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Instructor Q & A

Background

ESI Project Management Instructor Dr. Prasad Kodukula, PMP, is an engineer, consultant, educator, inventor and author. During his extensive project management career, he has served as a research and development director at a small technology company, a senior engineer at a global petrochemical corporation and a senior project manager at an international engineering consulting firm. He has also taught at the Illinois Institute of Technology, the University of West Virginia and the University of Kansas.

Prasad holds a master's in environmental science from Rutgers University, a master's in environmental engineering from Cornell University and a doctorate from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He received bachelor's degrees in chemistry, biology and education at Andhra University in India. He also has a Master's Certificate in Project Management from ESI International and The George Washington University. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute.

With his project management experience and practical project management background, Prasad is a well-respected instructor in the ESI classroom. ESI spoke with him recently about his experiences as a project manager and his mission to share his in-the-trenches knowledge in the classroom.

1. What is your approach to teaching?

"My approach is multifaceted. I use what I call the 5-I model. Imagine a pyramid with five steps representing five I's in the ascending order: information, involvement, ideas, insight and inspiration. I wear different hats to guide the students through each step. As an instructor, I want to give them the latest and the most valuable information they need on their jobs. As a facilitator, I involve them in classroom activities. As a practitioner, I present them with practical ideas. As a philosopher, I share my insights. Finally, as their coach, I want to inspire them to reach new heights."

2. How do you keep your students involved and interested in the topic through out the course?

"I use edutainment and infotainment. I tell a lot of stories and relate them back to the concepts I want the students to learn. Stories not only make the subject matter appealing but also enhance retention. Plus, there are a lot of interesting case studies and application examples, which are a major part of every ESI course. Irrespective of the topic, our teaching techniques need to grab and sustain the students' attention. This is particularly challenging when you are teaching a four-and-a-half-day class. To break the monotony and create excitement, I also introduce a lot of games, toys, puzzles, trivia and other fun things and have the students compete with each other in teams for 'fabulous' prizes."

3. What are some of the common project management mistakes you've seen in the field?

"Well, there are a few areas where organizations are failing: selecting the right projects, planning projects, managing risk, allocating resources and managing project finances. In all my classes, I talk about the mistakes that I've made myself and that I have seen others make. I also use examples from my research, consulting and teaching. Even though I share these lessons learned, I offer a cautious note on using them for universal application.

Another mistake many organizations make is they don't adequately prepare their staff for the change a project may bring after it is implemented. The management needs to educate employees about the new processes that may result from the project deliverables and make sure that there is buy-in."

4. What are some concepts of project management that seem more difficult for managers to adhere to?

"Financial management using earned value (EV) analysis seems to be a tough challenge for many project managers. The idea behind EV management is simple, but, unfortunately, many project managers are intimidated with the formulas involved and give up too easily."

5. What are some of the major trends in project management?

"There has been a tremendous push in the technology industry toward project management. But, we've had little success with IT projects in recent years, although we're moving in the right direction.

In other trends, we're seeing an increase in Project Management Office (PMO) initiatives to manage projects more effectively. The idea of managing projects under the umbrella of a program or a portfolio is catching on. These initiatives are expected to help organizations with strategic alignment of projects, effective use of resources and a consistent use of methodologies, among other things."

6. What questions do you hear most from students?

"Interestingly, I get more questions on PMP® certification than anything else. Maybe this should not be too surprising! According to a recent survey by Foote Partners, a company based in New Canaan, CT, employers are paying higher bonuses to IT staff with project management certification than to those with stand-alone skills."

7. What is the value of earning an ESI/GW master's certificate in today's job market?

"An ESI/GW master's certificate demonstrates that you've learned the universally recognized project management concepts, terminology, methodologies, tools and techniques. With this education, you are better equipped to complete the projects on target, which would help your organization meet its business needs, increase customer satisfaction and ultimately enhance shareholder value."

8. What are some of the frustrations of project managers expressed in your classes?

"Let me share three frustrations that I hear a lot. First, most project managers feel that they are left out of the project initiation, selection and termination processes but that they can contribute positively in these areas. Second, project management is not widely embraced in their organizations. In today's matrix-driven environment where resources are shared across functional boundaries, project managers have difficulty receiving adequate support from functional units. Finally, of course, they face too many projects and deadlines but do not have enough time and people to complete them!"

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