A few days ago, I started trying an intranet from http://www.intranets.com and set up a trial version(for 30 days) for my bridge project.It contains features like discussion,annoucements,email,document etc. One thing I like it acts like a virtual project office and I can sync with my palm111c.For ten users,I will have to pay about RM 200 a month.

Last Friday(9/11/01), I have conducted a free talk on project management assisted by Peter WA Wood and KE Lau. about 15 people attended the talk. My objectives were to dissiminate the project management knowledge and as well as to get more people to really learn more about PM.

It is interesting to note that about 50% of the work done in organisations are projects in nature.

I have just installed a project scheduling software for my palm111c. It is from BrainForest.

Another more interesting one that I look forward to buying is the Project@Hand from www.natara.com. It is MS Project in my palm!

To-day my supplier installed MS Project 2000 on my notebook.

On 9th Nov., 2001, I will giving a short discourse on Project Management at Ridzuan's office for free. My objective is to spread the knowledge and get everyone involved in any project to learn more about the PMBOK and the discipline of Project Management.

Two days ago, I have attended a short course on MS Project 2000.
Note: I am pleased and honoured to be appointed as project management consultant to MERCY on pro bono basis.

Continous Professional Development

Yesterday I have the opportunity to meet up with my friend,the Director of JBAS. He is as concerned as I am regarding the quality of project management and the needs of young managers to be properly educated and guided in managing projects.When I told him that I organised project management talks for free, I ended getting a job to hold a free talk to his staff.
Now, I must be more careful before I open up my big mouth.

RM 29 billions Project

I thought I have seen the biggest project in Malaysia i.e The RM 9 billions KLIA project! ,However there is a bigger one which became the main topic of The Edge weekly today. It is the NPL ( non-performing loans)-a sum that is mind boggling and I wish ALL THE LUCK in the world to my friend Dato' Azman Yahya,the new kid on the block ( Malaysian corporate scence). In my personal experience, I found it easier to manage a road project compared to a corporate turn around.

Two days ago I met my long time friend who is the executive director of his construction company. When I asked what is main problem in managing his project,he smiled and told me that his biggest problem now is to secure projects for his company. During this economic slowdown, it is tough to get a project. Getting a contract is THE PROJECT by itself.

I share his concern for he has 200 staff and a few millions ringgit worth of hardwares literally idling....

A few days ago, I was telling my technical savvy friends about my intention to use project central for my project management software.They told me that project central have some hiccups and recommended me to use quickplace from Lotus Notes. May be I got to try both softwares before I decide to use any of them??
Any comments?

To-day I met two young men who are interested to know more about project management. I believe there are a lot more of young people involved in project management and have little knowledge of the body of knowledge of PM and PM methodologies. However, not many of their bosses realised the importance of training these highly qualified technical personnels in PM. Many projects failed not because of the lack of technical knowledge but more on the lack of PM knowledge ,skills and experience. To my surprise, many govt. department and private corporations have very little budget on training despite having billions of project to implement:-(

PROJECT 2000 & PROJECT CENTRAL:
I spent about one and the half hour with Mr Lau of CT Solution. He showed me the features of these project management softwares. I plan to use the product for my coming project. How I wish these softwares were available to me when I was a young project manager in the 70's and 80's. The technology is available to-day, but not many people are willing to learn, unlearn and relearn the new way of managing projects.

Mr Lau contact no:03-89660300

To-day I received an article from WJ about building a happy family.I think it will take a life time to do that; and I believe it is easier to build a bridge. The knowledge and the discipline of project management could be applied to build a happy family. Don't you think so?

BEING WIRED AND GETTING WIRESLESS...
Every time I happen to think about the use of ICT in project management in Malaysia, I am getting more worried. The technology is available and affordable; but alas my fellow project managers are still doing it in the old ways. The resistance to change is so big that only few dared to venture. How could we be world class project managers if we ourselves are not able to undergo the transformation??
May be what we need is a revolution in project management thinking and practice! Now, I must be looking for a leader to lead us...

WEB ENABLED PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
A conference will be held in London on 18th and 19th September,2001.

Contact: Tahir Raja Tel:+44(0)20 7647 2250 or email to: tahirr@marcusevansuk.com
Conference Fees: GBP 1934.17

NEW TECHNOLOGY:
To-day I read an article in Project(Magazine of the APM). It tells the story of a London -based company using a webcam to monitor the progress of GBP 36m retail development in St. Andrew's Square. That reminds me of my friend complaining to me that he had to travel 8 hrs from Kuantan to check the progress of work at a site in Cameron Highlands. I suggested to him to use a webcamera and a digital camera so that someone there can upload the picture file for him to view from his office in Kuantan. Sad to say, he keeps on complaining ...Old habits die hard. We have the technology, but not many are using it:-(

PROJECT CAR:
Last week, Iread in the papers about a car that smashed itself against a coconut tree in Tumpat ,Kelantan. This is similar to what I observed some twenty years ago when I was working in JKR Pasir Mas ,Kelantan.It is called a project car by the locals. When I asked why, they told me that these cars are used to smuggle rice from Thai border to Pasir Mas! The smugglers are really dare-devils "project managers"! To them, smuggling is a project in its own right. Just imagine the efforts taken to plan,execute,monitor and control the smuggling activities. May be we all can learn something from them;-)

NEGOTIATION:
Yesterday, I concluded one contract negotiation with my client. Thank God for the cordial compromise by both parties. It was over within one hour after two counter offers by either party. However, we put a lot of sleepless nights getting the documents ready to convince our client in the past one month. Arguement did take place when one party did not understand the other views and concerns. Longer time was taken in agreeing to the rates of the BQ when one was ignorant of the construction methods and equipment. The knowledge and experience of negotiators of the issues at hand is paramount in solving disagreements. Goodwill and relationship must be maintained through the process.

Welcome to the musings of XPROJECT!
It contains snap shots at projects in Malaysia. I will try to write as often as I can about various aspects of projects and project management from my little window.

Note: First posting on http://www.blogger.com