Good morning fellow toastmasters, first I
would like to ask you the full form of PMP. Yes, that’s correct, it is Project
management professionals.
But today my topic is about a different PMP
which came to my mind-Project mismanagement professionals. I have worked for few months in a
construction site of a large project. On a daily basis, I have witnessed people
dealing issues in an emotional way and not in an intellectual and structured
way as mentioned in the original PMP. Kind and Gentleness ends up at the
Project office. Once we are at the construction site, it is always chaos &
fighting. I am going to enact what happens at site level with a small
conversation.
This is a site progress meeting between the
client and Vendor.
(Threatening, high voice)
Client: “Where is your DPR-Daily progress report”? Vendor
hands over it.
Client “What, as per yesterday’s commitment
you have promised to pull 200 meter of cables from pillar A to pillar B but
only 50% is completed. What is the reason?”
Vendor “Sir yesterday we are unable to do
it. But we will do it today without fail”
Client “Did you not hear what I said, I
asked why you did not do it yesterday”
Vendor “err…sir…We are unable to use the
drilling machines as power was shut down by the electrical department “
Client “Is it my problem, it is your problem…as
per contract it’s a turnkey project for you. So you have to arrange for power
if power not available. This is not a logical reason; tell me why you have not
done the work yesterday”
Vendor “Sir Safety team stopped the work
since my guys are not wearing helmet, also interior team is not allowing us to
touch the ceiling to do the work”
Client “Is it my problem it is your problem.
As per contract you have to adhere to the safety procedures & dealing with
interior team. It is your mistake. I don’t want to hear any more reasons; I
want you to complete the works today in addition to the work lapsed yesterday”
Vendor” No sir it is very difficult. It is not
possible to do it today we don’t have the required manpower”
Client “how dare you say that it cannot be done.
If you are not doing today, I will put heavy fine for delaying the work”
Vendor in a frustrated tone says “Sir we
cannot do that much work today. You do whatever you want, we cannot do it today”.
He walks out of the meeting.
This is how a usual site progress meeting happens
in almost in all construction projects. The above conversation is an example of
Project mismanagement professional. There is always a master/slave relationship
between client and vendor. The client comes to the meeting with his ears shut
and in a threatening mood. Vendor comes with a bag of excuses, lot of delaying
tactics and passes the buck to other departments. Both the client and vendor lose
their temper and get disturbed emotionally and physically and end up in losing
their health with BP & hypertension.
So, Again we have the same conversation in
a different manner.
(Soft tone)
Client “Where is your DPR”.Vendor hands
over it.
Client “as per yesterday’s commitment you
have promised to pull 200 meter of cables from pillar A to pillar B but only
50% is completed. What is the reason?”
Vendor “Sir, My apologies first and there
are few reasons due to which we are unable to do the work”
Vendor “You apologies are fine. But I am
disappointed that you have not escalated to me yesterday itself as my mobile
can be reached 24/7.We have lost a day’s time. Now tell me the reason.”
Vendor “err…sir…We are unable to use the
drilling machines as power was shut down by the electrical department “
Client “I will speak to electrical team and
ensure power does not go off. But also arrange a standby power at your end if
it goes out intermittently”
Vendor “Sir Safety team stopped the work
since my guys are not wearing helmet”
Client
“Your vendors can take the safety
helmet/jackets from our team. They will lend it for today”
Client “Forget about interior team, I am
giving my approval to touch the ceiling. I will personally assure them no
damage will happen.”
Vendor “We don’t have enough manpower
today”
Client “You speak to your manager and push
few people from other site as we cannot support on this. Please inform your
manager to arrange as it is a very urgent work”
Vendor “Ok sir”.
If this kind of cohesive environment as per
the above conversation exists, people will not have undue tension. The client
and vendor should have a collaborative relationship. This will help them to
achieve desired results.
I would like to conclude that for large projects,
steps need to be taken to implements that PMP kind of standard must not stop
with project office alone. It must properly transcend to the site where the
real action takes place. If implemented, it will greatly improve the
productivity and also the quality of the life of people working at the
construction sites. So people can avoid being Project mismanagement
professionals and become Good project management professionals.
