This is McLaughlin and McLaughlin’s Project Professional’s first Subject Series Summary regarding Ways of Working. Ways of Working aggregates a collection of topics that may be helpful to program and project managers. This summary update provides an overview of prior posts and provides a baseline for future posts that will follow on a timely basis.
The topics include:
- “PROJECT DOCUMENTATION – VISUAL including WEBCAMS”
- “PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS – LETTERS and E-MAILS”
- “TIME MANAGEMENT – Schedule Specification Implementation (5 part series)”
- “SCHEDULE VALIDATION and AUDITS”
- “NOTICE AND RECOGNITION– Subject Series Summary”
- “Owner Furnished (Supplied) / Free Issue Equipment and Materials”
- “Single Asset Owners”
This summary is very brief and simply serves as an index for readers to follow. Of course, detailed descriptions are contained in the individual posts. The Subject Series page may also be helpful. It contains links to several popular series that consist of multiple posts that build upon earlier discussions.
Ideally this Subject Series provides a starting point to investigate best practice on many topics of interest or features of project management. If you have a suggested topic, please feel free to contact us and let us know.
PROJECT DOCUMENTATION – VISUAL including WEBCAMS – This is a discussion of documenting your project using various techniques including photography and webcams. The first two selections address the general value and/or endorsements. Switching to the subjects of disclosure and privacy, there is a commentary from several perspectives. Regarding planning and an audit trail, the commentary addresses several issues. The perspective is forward looking. The summary offers several thoughts as a “bottom line” summary from my perspective.
PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS – LETTERS and E-MAILS – The first selection addresses the general importance of written communications as well as all other project records. Switching to the subject of e-mails, we have commentary from several perspectives. Always be prepared to accept critical review of any correspondence in potentially adversarial settings. Taking an overall perspective, consider this general guidance. Courtesy can serve to diminish any negative reaction. The e-mail database on a given project can be a source of issues. The following comments emphasize this point. The post includes a “bottom line” summary of key points and thoughts.
TIME MANAGEMENT – Schedule Specification Implementation (5 part series) – This Subject Series will address the sources and implementation of a contract schedule specification. The Subject Series structure is multiple parts and is a logical extension of the series titled MANAGING RISK OF DELAY. In general, this informative work compares two approaches to schedule specification implementation.
SCHEDULE VALIDATION and AUDITS – This three part series addresses Need and Benefit, Validation and Audit, as well as Timing, Methodology and Conclusions.
NOTICE AND RECOGNITION– Subject Series Summary – This summary update provides readers with an overview of Notice and Recognition posts and provides a baseline for future posts that will follow on a timely basis. The series includes discussions of General Information, methods of Ensuring Compliance, Structures, Content, Means and Methods and Backcharges.
Owner Furnished (Supplied) / Free Issue Equipment and Materials – Owner furnished (supplied) equipment (OFE), also known by other terms such as “free issue” presents unique planning and scheduling challenges. The obvious challenge here is to plan and manage around the interface with the supplying (or contract specified) party. These interfaces serve to amplify any issues (delivery, quality, design) that emerge. The message and the conclusions regarding owner furnished equipment (free issue material) is that unique and aggressive planning and scheduling ways of working are necessary.
Single Asset Owners – Revenue generating facilities (e.g. power plants, chemical process facilities) are sometimes owned by a standalone entity. The design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup and turnover of these plants and facilities can be particularly challenging for both owners and contractors. The planning, scheduling and execution of these projects require attention to some unique and compelling factors. The message and the conclusions in this regard are that unique and sometimes unorthodox planning and scheduling ways of working are necessary.
Going forward, we will post other features that are WAYS OF WORKING related to program and project management.
My we wish you the best of luck and let us all attempt to approach program and project management with all the best tools and techniques available as they relate to WAYS OF WORKING.
Please note that McLaughlin and McLaughlin [M&M] is not a law firm and is not intending to provide legal advice. M&M is a consulting firm providing (among other services) non-legal expertise in dispute resolution and litigation support. The Resource Center is for the convenience of blog visitors and M&M does not offer this for commercial purposes. For further information on M&M services, please see www.McLaughlinandMcLaughlin.com.