Project Management
From Engineering Consultant to EPC Contractor
In this essay I intend to offer suggestions for the smooth transition of engineering consultants to EPC contractors. Countries are resorting more and more to National Content, Local Content, Indigenization, or similar policies, in a bid to maximize the benefits of their natural resources to their citizens. For instance, the Nigerian Government recently announced that…
Read MoreWHAT IT MEANS TO BE AVERAGE
“Average” is what failures claim to be when their friends ask them why they are not more successful. “Average” is the top of the bottom, the best of the worst, the bottom of the top, the worst of the top. Which of these are you? “Average” means being run-of-the-mill, mediocre, insignificant, an also-ran, a non-entity.…
Read MoreFirst Step in Personal Development
In this essay I intend to shade some light on self-awareness as a first step in personal development. Personal development for most people begins and ends with professional or career development. That is because of inadequate self-awareness.
Read MoreHOW TO SELECT A COACH OR MENTOR PART 2
I conclude this two-part series by offering suggestions on how to select and work with a coach for personal and professional growth. Few concepts have suffered more misrepresentation and abuse than coaching. For most people, the idea of a coach is more of a sports coach. But in recent times such expressions as life coach,…
Read MoreHOW TO SELECT A COACH OR MENTOR
I begin this two-part series in which I offer suggestions on how to select a coach or mentor by focusing on how to select and work with a mentor for personal and professional growth. This is how to stand on the shoulders of giants.
Read MoreFOR BUSY PROJECT MANAGERS ONLY
Project managers are very busy people. They are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the project. Their responsibilities include managing the project budget; technical deliverables of the project; assembly, development and leading the project team as well as managing other project stakeholders. That is the making of busy project managers! It gets even…
Read MoreEffective Communication – Key to Project Success
Evidences abound that effective communication is key to project success. The Project Management Institute (PMI), for example, recognizes communication as one of the knowledge areas necessary for project management success. It also outlines the role communication plays in each project phase and what form it needs to take.
Read MoreImprove Planning, Improve Project Success
Various studies have identified planning as one of the critical success factors in the project management; improving planning improves project success. Thus, high-quality planning improves project execution resulting in project success. Many studies and project management experts attest to this fact.
Read MoreNew Project Team Member – The Elephant in the Room
It often happens that a project team member (PTM) is replaced for several reasons. What is not generally understood is that the addition of new PTM comes with its own risks. The new project team member may become the elephant in the room that needs to be managed skillfully. Otherwise, performance or even the project…
Read MoreSTAKEHOLDER BEHAVIOR LESSONS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS
Discerning observers of events in both the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council would realise that they can learn a lot about stakeholder behaviours and how to manage them. For instance, many have watched with dismay how it has been very difficult for the two bodies to achieve unanimity of opinions on very…
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