SIMPLY PROJECTS

PMC @JKR Perak

The above pictures were taken this afternoon at JKR Perak during the closing ceremony of the Project Management course conducted by my team. I was happy to note that we have created the awareness of the nine knowledge areas as stipulated in The PMBOK.About seventy professionals and sub-professionals attended the 9-days course.

Project Leadership

Leadership has many definations- you can read most of them in management books. In the context of project management, let me quote Verma:

Project leadership is an ability to to get things done well through others.

It requires:-

1.A vision of the destination( project objectives )

2.An ability to communicate vision to others( communication )

3.A compelling reason to get there( commitment )

4.A set of directions and realistic timetable( project plan,budget,schedule )

5.A capacity to attarct a team and make it work together( developing and fostering teamwork )

In Naked Leadership, David Taylor states a formula for guaranteed success:

1.Know where you want to go.

2.Know where you are now.

3.Know what you have to do,to get where you want to go.

4.Do it!

"If you do not know where you want to go,any roads will take you there."-Alice in The Wonderland.

IMHO,we need both project leadership as well as project management all the time throughout the project phases and life cycle.My observations showed that less emphasis was given to project leadership compared to project management.Good leaders do the right things;and good managers do the things right!

Two questions first:

1.What are the traits and skills of project leadership?

2.How and when do you relate leadership attributes/styles to project life cycle?

KLIA Luggage snag

It has happened before and the minister concerned was talking about the need to upgrade the RM20m system that fails after about 5 years in service. Now,it is happening again....the management informed the public that action will taken soon. When is "soon", I have no clue whatsoever.

We all love to have the latest technology in our airports,water treatment plants,buildings and even our personal gadgets like mobile phone,pda etc.What more, if we could also incorporate the latest ICT stuff in them. From my experience, if we are dealing in projects involving critical public utilities,it is better to go for appropriate and proven technology. I know of one project(now there is a legal case going on), that the latest technology offered by a contractor had failed to meet the agreed specifications.

In project management, who decide what technology goes into a system? When something goes wrong,who is responsible and accountable?

Beautifully designed entrance

This photo was taken from Lot 10 entrance facing Sungai Wang Shopping Complex. How I wish we could have more of these beautifully designed entrances to our buildings in Kuala Lumpur.

With some ingenuity from architects and a little more fund from clients, KL would be a better place.

Abandoned property projects..

The above picture ia taken from a hotel room in Malacca. It is an abandoned property project, most likely the victims of the last economic recession. Just estimate the money got stuck inside such a project and multiply the thousands across the country? It may runs into billions of ringgits!

How do we plan for such a business risk?

When the giant begins to dance..

Now, my team is conducting a course in PM for all professionals in JKR Perak. I am very pleased with their enthusiasm to learn.
When the giant begins to dance, the earth will tremble-all those connected to JKR will feel the vibrations. Like it or not, they (consultants, contractors,clients ) will have to dance to the music.

To-date ,about 300 government officers,consultants and contractors have attended PM courses conducted by my partners and me from XPROJECT MANAGEMENT.