The IAPM pays tribute to Dr. Conor John Fitzsimons, one of the experts who helped to develop the new Certified International Project Manager (IAPM) certification

03.02.2014 - The majority of project managers have been collaborating with partners in other countries and other cultures for well over a decade now. Dr. Conor John Fitzsimons, who was born in Dublin/ Ireland, has a specialist knowledge of how the associated challenges have changed (and will continue to change) the profession of project manager. The mathematician, management consultant and coach is considered to be a pioneer in the development of training methods and materials that equip project managers to cope with the special challenges associated with international projects.

When the new Certified International Project Manager (IAPM) certification was launched, the IAPM paid tribute to Dr. Conor John Fitzsimons for his outstanding contribution to its development at a meeting for project management practitioners, trainers and coaches in Nuremberg in mid-December. Dr. Conor John Fitzsimons wrote one of the very first books providing project managers with invaluable practical knowledge and advice on how to be successful in an international project environment. Published in 2004, it is entitled “Internationales Projektmanagement: Interkulturelle Zusammenarbeit in der Praxis“* and is still a leading standard publication.

Dr. Conor John Fitzsimons contributed key content and methodical approaches for the new Certified International Project Manager (IAPM) certification, and the IAPM was also able to draw upon his subsequent articles and publications as a source of additional know-how. As a result, the people responsible for developing the new certification at the IAPM were able to systemise the highly complex field of international project management to such an extent that the certification covers all potential challenges without the project manager being burdened by too much detailed knowledge about every country and continent. There’s an ironic twist to the story of how the Certified International Project Manager (IAPM) certification was developed: Dr. Conor John Fitzsimons has never found time to get project management certification himself. Since he is a proven expert in his field, the IAPM decided to pay him the following tribute: Dr. Conor John Fitzsimons was the very first person to receive a Certified International Project Manager (IAPM) certificate. “Shocking, but true,” said the successful coach during his brief dinner speech. “Now I’m official!”

*Only available in a German language version.

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