Review of the book ‘How Big Things Get Done’ by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner

‘How big things get done‘ by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner is an interesting new book intending to explain to the general public the challenges of projects in general, and large projects in particular. It draws of course on the extensive academic body of work of Bent Flyvbjerg (professor at Oxford and quite invested in many aspects of large public projects regulation and administration), which is based on a unique database of large projects built over the years.

An attractive aspect of the book is its opening to other projects that are not industrial or infrastructure, like for example, Pixar movie production projects as a template for project definition phases, to detect good practices that could be used more widely.

A points is made about the generally dismal record of large projects, and particularly the need to take sufficient time to plan, but be quite expeditive in execution. This is summarised under the principle “plan slowly, act fast” which is a motto used through out the book. The risks associated with long execution phases cannot be understated in terms of changes to the project environment and they play a big role in the challenges of long winded projects such as nuclear industry or other infrastructure for which the construction phase is long.

The authors also reinforce the need to be very clear about the purpose and objectives of the project, and keep them in mind at any time. Also, an excellent point is made that proposed projects can always be compared with other projects in their class, and that although always unique in certain aspects, all projects can be benchmarks to improve the quality of the estimate. The authors observe that in too many cases initial estimates are way too optimistic because of this lack of benchmarking.

Finally, a point is made, and reinforced through statistical analysis of a wide database of projects, that modular projects where smaller modules can be reproduced to scale (such as typically in solar and wind projects) are more successful and avoid excessive deviations from the expected performance (long tail effects).

All in all, an easy-to-read book that can be widely recommended and introduction to those decision-makers that get involved in large projects without experience in the subjet, as well as an entertaining and inspiring read for project practitioners.

New Edition of our Project Scheduling Handbook for Project Managers

We are proud to announce the publishing of the 2nd edition of our reference handbook on project scheduling for project managers. It has been written by Jeremie Averous with the help from Thierry Linares and Farhang Pakzad for certain chapters.

This updated, must-have practical handbook for Large, Complex Projects originated in the trenches of actual Project execution. It differs markedly from most handbooks on Project scheduling by taking the Project Manager’s point of view. It thus fills a gap between Project management and Schedule professionals to create useful conversations in organizations.

It is not a heavy and detailed bible, but rather a practical reference for Project practitioners in Large Projects. Those Projects require specific approaches to deal with size and complexity.

Project Scheduling needs to reflect accurately the condition of the Project, coordinate effectively the work of all contributors and be used to define execution strategies. It is also used to support commercial claims. This handbook presents groundbreaking methods and principles to improve significantly the benefits and reliability of the Project Scheduling process.

In this practical Handbook specifically written by and for the Project Manager, discover how to upgrade significantly the effectiveness of Project Scheduling for Large Complex Projects.

The handbook is available both on paperback (on your favorite e-bookshop) and kindle format (on Amazon). Here are the links for Amazon.com (paperback, kindle), Amazon.co.uk (paperback, kindle), Amazon.fr (paperback, kindle). Enjoy the read!

If you can’t access the links, just look for the book or the authors on your favorite online bookshop.

Book Review: Project & Program Turnaround by Thomas Pavelko

We found this book ‘Project & Program Turnaround‘ quite insightful and worth sharing – although we are quite choosy on the books we review on this blog.

The author, Thomas Pavelko, is a former program manager with a large aeronautical company and therefore, the book is somewhat tainted by the context of large defense and aeronautics programs that produce high technology tangible products, sometimes subject to short series; and that are developed inside a larger organisation performing many more similar programs at the same time. However, the learning points are quite universal and we have appreciated much the emphasis put on leadership and teamwork as a linchpin for program turnaround.

The main concepts revolve around transforming the project team into an effective team that delivers the various recovery milestones supporting each other. Beyond sound recommendations about proper leadership practices, a few aspects we have noted:

• the essential role of the turnaround lead, ideally sourced from within the organisation if possible
• the recommendation to come up with a first turnaround plan with clear short term targets (commitments) in days rather than in weeks
• the essential part that colocation of the teams plays in turnaround success
• the need to promote innovation in terms of how to do things and have the door open to any idea even if it looks weird at the start
• The need to put together a control framework that allows anticipation through trending analysis
• The need to make sure all events and failures are properly analysed for the root cause because repetition later in the project will cost dearly

All in all, ‘Project & Program Turnaround‘ is quite recommendable book for project managers facing the challenges of turning around their large project or program.

Read our new book: Industrial Projects Practical Owner Guide

We are very pleased to announce the publication of our new book, which we certainly expect to be a future standard reference book in the area of project management: our Industrial Projects Practical Owner Guide.

Based on our consulting experience, we have found that many owners struggle to set up the right approach to properly frame and control their projects. This book is an essential guide to support all owners of industrial projects. As usual in our approach, it is simple and to the point, yet practical and comprehensive.

The book also covers all the phases of the projects including practical project execution issues and challenges such as contractor management or when to stop a project that has gone wrong.

This book addresses specifically the project challenges from the owner perspective, which are not often addressed in a comprehensive manner in project management literature.

You can find the link to the Foreword and introduction here and the link to the Table of Content here.

Some praise from the foreword:

“Jeremie Averous’ guide addresses all these issues and a few more. He does so with a great deal of clarity, common sense and humility, backed by proven experience in the field, which does not start from great theories but from the observation of facts. It covers from special cases to global statistics, from successes but also, no less interesting, to failures which are unfortunately still very frequent. Quite a piece of advice to be put in everyone’s hands!” – Bruno Bensasson – Chairman and CEO of EDF Renewable Energy

“The salutary objective of this book is to develop an understanding of the pitfalls of industrial projects for project owners. I hope that it will find an attentive audience and that it will indeed help to increase the performance of projects.” – Yannick d’Escatha, former Chairman and CEO, French Space Agency

The book is available on all e-bookshops as well as in Kindle format on Amazon. Here are the links for amazon.com (paperback and kindle) and amazon.co.uk (paperback and kindle)

It has been also simultaneously translated in French and is available in this language too. Here is the link to the French version of the book on amazon.fr and to the kindle version on amazon.fr.

Do not miss: For a limited time frame, a launch promotion applies to the Kindle version of the book (9.90 USD or the equivalent in local currency)

If you can’t access the links, copy and paste the following in your browser: Foreword and Introduction: https://www.projectvaluedelivery.com/_files/Owner_handbook_EN_Foreword_Intro.pdf ; Table of Contents: https://www.projectvaluedelivery.com/_files/Owner_handbook_EN_ToC_Index.pdf

The Second Edition of our Cost Control Handbook is out

We are proud to announce the publication of the Second Edition of our recommended Cost Control handbook. It has been regularly praised as an excellent reference for project control practitioners and more than 2,000 copies of the first edition have been sold worldwide since the first edition was produced in 2014. We have also produced customised versions for some organisations, and the book has served to support our advanced training programmes as well as courses given in some universities.

If you are looking for the right reference on project cost control, that’s the book you need. Short and to the point, it addresses all aspects of cost control you need to know from the project practitioner perspective.

This second edition is improved, slightly expanded and more specifically addresses better the needs of owners (the first edition was more geared towards contractors). Specific chapters are devoted to owner-specific and contractor-specific issues, making it the reference handbook for cost control across the entire project value chain.

EXCLUSIVE! Discover the Table of Contents and Index, and the Foreword, Introduction and Cost Control Golden Rules of the book!

Here are the links to buy the Practical Cost Control Handbook for Project Managers – 2nd edition on Amazon in the US, UK, France and on Kindle (US). Or search for its title on your preferred online bookshop worldwide. The Kindle version is available across all amazon national websites.

Our intent is to progressively publish second editions of our series project control handbooks with improvements based on experience and feedback received from readers (visit our books page on our website). Stay tuned for the next upgrade!

If you can’t click on the links above, copy the following links in your browser:

Table of contents: https://www.projectvaluedelivery.com/_files/CC_2nd_ed_contents_index.pdf

Foreword etc: https://www.projectvaluedelivery.com/_files/CC_2nd_ed_foreword_introduction_golden.pdf

Website book page: https://projectvaluedelivery.com/index.php/books/

Our New Practical Project Control Manager Handbook is Published (Exclusive Links!)

We are proud to have our new Practical Project Control Manager Handbook published – after our trilogy on Cost, Project Risk and Scheduling. Understand how to become a Project Strategist!

Our unique Practical Project Control Manager Handbook

“In this book, you are taken through a pragmatic practitioner’s journey of how to establish and run Project Control to give reliable management information enabling timely management intervention. The Project Control Manager Handbook is both informative and easy to read. It would sit comfortably in any Project Delivery professional’s bookcase.” – Jonathan Crone, Director of the Programme Management Office, High Speed 2 Ltd.

Project Control Managers when they exist in Projects are still too often focused on data-crunching and reporting. They do not deliver the potential immense value they could provide in terms of analysis, forecasting and strategic support.

The ambition of this must-have handbook is to change this situation. It may well be the first ever Project Control Manager Handbook published. It originated in the trenches of actual Project execution: it is not a heavy and detailed bible, but rather a practical reference for Project practitioners to understand the principles and traps of of Project Control Management over the entire lifecycle of Large or Complex Projects.

In addition, the handbook details best practice roadmaps for Project start-up, monitoring and close-out.
This handbook complements our trilogy of Advanced Handbooks on Project Control functions (Cost Control, Schedule and Project Risk).

EXCLUSIVE! Discover the Table of Contents, Introduction and Index, and the Chapters 1 and 2 of the book!

Here are the Amazon links to buy the Practical Project Control Manager Handbook in the US, UK, France and on Kindle (US).

Our New Advanced Project Scheduling Handbook is Published! (and exclusive links)

We are proud to have our third Project Control Handbook published – after Cost and Risk, this time our Advanced Project Scheduling Handbook.

Know How to Navigate in Large, Complex Projects!

This must-have practical handbook for Large, Complex Projects originated in the trenches of actual Project execution. It differs markedly from most handbooks on Project scheduling by taking the Project Manager’s point of view. It thus fills a gap between Project management and Schedule professionals to create useful conversations in organizations.

It is not a heavy and detailed bible, but rather a practical reference for Project practitioners in Large Projects. Those Projects require specific approaches to deal with size and complexity.

Project Scheduling needs to reflect accurately the condition of the Project, coordinate effectively the work of all contributors and be used to define execution strategies. It is also used to support commercial claims. This handbook presents groundbreaking methods and principles to improve significantly the benefits and reliability of the Project Scheduling process.

In this practical Handbook specifically written by and for the Project Manager, discover how to upgrade significantly the effectiveness of Project Scheduling for Large Complex Projects.

EXCLUSIVE! Discover the Table of Contents, Introduction and Index, and the Chapters 1 and 2 of the book!

Here are the links to buy the Advanced Scheduling Handbook for Project Managers in the US, UK, France and on Kindle (US).