© 2010 Chevron A Day in the Life of a Project Manager Presented by Nancy Grossman, Project Manager Presented to Chabot College Engineering Class September.

© 2010 Chevron

A Day in the Life of a Project Manager

Presented by

Nancy Grossman, Project Manager

Presented to

Chabot College Engineering Class

September 29, 2010

Communication Is the Key

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What Is Project Management

Project: An undertaking requiring concerted effort

Management: The act of directing

– Direct: To move toward a goal or aim

– Goal: What needs to be developed

– Aim: What are the project parameters

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Is Listening Important?

Project Management begins with listening.

Practice now, in all social interactions, to be a successful Project Manager. There is nothing in the title Project Manager that suggests listening, yet it is the most important skill that I have nurtured.

It is what makes me a Project Manager.

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Listening for Success

Management

Mechanical Process

Environmental

Operations

Maintenance

Civil/Structural Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Instrumentation & Controls Engineering

Financiers

Safety

Construction

Procurement

Contracting

Scheduling

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Projects

1. Begin by determining what needs to be accomplished

2. Learn what tools are available to accomplish the task

3. Meet the individuals who will be on the Team

4. Develop a schedule

5. List the activities that need to be accomplished and place them in a logical order of completion

6. Organize and plan shared resources

7. Meet the client’s needs

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Management

A PM likes people, engages and accepts all kinds of individuals, respecting their unique styles and behaviors.

A PM believes that each person on the team has something to contribute to the success of the project, and strives to engage them for project success.

A PM must know the limitations of the system, the team, and the individual and endeavors to mitigate their effects.

A PM desires and values individual input in a group setting.

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The Initial Overview

A project begins with a need that must be met.

Understand current operating conditions and the desired end result.

At operating plants, this usually involves multiple pieces of rotating equipment, piping, valves, instruments, electronics, and software used to control the equipment. In other words it is a process.

In R&D, a project would likely begin with a defined need and a proposed way to meet the need. This includes financiers who expect to make a profit from the end result or product.

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A Project Manager’s Day Begins the Day Before

Plan your week

Establish a timeline for meeting project deadlines

Set up a Project Plan

Plan meeting dates that relate to project deadlines

Work backwards from the project completion deadline

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Planning a Work Week

Initial Field Walk

Project Kick-Off Meeting

Discipline Leads Meeting

Distribute Initial Findings

Locate pertinent Information

Drawing search

Investigate project parameters

Front end development activities

Determine impact on other projects ~ 10 active projects $200,000 – $20,000,000

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Kick-Off Meeting

Establish Project Team

Meet with Project Team

Develop process flow diagram

Meet with Engineering

Meet with Estimating – establish +/- 50% estimate

Meet with Management

Establishing Timelines

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Setting a Project Plan

Identify the stakeholders

Validate existing Information

Establish necessary benchmarks

Establish project “hold points”

Establish project deadline

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Stakeholders

Engineering Design Team

SafetyEnvironmental

OperationsMaintenance

Management

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Planning Meeting Dates

Determine how many meetings are required to meet project objectives

Set up a “first pass” schedule

Determine if team members can attend the required meetings

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Working from the Project Deadline

Establish the project “on spec” date

Establish rough construction timeline

Establish rough engineering timeline and availability

Establish remaining time available to get through the front end work

Establish availability of the management team for review and comment

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Planning Meetings

Develop an Agenda

– Review project premise

– Review existing drawings

– Establish project timeline

– Establish rough scope and cost

Decide on Meeting Goals

– Validate project premise

– Validate existing drawings

– Validate timeline

– Validate rough scope and cost

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An Engineering Approach

Define the need or problem (surveying)

– The pump needs to be replaced

What are potential obstacles? (building)

– Operations can not cease

– Long lead item

Listen to stakeholders (waymaking)

– No safety incidents allowed

– Will pay extra for rush delivery

Develop a project plan (navigating)

– Pump must have a back-up during replacement, containment must be employed

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Challenges

What would you do?– The project has received funding approval, which

means that the scope of work is defined, funding levels and schedule are set. Engineering has begun.

– Learning from another project is being applied NOW to this project.

– Management is considering the new information.

– You have information that suggests that this “learning” does not apply to this project.

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Building a Project

Company notified of selection through a competitive process to design and build the project. Scope, schedule and cost are frozen.

Planning implementation meetings begin.

Engineering work begins and parameters are validated.

Schedule is discussed with the client and project schedule parameters are established.

Engineering complete and permitting period begins.

Construction planning activities occur.

Permits obtained and construction begins.

Construction period is determined by scope of work and meeting customer needs regarding availability.

Punch list items are completed and Project is turned over to the Customer for use.

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Where Do You Fit In?

Design Engineer

Project Manager

Construction Manager

Project Superintendent

Electrician, Roofer, Steel Fabricator, Painter

Project Administration

Finance, Accounting, Legal

Owner

Paving Contractor

Equipment Manufacturer

Utility

Permitting Department

Fire Chief

There are many ways to participate in projects.

You can be an owner of the project; the designer; the builder; one of the many equipment manufacturers; on one of the many subcontractor teams; in the legal, accounting, or finance department of the owner or developer; with the local utility; with the permitting agency; in project administration; in school administration; a lawmaker; a citizen who supports the project; a student who is interested in the project and studies to be a part of the Green Economy.