Effectively managing large-scale MEP projects

Dr.Tahir Hanif PhD MSc MCIOB MAPM MACostE MIC CMC MRICS

Project Control Specialist – Public Works Authority (ASHGHAL)

2nd Annual MEP Qatar Summit And Awards (8th May 2012)

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Presentation outline Why Project Management is important? Project Management - the journey so far Current issues & problems How to tackle future challenges The 10 step plan Q&A

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Why Project Management Is Important? Project management has become the defacto mode

for delivering ‘mission critical’ work which cannot be delivered by any other management means.

You could be working as: Project Director Project Manager Project Team Member (Engineer, Architect, Specialist) Client Stakeholder End User

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Project Management Timeline

(1896) Karol Adamiecki develops the Harmonogram

(1914) Henry Gantt uses Gantt Charts

(1967) Earned Value used by the US Government

(1957) CPM developed by Remington Rand Univac(1960) PERT developed as part of the Polar Missile Program

(1985) Theory of Constraints developed by Dr. Goldratt(1991) Rapid Application Development devised by James Martin(1991) SCRUM methodology developed

(2004) Extreme Project Management promoted by Doug DeCarlo

(1911) Frederick Taylor publishes ‘Principles of Scientific Management’

(1965) IPMA established

(1969) PMI established(1970) APM established

(2001) eXtreme Programming (XP) developed by Kent Back(2002) AGILE manifesto comes into existence(2005) International Centre for Complex Project Management established

(1903) The Wrights brothers flight è

(1914) World War 1 starts è(1918) World War 1 ends

è

(1939) World War 11 starts è(1945) World War 11

finishes è

(1969) Space craft ‘Eagle’ lands on the moon è

First test flight of Concorde

(2000) Dot com crash è(2008) Financial markets

crash è(2012) Current financial crisis ! è

(Euro zone)

Adaptive Project

Management

Predictive Project

Management

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Emerging Issues For Today’s Projects Number of interactions between organisations Lack of the resources with the appropriate training &

skills ‘Commercialisation’ of the project management

philosophy People not adhering to the fundamentals of project

management

In other words ... “We need project management solutions based on simplicity and common sense!”

Perfect Definition Of Project Management

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The art and science of converting vision into reality (Professor Rodney Turner)

Promoter

Client

Project Manager

Final Product

Stakeholder Expectations

Its Easy And Its Not That Easy!

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Engage heart, mind and soul!

Project Management

Just Do It

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The 10 STEPS to better projects

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Step 1 Understand what you are asked to do Don’t be afraid to ask questions You may need a different approach Take time to think through your actions

“If you want to be different from your

competitors … you must have the courage to set

new standards”

Understand WHAT is REQUIRED“Conventional opinion is the ruin of our souls”

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī also known as Rūmī (1207 – 1273) 13th-century Persian Muslim poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic

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Step 2 People are the lifeblood of projects Select individuals carefully Mentor and coach those with

inadequate skills Provide appropriate training and

support

“You cannot deliver projects without energised and focused individuals in

your team”

SELECT the RIGHT people“ When you're part of a team, you stand up for your teammates. Your loyalty is to them. You protect them through good and bad, because they'd do the same for you. ”

Yogi Berra Former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager

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Step 3 Keep it simple (Accurate, Brief, Concise) Understand limitations of your audience Understand different cultures and

modes of communication Reduce project bureaucracy Harness the use of IT

“Simple communication can improve

understanding and engagement of

individuals”

COMMUNICATE appropriately“ The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said. ”

Peter Drucker (1909 - 2005)Influential writer, management consultant, and self-described “social ecologist.

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Step 4 Lead by example Develop the right ethos Provide adequate support Constantly monitor and improve Listen to you team!

“Your team will perform better in the right working

environment”

MAINTAIN the RIGHT project environment

“ You are a product of your environment. So choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective. Analyze your life in terms of its environment. Are the things around you helping you toward success - or are they holding you back”

Clement Stone (1902 – 2002)Businessman, philanthropist and author.

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Step 5 Don’t copy other projects! Apply the right methodology Take time to customise it to suit the

project needs Make sure everyone understands it! Obtain specialist help if required

“Be careful, keep administration down to a

minimum”

SELECT the RIGHT methodology“ If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise. ”

Robert Fritz Author, management consultant, composer and filmmaker

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Step 6 You must measure your performance

constantly Make sure everyone is aware of their

contribution Share this information with your project

team

“Without meaningful measurement you will not

know what you have achieved”

CONSTANTLY measure PERFORMANCE

“ Performance is your reality. Forget everything else.”

Harold Geneen ((1910 -1997)American businessman and former president of the ITT Corporation

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Step 7 Keep an eye on your project

environment Make adjustments to the team Add or remove processes Make processes lean

“Do not be rigid in your approach! ... adapt to your

environment”

ADJUST to your ENVIRONMENT

“ The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.”

Okakura Kakuzo (1862 -1913) Japanese scholar who contributed to the development of arts in Japan

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Step 8 Innovation can be a solution to existing

problems Don’t be afraid to try new things or

develop new ideas ‘Break the mould’... be different!

“Innovation is the key to success … and competitive

advantage!”

Be INNOVATIVE

“ The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get old ones out. Every mind is a building filled with archaic furniture. Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it.”

Dee Hockthe founder and former CEO of the VISA credit card association

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Step 9 Projects can be stressful! Create excitement in what you do Encourage others to see the fun in work Be an optimist Stay positive and encourage others to do

the same

“If you enjoy what you do, you are likely to perform

better”

ENJOY what you do

“ The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”

Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic

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Review and check whether you have achieved what you set out to do

Learn from your experiences Celebrate success!

“Learn from your mistakes and celebrate your

successes!”

Step 10REVIEW things when you FINISH“ Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. ”

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945)32nd President of the United States

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In summary ... The 10 Steps Step 1 Understand what is required Step 2Select the right people Step 3Communicate appropriately Step 4 Maintain the right project environment Step 5 Select the right methodology Step 6Constantly measure performance Step 7 Adjust to you environment Step 8 Be innovative Step 9 Enjoy what you do Step 10 Review things when you finish

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A Project Manager’s viewpoint“Project management is not rocket science. It's all about delivering a project on time, on budget, to specification and to a good quality with zero defects. We all know what to do, it's just having sufficient time to do it all properly which is never the case.”

(One of many comments received from a questionnaire survey, 2008)

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Thank you for listening ...

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