IPMA Festival of Knowledge - Organisational Performance Management

In today's globalised environment of fast technological development and change the ability of organisations to quickly adapt to changes is a key performance competence. Organisations need to redefine how they shape themselves structurally, behaviourally and operationally to maximise performance. The creation of innovative high-performance value chains has become one of the most critical components of new business models. Project, programme, and portfolio management plays an increasingly important role in organisational value chain management, which translates into successful organisational performance.

To determine the real needs of customers, and then to shape the structural, behavioural and operational strategic dimensions of the organisation to best serve its customers, project management principles are today being applied in customer relationship management. Customer relationship management is the ongoing process of identifying and creating new value with individual customers and then sharing the benefits from this over a lifetime of associations. It involves the understanding, focusing and management of ongoing collaboration between suppliers and selected customers that delivers sustainable organisational performance. However, it is imperative that organisational performance be measured on a continuous basis, coupled with an appropriate quality management system.

The venue of the March 2012 IPMA Research Expert Seminar, the De Doornkraal HCH Boutique Hotel, is located in the town of Riversdale near the foot of the Sleeping Beauty mountain peak. Riversdale has earned its name as the floral paradise of the Garden Route because of the abundance of indigenous flora which covers the mountains and surrounding areas. The famous Blombos Cave is a short distance (30 minutes) from Riversdale. The important findings of the archaeological excavations at Blombos, lead by professor Christopher Henshilwood, provide unquestionable proof of the origin of modern inteligent human beings in this area around 77 000 to 133 000 years ago. The Blombos Cave was the home of the first inteligent human beings on earth, the Homo sapiens. They were people who had crossed the divide between animals and humans and had cognitive and conative talents like today's human beings. It is therefore apt that this region hosts a Festival of Knowledge. For more information about the Blombos Cave and its history click on www.dedoornkraal.com and go to "Attractions".

Papers delivered at the Research Expert Seminar will be published in the American e-journal "PM World Today".

Professor Brane Semolic
IPMA Research Management Board Chairman

Professor Pieter Steyn
Principal, Cranefield College