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Project Management

  • 1.  Project Management

    Posted 05-09-2017 11:57 AM

    Hi,

    I am a civil engineering student from Pakistan, working on my 8th semester at the University of Lahore. I have a strong interest and would love to learn and work with anything that relates to project management within civil engineering. I've done my specialization certification in construction project management, including financial engineering, and risk analysis courses from Columbia University.


    I'd love to hear from anyone in this community who has taken this route in their career. Any advice would be much appreciated!



    ------------------------------
    Mohammad Ahmad Jamal S.M.ASCE
    Rawalpindi
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  • 2.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 05-10-2017 09:56 AM
    Hi Mohammad,
    It is an interesting and challenging career that keep you part of your time in the office and part of your time in the field, with basically 3 tracks: design, construction and both. The fields will basically be roadway, utilities, but you will need the project management components (planning and control, scheduling, cost, quality control)
    Roadways - New, re-construction, widening, re-habilitation of lanes, adding lanes and sidewalks.
    Utilities - Water, Sewer and Drainage. There will be utility coordination with other utilities as fiber optics cable and communications, power.
    You can focus on just the design and specifications, or just construction or both.
    You usually begin as a Project Designer or field inspector, while you are an Engineer in Training. After some years of experience and becoming a PE you will be promoted to a Project Engineer and with some more years a Project Manager.
    Good luck with your career.

    ------------------------------
    Raul Wainer P.E., M.ASCE
    PROJECT MANAGER
    Aventura FL
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 05-10-2017 11:11 AM

    There are courses in Construction Management that you can take, I believe some universities have a complete degree program.

     

    Dan Chase

    Stantec
    1327 Del Norte Road Camarillo CA 93010-9123
    Office Phone: (805) 981-0706 Ext 103

    Direct Phone: 805 322-1665

    Cell: 805 233 0900
    Fax: (805) 981-0251
    Dan.Chase@...

     

     

     

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  • 4.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 07-26-2017 03:05 PM
    Additionally, once a member, look for one or more of their special interest groups that match your interests,
    i.e., Design, Procurement, Construction Special Interest Group.

    Also, consider looking intot eh ASQ - a Global Leader in Quality Improvement & Standards | ASQ
    Asq remove preview
    ASQ - a Global Leader in Quality Improvement & Standards | ASQ
    ASQ is a global leader in quality and consists of a community of passionate people who use their tools, ideas and expertise to make our world better.
    View this on Asq >


    ------------------------------
    William Hayden Ph.D., P.E., CP, F.ASCE
    Management Quality By Design, Inc.
    Amherst NY
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  • 5.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 07-28-2017 03:00 PM
    ​Hi,
    Good to know you are interested in Project Management. Good Project Management is an enabler for successful delivery of Civil Engineering design and construction projects. I will be delighted to provide mentorship.


    ------------------------------
    Engr Emem Abasiattai CEng MEI MASCE MIHE MAPM FNSE, Certified Senior Project Manager-IPMA Lvl B, Chartered Energy Engineer

    Shell Petroleum Dev Co Nigeria
    Rivers State

    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 07-26-2017 03:06 PM
    Hi Mohammed.

    Suggest that you immediately join the Project Management Institute.

    PMI | Project Management Institute
    Pmi remove preview
    PMI | Project Management Institute
    Welcome to PMI
    View this on Pmi >


    Cheers.

    ------------------------------
    William Hayden Ph.D., P.E., CP, F.ASCE
    Management Quality By Design, Inc.
    Amherst NY
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 07-31-2017 05:54 PM
    Hi Mohammed
    There are three different modes in management: Program, Project and Construction management. It is essential to familiarize of the difference between each.
    For myself, I gained good experience in project management throughout 30 years of work in the public sector additional to another 7 years in the field of management consultancy at the private sector. I did not have either time or interest in specializing academically.
    What I would like to say is that you would need certain period of time in practicing civil engineering which would enable you support your academic study with experience even it is moderate.
    Wishing you the best of luck.

    ------------------------------
    Ala Al-Kazzaz C.Eng, M.ASCE
    Procurement Consultant
    World Bank
    Holly Springs NC
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 08-01-2017 02:40 PM
    I completed a 30 year career for a public agency and now have my own business.  To be very successful in engineering project management you need many soft skills in addition to technical skills.   You are the focal point for the project where all information moves, is decided and then is put into action.  You need to be humble so that you have respect for the field staff who have learned their job by suffering through mistakes made by engineers.  When it is 2:00 am, raining and equipment/systems fail, it is these staff that have to make things work in the worst conditions and on the spur of the moment.  Good listening skills are a must.  You will need political acumen.  Much of the time problems are the most complicated when those above you are not supported and they are always at risk of being let go.  Learn where and when your managers are exposed and keep them informed so they can decide if issues need to take a different direction as issues arise. Study negotiation skills and use these for equitable resolution to problems.  Never try to win.  Negotiate for what is fair.  Which brings me to integrity.  Without integrity, you will not earn respect.  Without respect you will have no loyalty from those on your team.  Speak the truth but do it kindly. As a project manager you will need to obtain the help of many people.  You will need to be able to inspire and show people how their job is important to the overall goal and has meaning.  You are the cheer leader.  You are responsible for crating an environment where people feel safe to respectfully speak up. You will need to make sure everyone has the resources they need at the right time.   All great things done on schedule are done through relationships. Build trust, and acknowledge completed work with enthusiasm.  .Measure people by their successes in public, help them develop in needed areas of weakness in private.  Be creative when problems arise, and be proactive.  It is not enough to see what is wrong with the plans; you need to be able to see what is missing. And to be truly successful, maintenance and operations staff should be able to do their jobs with ease and safely. Perform studies to determine how each piece of equipment will be accessed, how tools and equipment will be transported and used and what safety equipment will be needed.    Done well, project management can be an extremely rewarding career path.    Best Regards,

    ------------------------------
    Barbara Salvini P.E., M.ASCE
    Owner
    Barbara A.B. Salvin
    Ramona CA
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 08-02-2017 01:45 PM
    Thank you Barbara Salvini for your insight.  Well put!  I think the pressures on PMs at times causes them to behave as a force to be reckoned with instead of enhancing the synergy of the team.  However, when I reflect on my 15 year career, the PMs that I regard as some of the best that I've worked with all embodied the things that you mentioned!  I also attribute my high performance skill set to having worked on their projects because they did not exhibit negative behavior patterns that would pose a barrier to learning from them.  I believe that the Lean and Agile methods of project management have potential to help rein in the behavior that PMs tend to exhibit because they feel the pressure to deliver. The Lean and Agile methods of project management include continuous deliveries programmed in the project schedule and frequent meetings with the team and the client to help minimize flare-ups. Those desiring to be successful PMs would do themselves much good to develop their project management style to include these more progressive methods.


    Sincerely,

    ------------------------------
    Fabiola Dagrin P.E., M.ASCE
    Senior Civil Engineer
    Houston TX
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 08-03-2017 09:44 AM
    While there is no substitute for experience, I would recommend the ASCE Webinar "From Project Engineer to Project Manager – Look Before You Leap (AWI041913)".

    This webinar gives a good summary on the transition of relying on soft skills others have mentioned.  Last year it was offered with the 5 free PDHs of ASCE membership.

    As you grow in your career you will find that project management is an art, not a science.  You will have to be able to motivate people, keep commitments, get tasks done, and solve problems - often without having any direct supervisory authority over the people responsible for the work.


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    Steven Splitek, P.E., PMP
    Denver, CO
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  • 11.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 06-17-2018 08:40 AM
    Hi Steve. Thanks for your thoughts, portions which I copy for reference below.
    "on the transition of relying on soft skills others have mentioned.  . . . .
    As you grow in your career you will find that project management is an art, not a science.  You will have to be able to motivate people, keep commitments, get tasks done, and solve problems - often without having any direct supervisory authority over the people responsible for the work."

    Traditionally, as we went through our BSCE and MSCE university programs, with rare exception, our professors, and many deans 
    state much of what you note above. I recall one of my deans stating that "We just got rid of another 'soft skill' course which you can pick up on your own once at work. Of course, we now are able to add still another structural analysis course!"

    Really?

    Well, after we get to work we discover, usually within no more than 3 to 4 years, that what they called the "Soft Stuff" is the HARD stuff, and the "Hard Stuff" not really all that hard!

    When I ask professionals to list their workplace issues that get in the way of getting it right the first time, each time, I get a list of anywhere from 37 to 55 issues.

    Then I ask them to consider 5 columns, labelled "People," "Process," "Technology" and "Leadership" with the last column labelled "100%."
    Then, they are asked to assign, for each of the workplace issues that get in the way of getting it right the first time, every time, what percentage they attribute to each of the 4 columns horizontally, such that the last column always adds up to 100%.

    Guess what percentage range is averaged for the entire table, once all is done, for the column, "Technology?"

    More after I hear back.

    Cheers,
    Bill Hayden Jr.
     "Practical Theorist"
    ( with apologies to Kurt Lewin).

    ------------------------------
    William Hayden Ph.D., P.E., CP, F.ASCE
    Amherst NY

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
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  • 12.  RE: Project Management

    Posted 06-18-2018 10:16 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 06-18-2018 10:16 AM
    Bill:

    10%

    Stu

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    Stuart Walesh Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE
    S. G. Walesh Consulting
    Consultant - Teacher - Author
    www.HelpingYouEngineerYourFuture.com

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