The Project Chatter Podcast

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Greg Lawton to discuss whether technology can improve project delivery. Greg is an Astrophysicist who spent the last 7 years of his career in BAE Systems (UK). He managed large defence programmes (£100M+), advised the Board of Directors on International Strategy, and owned key relationships with the UK Government and MoD. The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: What is GAAS? The effects of automation and the changing behaviours of project professionals What will the future of project delivery look like Tune in next week when we’re joined by Aidhean Camson to talk about the ghosts of project and programme management past, present and future. For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.com If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast. Proudly sponsored by: PlanAcademy.com | InEight.com | Prosci.com Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it! #ProjectManagement #Technology #PMO #ProjectControls #Leadership #Culture #ProjectCertifications

In this episode, Dale and Val talk about transport and operations, what's involved and an experiential journey of a woman on the rise in transport with a passion for the industry.  There is something for everyone in this episode as we talk about improving performance, why transport projects are sexy and what interesting roles inspired our guest.  Our guest, Magda Robertson is an accomplished senior leader with 20 years of experience in the transport industry (heavy rail, light rail & buses), both in the public and private sectors. She possesses exceptional client and stakeholder engagement capabilities along with contract management, both as the client and operator. She has a blend of operational, corporate and strategic leadership experience and has led various teams ranging from service delivery, network operations (train control & signals) asset management, infrastructure (civil, electrical & technical), engineering, maintenance, fleet & security operations. Her operational & technical expertise is underpinned by an MBA from a leading Australian Business Institute She is also an experienced rail operations advisor with large project management capabilities and delivery aspects for both greenfield and brownfield developments and major renewal projects. Magda harnesses safe and best practices with an objective to optimise business outcomes and deliver results. She has experience in delivering business transformation, lean end to end system integration, governance, building high-performance teams and reform in highly industrialised and safety-critical transport environments. If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast. Proudly sponsored by: PlanAcademy.com | InEight.com | JustDo.com Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!

In this week’s pod, we welcomed back Paul Goodge and Warren Beardall to discuss the philosophy of project management.  Paul is internationally regarded as a Programme Management and Change Management specialist. He is noted for his ability to swiftly and accurately diagnose issues and evolve solutions both from a technical and a behavioural point of view. Over his career he held a variety of roles both in line leadership and a number of functional responsibilities, providing him with insights across the whole of the enterprise. He has Chaired or sat on a wide variety of internal and external committees and steering groups. An ex-Board member of the Association of Project Management he has continued to work very closely with the organisation and was in the first cohort to achieve Chartered Project Professional status. He achieved an MBA from Cranfield University in 1994. Paul retired from full-time employment in 2012 and enjoys a wide range of interests. His portfolio encompasses consultancy work to various companies, the P3M profession, Executive Coaching and extensive work with various charities, operating locally, nationally and internationally.  Projects to Warren are principally associated with the construction industry. He worked for 25 years within the construction related insurance industry. Three years ago Warren made a decision to reset his career. He joined a consulting practice offering specialist risk, internal control and assurance advice to large scale construction and professional service providers. Career project experience was predominantly centered around Public Private Partnerships. Advising senior debt lenders, project equity Special Purpose Vehicles, Government entities or Construction Contractors. UK PFI, US and Canadian P3, Turkish and European PPP. This experience became the center-piece of his MSc dissertation. The interim conclusions of this ongoing research is that Partnerships were never truly there. And that this is deemed no different in our wider construction endeavor. The suggested answer to the paradox is that projects are either set up to collaborate, or they are set up to fail. That is what he is here to discuss.  If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast.  Proudly sponsored by: PlanAcademy.com | InEight.com | JustDo.com  Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!  #ProjectManagement #Blockchain #PMO #ProjectControls #Leadership #Culture #ProjectCertifications

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Fred Schebesta to talk about whether blockchain can improve project delivery! Fred Schebesta is the epitome of entrepreneurialism. An obsession for hyper success, Fred is passionate about disruptive innovation and inspires the startup community through his achievements and learnings.  The Australian-born entrepreneur is the co-founder of Finder, a global personal finance comparison website, which attracts over 10 million visitors each month, over 400 staff across six offices, and can be found in over 80 countries. For the past 2 years, Fred has been leading the Finder App, which is an Australian-first innovation that combines personal finance management with automated comparison. It connects a user’s bank accounts, analyses insights and sends automated alerts on when they can compare products and potentially save money.  Launched in March 2020 with plans to roll out in the USA and UK early next year. The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: · In its simplest form, a blockchain is an internet-based database that anyone can access · Most projects shouldn’t use blockchain. It’s expensive, slow, cumbersome and emerging! · Blockchains are useful where you need to prove project data to the public ·  A database is a cheaper, more effective solution for projects · Bitcoin could change the way we incentivise people working on projects · Blockchain could be used to create smart contracts (self-executing contracts). This may not work on qualitative outcomes that occur on major construction projects. It works better where there are binary outcomes.  · Be remarkable! Make sure people are willing and want to comment to their friends about ti · In most businesses, the rational idea is not to innovate and keep doing what they’re good at. At some stage businesses will experience disruption   Blockchain is most relevant on airplane and train manufacturing projects, high value but process-driven projects · Plenty of major engineering projects have been delivered without technology but with solid project management principles. Have Project Management skills ever really changed since the Pyramids were built? ·  Technology isn’t necessarily an enabler for good project management · Innovation gets killed by antibodies within organisations!  · When creating new technology, you need to ignore the KPI’s. Deliver or don’t! ·  We’re likely to see digital industrial revolutions in the next year `  · Write down what a project will do, also write down what the project won’t do Here are some links to the topics we discussed:  · Finder - https://www.finder.com.au/ · Mythical Man-Month - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mythical-Man-Month-Software-Engineering-Anniversary/dp/0201835959 · Phoenix Project - https://itrevolution.com/the-phoenix-project/ Book recommendation: Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncommon-Profits-Writings-Investment-Classics/dp/0471445509  Tune in next week when we’re re-joined by Paul Goodge and Warren Beardall to discuss the philosophy of project management. For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.com If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast.  Proudly sponsored by: PlanAcademy.com | InEight.com | JustDo.com Stay safe, be disruptive, and have fun doing it!  #ProjectManagement #Blockchain #PMO #ProjectControls #Leadership #Culture #ProjectCertifications

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Richard Logue to talk about "Busting Earned Value Management Myths"! Richard has worked in Project Controls and Planning for over 30 years, largely in the Transport industry. Richard was part of the team that implemented Primavera at Network Rail.  Richard previously worked as a Business Consultant at the planning software company Artemis and is currently working on an assignment at Transport for London. The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: No project is too small (or too big) to reap the benefits of EVM EVM does not need complicated software or a large team to implement effectively EVM can coexist with various contractual frameworks like NEC, etc. Earned Value (progress) needs to be tied to something tangible (or have agreed "rule of credit") The Work Breakdown Structure is really important when it comes to setting up a Performance Measurement Baseline Tune in next week when we’re joined by Fred Schebesta to talk about if blockchain can improve project delivery! For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.com If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast. Proudly sponsored by:  PlanAcademy.com | InEight.com | JustDo.com Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Dr Paul Giammalvo and Yani Suratman to talk about competency-based training, benchmarking and being cancelled from Linkedin.  Dr Paul is a Senior Technical Advisor (Project Management) to PT Mitratata Citragraha. (PTMC), Jakarta, Indonesia. He is noted for the development and delivery of graduate level, blended learning curricula designed for the mid-career path, English as Second Language (ESL) professionals to develop competency in the local practitioner and build capacity for the local organizations. For 29+ years, he has been developing and delivering Project Management training and consulting throughout South and Eastern Asia Pacific, the Middle East, North, West and South Africa, and Europe.  Yani is an experienced project management professional having Developed and delivered project management training and consulting professional services to Fortune 500 companies, Universities, Multilateral Development Institutions and NGO’s around the world.  The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows:  Exam based certifications may not be the best solution. Teaching to the test does not help students with real-life situations they will inevitably encounter on projects  IPMA has a competency-based certification programme unlike PMI or AACE  Competency is the quality or state of being functionally adequate when assessed against a standard  It takes 15,000 hours to be a competent project manager on a major project. Less experienced PM’s may not be the right fit  It takes 10,000 hours (incl. study time) to be considered a “journey-man” project manager  Big picture thinkers do not make the best project managers  People need to want to go on Project Management training courses and apply the learning. Companies should not be paying for training by numbers of people without assessing the motivations of the students  Managers need to know what they want to see before engaging companies to do benchmarking exercises  Tune in next week when we’re joined by Richard Logue to talk about busting Earned Value Management myths!  For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.com  If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast.  Proudly sponsored by: PlanAcademy.com InEight.com JustDo.com  Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!

In this episode, Dale and Val talk to Dr Harris about the various definitions of Transformation, Digital, PMO and PM. Dr Harris is a visionary strategy executive, author and speaker with two decades of diverse industry exposure, highly skilled and experienced in international and multicultural business environments. Led and directed a plethora of large scale, complex project portfolios and programs (20 countries, up to $1.65 billion value and benefits of $178 million). Results-oriented, being capable to lead Business and Digital transformations, PMOs and sustainable strategy implementation, putting the pieces towards corporate excellence. Harris’s work often involves the integration of multiple strategy processes & tools taking into consideration diverse corporate environment factors, blended with change and risk management frameworks as well as, with global project management best practices (traditional / hybrid / agile). Personal Mantra: Being motivated by what others believe as complex and impossible to achieve. For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.com If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast. Proudly sponsored by; PlanAcademy.com InEight.com JustDo.com Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!

In this episode, Dale and Val speak with Matt Levy about his life and experiences leading to him becoming a world champion in life and in projects. This show we delve more into the habits, inspirations and motivations. Matt is a humble and dedicated person who is truly worth a listen to. Born 15 weeks prematurely, with cerebral palsy and vision impairment, Matthew has survived 50-plus operations – brain, heart, lungs, ears … you name it – to become the international swim star he is today. As is the case for the vast majority of Paralympic swimmers, Matt found the pool as part of his rehabilitation – to keep his body moving. But it was in 2000 when he realised he could be competitive, that the next 20 years of his life began to take shape. Matt Levy made his Paralympic debut in 2004 and won his first medal – gold in the men’s 4x100m medley 34 Points – in 2008. A five-strong haul at the 2010 International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships preceded his most successful Games campaign to date, with Matthew returning home from England’s London Aquatics Centre in 2012 with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals, and in 2016, he won a bronze medal in the men’s 200m individual medley SM7. As the reigning Commonwealth Games champion in the men’s 50m freestyle S7, and current S7 world record holder in the men’s 200m freestyle, = Outside the pool, Matthew is a member of Paralympics Australia’s Mob Leadership Team, and World Para-swimming‘s and Commonwealth Games Australia’s Athlete Advisory Groups. Matthew John Levy, OAM is an Australian Paralympic swimmer. At five Paralympic Games from 2004 to 2020, he has won three gold, one silver and six bronze medals on top of this he is a change analyst in finance. For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.com If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast. Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it! Proudly sponsored by; PlanAcademy.com InEight.com JustDo.com

In this week’s pod we welcomed Dominic Siow to talk about performance and resilience in projects. Dominic is co-founder of EQ Strategist, a company with a mission to help create empowering workplaces where people wake up each and every day inspired to deliver extraordinary outcomes for their organisations. Prior to his present vocation, Dominic was a senior operations manager for IBM Australia and VP of Product Development at grapevine Technologies. Dominic has previously contributed as speaker and mentor at the Magic Moments Youth Leadership and Business Summit and as a Senior Leader at Robbins Research International events across Australia since 2003. He is the author of the Amazon Best Seller “What’s GREAT about this? How to be Resilient and Thrive through Disruption and Change.” The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: Storytelling is important especially in times of change. People need to be led and inspired Workplace culture is the shared beliefs and values of a team “what people do when the managers aren’t around” One of the main challenges in projects is that we have capable project managers but a lack of capable leaders. Aligning people on the right behaviours will inspire teams i Of the three employee types: Engaged employees outperform satisfied employees by 38% in productivity, inspired employees outperform satisfied employees by 149% Many companies do not look for inspiration when making recruitment decisions. Experience is often the sole driver Do not underestimate the importance of the storming process when creating a team. A leader needs to align the team on the ethos they want to engender All teams need to have a common purpose. Think about the outcomes of the project; the ‘why’ rather than the ‘when’ and ‘how’ Humans are motivated by purpose. If the why is big enough then the how finds a way Are your KPI’s outcome focussed? PM’s aren’t trained in managing politics in an organisation As a Project Manager you should not be motivated by your project not failing, you should not be afraid of telling the story to the management before it is too late for them to react Aligning diverse skillsets within a team is a challenge that PM’s must overcome. The diversity will give you a better view of the solution Choose to be curious! Resilience is the difference between reacting and responding to problems There are over 6000 human emotions but generally people are either in fear or in love Links to some of the topics discussed: Dominic Siow – What’s Great About This?: https://www.amazon.co.uk/WHATS-GREAT-ABOUT-THIS-DISRUPTION/dp/0648018601 Lencioni – Five Dysfunctions: https://www.tablegroup.com/topics-and-resources/teamwork-5-dysfunctions/ Proudly sponsored by: PlanAcademy.com | JustDo.com | InEight.com ----------------------------------------- Join us next week when we’re joined by Olympic gold medallist Matt Levy to discuss change and leadership. For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.com If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast. Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it! Dale and Val

In this episode, Dale and Val catch up with Jo Lucas and approach change and organisations in a fascinating and intriguing podcast. Change is amongst us all and how we, therefore, improve or create the right motive for change will take more than formal networks. Jo talks about her background and her mission to leverage the study of natural systems and apply them to real-world problems. Jo dives into what she calls the 'shadow organisation where formal networks are not the only way projects operate. Jo draws inspiration from natural systems and explains how this occurs within the organisation. To improve, grow and change it may be useful to decide how we use language and how we rewild projects by developing a relationship-based approach. Jo is the director of Co.Cre8 a consultancy, which brings the visionary together with the practical. Jo lead from within project organisations focussing as much on context and relationships, as on process and governance to create functioning networks that deliver. I bring systems thinking to the human networks which build up around large infrastructure projects and is a curious seeker of new ways of shaping them, that is more in harmony with the natural world. Jo also leads Ego to Eco, an initiative to connect together across organisational and institutional boundaries supporting our industry in these ecologically and socially stretched times to find new ways of working together. Jo has over 20 years of experience in implementing change within complex and ambiguous environments, including HS2, TfL, CITB, UCL, BAA, ODA, World Food Programme and Network Rail. She chartered as a civil/structural engineer in Australia before transitioning into implementing change on major infrastructure projects in London. You can check out the Ego to Eco story here For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.com If you'd like to sponsor the podcast get in touch via our website. You can also leave us a voice message via our anchor page and let us know if there's something or someone specific that you would like on the podcast. Proudly sponsored by PlanAcademy.com JustDo.com InEight.com Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!