Presentation on Project Management basics and tools for professionals in the Public Works industry. Given to members of the Santa Fe Branch on May 3, 2017 in Alachua County, Florida.
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Project Management for Public Works Professionals - Santa Fe Branch 2017
1. Project Management for
Public Works Professionals
Charles R. (Chas) Jordan
M.P.A., P.W.E., F.M.P.
Assistant Public Works Director /
Facilities Manager
City of Largo, Florida
Santa Fe Branch – May 5, 2017
APWA Florida Chapter
2. Suggested Resources
● IFMA FMP Program – Project Management
● Project Management Professional (PMP)
Program Information
● MS Project and Other Project Management
Software Courses
● APWA Materials -
– Management of Public Works Construction Projects
– Project Management in Construction
– PSMJ Project Management Bootcamp
3. PM Basics
● Project Management – Can't be Taught
in an Hour
● Same Basic Principles of Project
Management apply to general
Management
● Experience is the best way to learn
appropriate project management
principles
● There is no such thing as a perfect
Project.
4. What is a Project?
● According to Joseph Juran:
– “A Problem scheduled for Solution”
● According to IFMA:
– “Projects are specific units of work that
when completed produce an outcome or
achieve an objective”
● According to Chas:
– “Something that needs to get done.”
5. Examples of Projects
● Building a Treatment Plant
● Replacing a Roof on a Building
● Repaving a Street
● Developing a Strategic Plan
● Developing a Budget Submittal
● Implementing a new software system
● Becoming Accredited
6. What is Project Management?
● According to IFMA:
– “Project Management is the coordination of
people, funds and resources, tasks, and
approvals required to accomplish an objective”
● According to PMI:
– “Project Management is the application of
knowledge, skills and techniques to execute
projects effectively and efficiently”
● According to Chas:
– Project Management is the skills to get
something done within the planned
requirements
7. Project Management in Public
Works
● Why is it important?
● How many projects do each of us work
on per day?
– Per week?
– Per year?
● Can we get away with being good
Public Works Professionals and never
manage a project?
8. “All things are created twice;
first mentally; then physically.
The key to creativity is to
begin with the end in mind,
with a vision and a blue print
of the desired result.”
- Stephen Covey
9. Project Management Basics
● What do you need to make a
project successful
– Scope (Clear and Specific)
– Resources (Financial,
Physical, and Personal)
– Time (an established
Deadline)
10. The Role of the
Project Manager
● Congratulations! You are now a PM. May
God have mercy on your soul...
● What do you do? What do you need to
know?
● What is a quality Project Manager?
– Leader
– Knowledgable
– Team Builder and Facilitator
– Good Manager of People and Resources
– Quality Communicator
11. Project Schedule
● As the Project Manager, upon being
given a Project to manage, you should
follow a basic four step schedule:
1.Project Initiation
2.Project Planning
3.Project Performance
4.Project Review
12. Project Initiation
● Determination of the Project Manager
● Development of the Project Scope
● Determination of the total Project
Budget
● Selection of Project Team Members
● Designation of the Timeframe or
Deadline
13. Project Planning
● Development of a Project
Management Plan (PMP)
– Should Include:
● Designated Project Manager
● Total Project Budget
● Project Timeframe
● Sponsor or Designated Representative
● Customer
● The Project Scope (in less than one page)
● General Description of the Project
● Any Resources needed for the Project
● Signatures of Approved Parties
15. Project Planning
● Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
– Checklist of tasks through the Projects
major milestones
● Basic task list that divides the project's
deliverables and work into manageable or
logical subdivisions
● Assists in clarifying the project's scope
● Easily managed in assigning work and
resources
● Can assist in development of Project plan and
budget
16. Project Planning
● Development of Specific Project
Budget
– A Project Budget should include
● The total designated in your City or County
Departmental budget
● A broken down budget by major project
deliverables
● A Contingency
● Variances
● Project Actuals
– Learn to love Spreadsheets (even though
they are a pain)
18. Project Planning
● Development of Project
Timeline
– A Project Timeline can be established
through a:
● General Calendar
● Gantt Chart
● Electronic Calendar Meetings
– A Timeline should include:
● Set Start and End Dates
● Major Milestones
● Completion Targets
19. Project Planning
● Procurement of Resources
– Recruitment of Quality Project Team
Members
● Assessment of Team Strenghts and
Weaknesses
● Designation of Members to particular aspects
of objectives of the project
● Good Mix of Skills and Abilities
● Right people in the right place
– Appropriation of Equipment and Supplies
● Do you need an end loader or a backhoe?
20. Project Performance
● Keeping to the Schedule
– Two to Three Week Look Aheads
– Schedule Updates Every Monday Morning
– Review of Objectives each week
– Flexible time schedules within Timeframe
● Keeping to the Budget
– Minimum Monthly Financials (Project Payments)
– Variance Reports as Major Purchases are Made
● Keeping to the Scope
– Change Order Reviews
– Project Team Management – Who Has the Power??
21. Project Performance
● “Scope Creep”
– According to Wikipedia:
● “Uncontrolled changes in a project's scope”
– According to Infolific:
● “Change in Project Scope after Project is Started”
– According to Chas:
● The Project Manager isn't doing their job, or
politics reared it's ugly head.
– Example:
● Adding a Landscaping Element to a Road Project
After the Fact
22. Top 20 Excuses Why Projects
Fail – PSMJ – Chas's Favorites
● The project team was full of incompetents.
● I didn't have enough time.
● The budget was unrealistic.
● I couldn't get enough help.
● The schedule was unrealistic.
● The contractor didn't understand the job.
●
This job was “unique”.
23. Project Review / Completion
● Closing Out the Project
– Acceptance of Deliverables
● Is the Project meeting the Scope and/or
Specification?
● Has it been properly inspected?
● Have you reviewed your checklist (WBS) and
everything has been checked off?
● Has a punchlist been reviewed and completed?
● Has warranty information been properly
developed and turned over?
● Has retainage been reviewed and approved?
● Has all correct documentation been turned over?
24. Project Review / Completion
● Reviewing the Project
– Evaluate the Outcomes and Outputs
● Did they meet the Customer's Expectations?
● Did they meet the requirements in the PMP?
● Has the basic Scope been met?
– Tools for Review:
● Balance Scorecard Review
● After Action “Lessons Learned” Review
(whether the project went well or not)
● Scope and Financial Audits to determine
variance
25.
26. Unique Aspects of PW Project
Management
● Politics
– City or County Commissions and Councils
– Public Opinion and Input
– Districts
– N.I.M.B.Y.
● Media
– Under the microscope
– Build Relationships with Reporters
– Have your facts straight
– Weekly or Monthly Status Reports
27. Takeaways
● Train your Project Managers
– PSMJ
– PMI
● Develop a functional System in Your
Department
– PMP Worksheets
– WBS Worksheets
● Even Good Projects Go Bad, the
Difference: The Project Manager