submitting, nominate the priority order of the categories that the submission is being entered in.

b.Each project will be eligible to win one category only.

c.For a category to be considered for judging a minimum of three submissions must be received for that category. Any project nominated for a category that does not receive at least three submissions will still be judged and eligible to win the overall State or Territory classification award.

d.A project may win both a category award and the overall State or Territory award.

e.All State or Territory category winners and the overall State or Territory winner will proceed to PMAA national awards judging.

1.4 format and content of the Submission

Submissions must be presented in Times New Roman, 12 point font in Word format. They should not exceed 22 pages, and be able to be printed on A4 paper. Pages that exceed this maximum will not be considered.

Submissions must include the written consent of the project’s client to the submission of the project in the PMAA, together with an overview of the client/sponsors level of satisfaction of the project outcomes and the standard of project management undertaken. Consent is also required for the use of project information, photographs, company logos and the like, used within the submission. Non-conforming submissions may be rejected.

The submission should address the following five sections.

Section 1. General Information

In this section of the submission, please include the following information:

a.Name of Company.

b.Name of Project.

c.Location of project i.e. city, State or Territory and country.

d.Name of sponsor (client).

e.Names of key stakeholders.

f.Name of project team contact;

g.Name and contact details of media representative.

h.Contact details of a client representative.

j.Name and contact details of submission manager. 

Section 2. Overview of the Project (AV summary)

In this section please provide a summary of not more than 150 words of the project, its outcomes, level of complexity and the reasons or purpose of the project. This summary may be used in any audio-visual presentation compiled by AIPM for the PMAA program.

Section 3. Summary of the Project

In this section please provide a detailed summary of the project, to sufficiently summarise the project, outcomes, level of complexity, the reasons or purpose of the project, and any other relevant information.

Section 4. Project Performance

Provide a detailed summary of the success of the project, in particular compare expected outcomes against achieved outcomes.

Section 5. Outstanding Achievement and/or Innovation in Project Management Best Practice and Innovation

There are three areas of outstanding achievement and/or innovation in project management to be addressed for your submitted project.

a.Describe how outstanding achievement and/or innovation in four project management processes (e.g. leadership, team performance, project governance, conflict resolution, time, cost, quality, human resource, communications management) were applied either to a particular phase of the project or throughout the project life cycle, and benefits achieved (500 words / two-pages maximum for each example). Provide project documentary evidence where appropriate (two page maximum for each example). At least two of the processes must reflect the basics of the project plan (i.e. cost, time, or quality).

b.Describe how two significant issues or challenges were managed. (500 words/two pages maximum for each example). For each example, provide project documentary evidence where appropriate (two page maximum for each example).

c.Lessons learned during a project can be used to improve the performance of future projects. Reflect on one lesson learned, describing what did not go well, why it did not go well, and recommendations for improvements to facilitate outstanding achievement and/or innovation in project management in future projects. (500 words/two pages maximum). Provide project documentary evidence where appropriate (two page maximum).

1.5 Submission Instructions

General submission instructions are contained in Part Three. 

2. Awards For Individual Project Management Achievement

2.1 Purpose

To recognise, honour and promote innovation and best practice in project management at all levels including program/project directors, project managers, and project team members.

2.2 Eligibility

Any program/project director, project manager project team member with an Australian affiliation is eligible to enter the PMAA. A winning individual will be one who has demonstrated by documentary evidence, excellence / innovation in project management over an extended period (i.e. not less than two years). Projects/programs undertaken may be of any size or dollar value, and from either the public or private sectors. The projects can be located anywhere in the world.

The related projects must have an approved project plan and budget. The projects or program of works must be recently completed, or be a recently completed discrete part of a larger program or project. In either case, acceptance of the project or discrete part of the project by the client/owner prior to submission is mandatory.

2.3 Individual Categories

Category A:Program/Project Director (i.e. equivalent to RegPM Level 6).

Category B: Project Manager (i.e. equivalent to RegPM Level 5).

Category C: Project Team Member (i.e. equivalent to RegPM Level 4).

2.4 General Terms and Conditions

In instances where a program or project has been undertaken across two or more states or territories, the submission is normally to be made in the State or Territory that is the principal work place of the individual; however, in instances where the individual is located in a different State or Territory to the project team, the submission may be entered in the State or Territory associated with the project team.

A submission may not be entered in more than one State or Territory.

Submissions must be prepared in accordance with these Submission Guidelines and will be accepted on the following terms:

a.Each entrant will be eligible to enter only one category.

b.An individual winning a State or Territory category award will proceed to National Awards judging.

c.If the Individual’s organisation is making the submission rather then the Individual himself/herself, then details are to be provided as to the methodology used to select the nominee

2.5 format and content of the Submission

Submissions must be presented in Times New Roman, 12 point font in Word format. They should not exceed 22 pages, and be able to be printed on A4 paper. Pages that exceed this maximum will not be considered.

Submissions must include the consent of the project’s client to the submission of the project in the PMAA, together with an overview of the client/sponsors level of satisfaction of the project outcomes and the standard of project management undertaken. Consent is also required for the use of project information, photographs, audio-visual presentations, company logos and the like, used within the submission. Non-conforming submissions may be rejected.

The submission should address the following five sections:

Section 1. General Information

In this section of the submission, please include the following information:

a.Name of Company.

b.Name of Project.

c.Name of the individual program/project director, project manager, or project team member.

d.Location of project i.e. city, State or Territory and country.

e.Name of sponsor (client).

f.Names of key stakeholders.

g.Name of project team contact;

h.Name and contact details of media representative.

i.Contact details of a client representative.

j.Name and contact details of submission manager.

Section 2. Overview of the Project (AV summary)

In this section please provide a summary of not more than 150 words of the Individual, including performance, project outcomes, and project responsibilities. This summary may be used in any audio-visual presentation compiled by AIPM for the PMAA program.

Section 3. Summary of the Individual

In this section please provide a detailed summary of the Individual, to sufficiently summarise the project/s undertaken, outcomes, and level of complexity, project responsibilities, performance, and any other relevant information.

Section 4. Project Performance

In this section please provide a detailed summary of the success of the project/s (or program), in particular compare expected outcomes against achieved outcomes.

Section 5. Outstanding Achievement and/or Innovation in Project Management Best Practice and Innovation

There are three areas of outstanding achievement and/or innovation in project management to be addressed for your submitted project:

a.Describe and demonstrate the competency, outstanding achievement and/or innovation by the individual against four project management processes (e.g. leadership, team performance, project governance, conflict resolution, time, cost, quality, human resource, communications management) were applied either to a particular phase of the project (or program) or throughout the project life cycle, and benefits achieved (500 words / two-pages maximum for each example). Provide project documentary evidence where appropriate (two page maximum for each example). At least two of the processes must reflect the basics of the project plan (i.e. cost, time, or quality).

b.Describe how two significant issues or challenges were managed by the individual. (500 words/two pages maximum for each example). For each example, provide project documentary evidence where appropriate (two page maximum for each example).

c.Lessons learned - how the Individual has used lessons learnt to improve the performance of future projects. Reflect on one lesson learned, describing what did not go well, why it did not go well, and recommendations for improvements to facilitate outstanding achievement and/or innovation in project management in future projects. (500 words/two pages maximum). Provide project documentary evidence where appropriate (two page maximum).

2.6 Submission Instructions

General submission instructions are contained in Part Three. 

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