Regular Challenges in Project Management

If you scan available sourecs - internet, journals, magazines - there are always tips and tricks which can help Project Managers to get through their days a little easier. This article gives some ideas of how to avoid time wasters in particular.

Useful references - The Inclusion of Sustainability in Project Management

As a field of knowledge, Sustainability enjoys the attraction of being "cutting edge", relevant and constantly changing, aspects which should be bourne in mind by Project Managers and Construction Professionals.

 

References here provide a good set of guidelines to Project Managers and Construction Professionals working in the sustainability field, or simply including aspects of sustainability in their projects.

 

Sustainability or the lack thereof is a regular hurdle in the development of golf courses. The recent Masters tournament brings Golf Courses and their construction to the fore.

e-Tolling and the Media

The e-Tolling debacle contnues. Unfortunately lazy journalism by ill-informed hacks doesn't help to build a nation trying to strengthen its economy.

Despite this article's inference, only a limited number of the contractors registered with SAFCEC are involved in the GFIP. Reference to a "community" clearly shows ignorance of how concession projects are put together. Clearly there is no understanding of the EIA process required by law, including public participation, and it is unlikely that equity and debt funding participants as well as parastatals accept "shallow feasibility studies" (whatever that means), as the basis for spending billions of rands.

It does seem that journalists (and academics drafted in to write for the newspapers) have established themselves as judge and jury, vigilantes writing what ever pops into their heads in a splatter-gun approach betraying a moment of excitement - perhaps seeing themselves as our saviours!

Of course the construction industry is happy to build something if someone will pay for it, Vaughan Mostert - when you don't get paid you may begin to understand the principle. Your implication that Consultants and Engineers can be bought and sold is libellous and indicates your ignorance of the codes of conduct established by SAICE and ECSA.

We have faith that level-headed engineers and project managers will again resolve the issues created by politicians and the media...!

The Work Breakdown Structure - an essential planning tool

A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) gives project teams both a deeper understanding of the overall work required and a way to identify problems before they become too costly. By forcing the project team to break complex tasks into bite-sized chunks, according to workstream and resources, it promotes clearer thinking an prevents projects from failing through lack of planning.

The Project Management Institute has produced a number of good documents on the development of WBS's, and most good project management courses include the development of WBS's as part of the syllabus.

A WBS can be used to link estimates, budgets, schedules, and cost control through a common visual language. When executed properly and consistently across several projects, a WBS can also be used to generate historical data that can ultimately benefit companies by providing their projects’ teams with valuable price comparisons and future estimates. A good primer on the subject is here.

The construction process is improved in these three key areas — communication, logic of process, and cost comparisons — making a WBS a worthwhile component in the planning of any major construction project, so that it meets the ultimate goal of delivery within budget.

Project Management and Leadership

The difference between planning, project management, line management and leadership

The Construction and Engineering environment requires clear, quick decision-making under time and budget pressures, Leadership and taking responsibility are two traits crucial to achieving success on site or in the design office. Of course, the design office, fabrication plant or construction site are simply individual cogs in the larger environment of a larger business. This means there is planning, project management, line management and leadership required at all levels, on site, and at higher management levels, for example. Getting one's head around the difference between the project management/construction management function and the business management function is an art not easily mastered.

 

A good summary of these topics from a generic management perspective can be found here.

Communication is key, part 2

A previous post outlined the importance of communication in Project Management. As most will know, poor or inadequate communication can destroy projects. Bad communication leads to low morale, negative attitudes, missed deadlines, higher staff turnover, disgruntled clients, delays and frustration (amongst others) and adds to an overall impression of bad management.

 

PMBOK outlines a structured regime of communiction tools, but often the soft skills of communication are what's really lacking. Technical approaches to this sort of skill set are not always the answer.

 

With this in mind, consider the technique of "Active Listening". This skill is a useful way of deliberately communicating with project participants, and enables and empowers people who a. believe they have been heard, and b. get their message across and receive what's being communicated. In one example of an active listening technique, the acronym CAPS stands for Clarify, Acknowledge, Paraphrase and Summarise, all steps to greater understanding between participants. A good summary of the techniques can be found here with additional references.

 

The following phrases are examples of how to put Active Listening into practice:

1. Clarify:  "What exactly are you trying to say?"
2. Acknowledge:   "I hear what you are saying is ....."
3. Paraphrase:  "In other words, you are saying that....."
4. Summarise:  "So in short we're saying that...?"

At first glance the phrases may seem very similar, but each of the actions they are conveying are quite different, and these actions can be used in different parts of a discussion very effectively to clearly understand the other's point of view, and allow them to feel really heard and valued.

 

Another useful reference is here.

Project Management in Business and the Built Environment

The influence of Project Management in business is increasing. As businesses grow, the need for internal procedures and working methods increases. This is especially the case for projects and their management. On site of course, the complexity of projects requires detailed planning, deliberate management and clear risk and communication procedures. Sometimes procedures are built up by trial and error, and in some cases external methodologies are used. Either way, the effective use of these procedures and their suitability to project size, complexity and human resources will make or break a project.

 

This article outlines some pitfalls to avoid.