The Project Chatter Podcast

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Alan Mosca to discuss whether machine learning and AI can really make a difference.Alan is the co-founder and CTO of nPlan, where he leads technology, research, and product, whilst developing thought leadership about forecasting and risk. Before nPlan, Alan spent 7 years as a technologist in quantitative finance, on live trading systems, research, and front-office in both high-frequency trading and asset management.Alan has extensive experience in algorithm design and software engineering and holds a BEng in Computer Engineering, MSc in Computer Science, and doctoral research in machine learning theory. The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: Machine Learning (ML) is a sub-branch of AI although the terms are often used interchangeablyML is useful for spotting really complex patternsWhen approaching major projects, machine learning aims to capture the data and experienceThe aim is to make the data simple enough for business leaders to understandAutomation will rescue some project information by providing consistency on transactional actionsThe key to understanding how to make good decisions is to understand the process they are going through to make it (see double diamond process)“Go to their bus stop”!Machine Learning can not and will not fix cultural issues within projects and organisationsML/IA will not replace humans on projects, it can only be used to inform decision makers to improve performanceCritical Path Methodology was great when tools were not available to do multiple scenarios on activitiesUse the current version of the future to make the next version of the future betterCould projects start using a decision log and track the inputs used to inform the decisions? Here are links to some of the topics we discussed:·        Double Diamond Decision Process: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-work/news-opinion/double-diamond-universally-accepted-depiction-design-process/·        Buyer Decision Process: https://www.iedunote.com/buyer-decision-process·        Cognitive Biases: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases·        Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction Phillip Tetlock, Dan Gardner: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Superforecasting-Science-Prediction-Philip-Tetlock/dp/1847947158/ref=asc_df_1847947158/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310805565966&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12494366783115682348&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045901&hvtargid=pla-454864998863&psc=1&th=1&psc=1·        nPlan Experimental Research Department:

In this episode, Dale speaks with Jason Lancini about why construction software sucks! Jason chooses a very provocative title to make his case for user-centric software development in construction project management. Jason is COO and leads the product team and operations at Aphex. As a former construction project manager and engineer, and a former, former construction labourer he is passionate about building construction software that is actually great to use for the end user. The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: Software should be able to help us churn information faster, pull information together quicker and turning data into meaningful information that can be used to make decisions Software is usually procured top down which means it is mandated on end users rather than being tailored to their needs The best time to try new software is at the start of a project when the procedural documents are being written Planning software may have the official project plan but it may not have all the unofficial plans e.g. the engineering lookahead. Consider if you are seeing the full picture Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality is more likely to be adopted on consumer products before it is used on construction products Tune in next time when we’re joined by Alan Mosca to discuss whether AI & Machine Learning really makes a difference? 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:  JustDo - https://www.justdo.com/  InEight - https://ineight.com/ Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it! #ProjectManagementSoftware #Planning #ProjectControls

In this episode, Val ventures in Han Solo fashion discussing the best value performance metrics approaches with Rich Plumery. Rich provides a non-linear and diverse background with which he credits his understanding of what works on projects.  Rich discusses his findings and summation of the Project Controls 10 commandments  Thou shall: 1) Eliminate systemic risks within the organization 2) Provide an unbiased objective view (verify ) 3) Focus more on critical risks and report on them more frequently 4) Keep risk management active and aware throughout the execution 5) Be where the work is more than where your desk is 6) Manage and report change rigorously and rapidly 7) More about analytical analysis than information production 8) Analyze trends and use leading indicators 9) Look forward with good planning and backward by using solid historical knowledge 10) Provide the best value by doing the other Nine Commandments (build credibility in our craft) You can also see further work here- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/project-controls-ten-commandments-rich-plumery-pmp-evp/ Rich Plumery is an international speaker, published author and subject matter expert on project delivery and performance management. Rich is a Technical Board Director for the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) International, which sets the guidelines for many of our industry practices. Rich has unique experiences outside the industry as he started and sold several businesses including a tactical supply business and sports performance coaching business teaching speed, power, agility and balance. This business coached hundreds of professional athletes and prepared over 200 college athletes for the NFL Combine. He also runs a foundation to support developmentally challenged adults in the local community. He has learned to apply many of the learnings from these unique experiences to capital project industry management and leadership. Rich has been with AECOM legacy companies since the late 80’s and his expertise covers every aspect of project delivery including risk management, planning, scheduling, cost control, change management, budgeting, engineering, design, construction, construction management, operations, contracts, finance, estimating, and performance management. This has led Rich to be innovative in creating approaches to overcome some of the industry's toughest challenges such as the conundrum of Earned Value false reads and manipulation vulnerabilities.  Rich's Best Value Performance Management system was revealed in his seminal Best Value paper in 2013 published by AACE International. His current Palms Up approach to project and operational leadership is another game changer for project-based industries and beyond. Rich is currently the Senior Vice President of AECOM’s Project Delivery & Controls group for all the Americas regions. In his current role he is responsible for supporting project delivery (Project Management, Project Controls, Procurement, Quality, and Project Risk Management) for over 30,00 projects in the Americas and teaching and certifying over 7,000 Project Managers globally. Proudly sponsored by:  JustDo - https://www.justdo.com/  InEight - https://ineight.com/

In this episode Dale and Val talk with Dr Tammy Watchorn about change management approaches in Tammy's Ninja Moves book release this week https://www.amazon.com/Change-Ninja-Handbook-interactive-adventure/dp/1788603702  Dr Tammy Watchorn trained as a scientist before moving into the complex landscape of healthcare to lead change. After some slow starts she began to realise that her hard-won accreditation in the process of change leadership was meaningless: the only way to achieve success was to focus on people. By understanding those involved in change as individuals, not ‘stakeholders’, she developed a pragmatic way of making progress by stealth using ‘ninja’ moves. Her own neuro-atypical approach allows her to see things differently, to look at the whole rather than the parts, and to help others to see things differently too. There’s no accreditation or one-size-fits-all process for Change Ninjas but there is now, at least, a handbook. Tammy shares her stories and her approach to leading change widely on social media and in national media and industry publications. She’s also a regular keynote speaker at conferences. Proudly sponsored by:  JustDo - https://www.justdo.com/  InEight - https://ineight.com/

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Mathilde Roubille to talk about Digital Engineering in Construction. Mathilde is a consultant with strong experience in embedding digital engineering (including BIM and Information Management) in large infrastructure projects. Coming from a structural engineering background, she leverages her technical experience on major projects (Riyadh Metro and Doha Metro in the Middle East) to enable a deep understanding of program and project delivery in complex environments. She is enthusiastic about making better use of data and information available at program and project levels to deliver better outcomes to the client and enable reliable data-driven decision making. Don't get her started on BIM, Information Management or Digital Engineering otherwise she might never stop talking! The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: There is no standard definition of digital engineering. Essentially it is trying to leverage information, data and technology to enable better decision making Digital engineers should ideally be linked to PMO or Project Controls in an organisation structure. This allows for better synergies There is not currently a degree / major in digital engineering It is important to understand the concepts of ISO19650 when implementing digital engineering There are close links with change management. This requires a focus on soft skills to help to enable transitions Digital engineering should be a team rather than an individual skillset Many projects are reluctant to implement digital engineering capability due to time constraints The main industry trends are around digital twin, smart cities and sustainability. In order to be successful, there needs to be a greater focus on benefit realization and sustainability – consider the whole project lifecycle There are professional qualifications for BIM which is helping to professionalise the industry Visualisation and interactivity of data and information are key to the future success of digital engineering on major projects Many surveying companies are reluctant to share information due to fear of losing commercial advantage. This has led to inefficiencies when re-surveys are required The best way to get into digital engineering is to focus on streamlining existing processes on projects Here are links to a some of the topics we discussed: ISO19650 BIM - https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/iso-19650-BIM/ BIM Community of Practice - https://bim.ie/about/our-board-members/ B1M - https://www.theb1m.com/ Tune in next time when we’re joined by Tammy Watchorn to discuss ninja moves on projects.For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.comIf 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:  JustDo - https://www.justdo.com/  InEight - https://ineight.com/

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Spencer Easton to discuss Takt Planning on Construction Projects.Spencer has been in the construction industry for 18 years. He is the Co-Founder / Trainer for LeanTakt and a Project Director at Elevate Construction. He co-authored the book Takt Planning and Integrated Control. He worked in the trades for the first decade of his career while attending night classing to achieve his Bachelors degree in Construction Management.He holds certifications from PMI-SP, AACE-PSP, AGC CM-Lean, Acumen Fuse and Risk Analysis certified. He has mentored, coached, managed and trained thousands of individuals lean principles and tools and loves to share concepts that make a difference in a happier work environment and work life balance.The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: Takt Planning comes from Lean Manufacturing. 60% of all construction projects in Germany use Takt Planning There is a huge reluctance in the construction industry to use Takt Planning because “that’s the way we’ve always done it!” By using production laws, it aims to align teams by utilising more areas in the construction plan In Takt Plans rows usually represent work locations / zones. This helps to visualise the “logistical flow” of the planned works Here are links to a some of the topics we discussed: Takt Time Formula – Taking Takt to the Next Level - https://theleanbuilder.com/takt-time-formula-taking-takt-to-the-next-level/ Tune in next time when we’re joined by Mathilde Roubille to talk about Digital Engineering in Construction.For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.comIf 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:  JustDo - https://www.justdo.com/  InEight - https://ineight.com/S tay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Adrian Pyne to discuss what project agility really looks like. Adrian is above all a project professional. He has led or rescued Transformation programmes widely from Telcos to eCommerce, Finance. Mining, Aviation, and the public sector. He has designed, built and operated P3 (project, programme and portfolio management) capability, PMOs, and Professional Services businesses. His key skill is the adaptation of best practice successfully. In the last 10 years his consultancy has focussed on two areas. Firstly, what he and colleagues call Organisational Project Management – the creation of an organisation culture that enables projects to Thrive and not merely Survive, or even die. Secondly, on Agile Project Management which too many organisations get badly, and expensively, wrong. He has written Agile Beyond IT, a book on Agile Project Management, showing how it both can be used well beyond the realm of IT Agile software development projects.. Adrian says he will also show that Agile projects can have any life-cycle they need. Adrian remains a frequent speaker around APM and elsewhere, including internationally, and is a visiting lecturer at Nottingham and Southampton University Business Schools, He is also a regular blogger, and he says, is still learning. Adrian is semi-retired and lives with his partner in Dorset. The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: Agile or Agility comes from the Agile Manifesto 2001 (4 values). It was always intended to be used for Software Development Great project professionals are agile! We “do” projects to deliver value. Agile is focused on the delivery of value In the late 90s / early 2000s saw a realization that people deliver projects. If they are not engaged and focused, the project is likely to fail There is no point implementing agile projects if the organizational culture is toxic A hybrid approach between Agile and Critical Path methodologies is often challenging. When you adapt agility to Project Management, it is adapted to everything including planning / scheduling. This needs to keep pace in order for it to work Scrum is a purely software development approach – it is NOT a project management approach Some of the major agile certifications are heavily focused towards IT projects. This needs to be broadened to make it more relevant Agile projects should aim to make an audit trail of the value within a project For every project change request – does it enhance the value? Organisations that do not adopt agility are more likely to be commercial risk Here are links to a some of the topics we discussed: Agile Beyond IT: How to Develop Agility in Project Management in any Sector –  Adrian Pyne https://www.amazon.co.uk/Agile-Beyond-develop-agility-management/dp/1788603273 Manifesto for Agile Software Development - https://agilemanifesto.org/ Jo Lucas – Activating the Mycelium - https://sustainabilitypractitioners.org/rpm-ego-to-eco-in-conversation-with-jo-lucas/ Forbes: How to Succeed in a Project Economy - https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccazucker/2022/01/11/how-to-succeed-in-a-project-economy/?sh=668b222a28d9 Agile Beyond IT Newsletter - https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/agile-beyond-it-6922580439241007104/ Tune in next time when we’re joined by Spencer Easton to talk about Takt production vs Takt time.  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: JustDo - https://www.justdo.com/ PlanAcademy - https://www.planacademy.com/chatter/ ($75 off any course) InEight - https://ineight.com/ Prosci - https://empower.prosci.com/project-ch... (FREE resource kit) Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Ed Van Der Tak to discuss the future of Project Planning and Technology trends. With over 30 years of experience in planning and scheduling, Ed has worked in various positions and areas within Project Planning & Management. He lives and works in The Netherlands but has also worked and trained in the Middle East.In the early 1990s Ed started his career as a planning engineer in major turn-around projects. Between 2000 and 2009, Ed was co-owner of a Dutch consultancy and training company. In 2011 he founded the Dutch Planning and Scheduling institute to promote the profession and develop new skills and techniques.Ed currently works as a planning manager on a €1bn infrastructure programme in The Netherlands and is a lecturer at the University of Applied Science in Rotterdam.Ed has always been interested in new techniques and future ways of working. He follows trends in technology and automation to start to use these techniques and change our mindset.The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: A good planner needs to be a good storyteller A planner should approach the from different angles e.g. cost impact or risk impact Many infrastructure companies are already collecting data to enable machine learning on projects The rise in the use of AI on project may lead to the role of a project planner becoming more generic and turning into an analyst type role Will AI create or prevent creativity? For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.comIf 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:  JustDo - https://www.justdo.com/  PlanAcademy - https://www.planacademy.com/chatter/ ($75 off any course)  InEight - https://ineight.com/  Prosci - https://empower.prosci.com/project-ch... (FREE resource kit)Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!#ProjectManagement #Blockchain #PMO #ProjectControls #Leadership #Culture #ProjectCertifications

In this week’s pod, we welcomed Russell Willis and Johnny Hepworth to discuss their project from Project Hack 15 – How good is my team at Risk Management?Russell is an infinite Learner with 20+ years of experience in Project Controls, PMO, Data Analytics and Business Intelligence. He now specialises in the catalisation of all these fields into a holistically cohesive and coherent source for dynamic data driven insight and business optimisation.Johnny’s academic background is material chemistry for renewable energy and environment. He works for Brook Green Supply which operates in the L&C space and excited for the prospects of industry 4.0.The main topics we discussed on the podcast were as follows: The Johnny & the Beards project team were formed at Project Hack 15 – see links below for more information Project Hack ensured that project challenge teams had a diverse range of backgrounds in order to make it effective People become data aware, then informed, then gradually literate Data is powerful, though people should be vigilant on cookies that track internet movements If you’re not sure where to start with data just give it a try! Here are links to some of the topics we discussed: Project Hack 15 - https://www.projectdataanalytics.co.uk/projecthack/ Project Hack 15 – Johnny & The Beards Team Presentation - https://youtu.be/RppbJJsOSgU Project Data Analytics Apprenticeship - https://projectingsuccess.co.uk/project-data-analytics-apprenticeship/ Brier Score - measures the accuracy of probabilistic predictions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brier_score Tune in next time when we’re re-joined by Adrian Pyne to discuss Creating value from adapting agility to project management.For more information, blogs or to support our charities visit www.projectchatterpodcast.comIf 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:  JustDo - https://www.justdo.com/  PlanAcademy - https://www.planacademy.com/chatter/ ($75 off any course)  InEight - https://ineight.com/  Prosci - https://empower.prosci.com/project-chatter (FREE resource kit) Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it! #ProjectManagement #Blockchain #PMO #ProjectControls #Leadership #Culture #ProjectCertifications

In this episode Dale and Val talk with Dr Alexia Nalewaik about expanding our social and climate responsibility beyond financial incentives. Noting the influence of projects on local infrastructure, business and environments, in some cases creating thriving communities. Have we moved into social measures for projects? What's holding us back? Are we ready to introduce other ROI measures? Dr Alexia talks with us to discuss some of the exciting work she is involved in and how this may shape projects in the future.  Dr. Alexia Nalewaik FRICS CCP CCA has over 25 years of internationally recognised experience in audit, systemic risk, project analytics, governance, and cost estimating. She holds degrees in physics, civil engineering, and project management. Her focus on risk, stakeholders, transparency, and assurance continue to prove valuable to major clients in utilities, transportation, infrastructure, scientific facilities, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing. She is a professorial lecturer at American University, and the host of #PMChat weekly. Dr. Alexia has written two books on project-related topics (“Project Cost Recording and Reporting” and “Project Performance Review”), and published over 100 research papers and technical guidance. She is a Fellow of RICS Americas, AACE International, the Guild of Project Controls, and ICEC; she is a Past President of AACE International, and a Past Chair of ICEC. For more information, see ResearchGate and www.pellucidprojects.com. We also say thank you, as we complete our fifth season of the Project Chatter Podcast. Thank you to all our guests for their value and insight into several topics of interest. You've helped us pay it forward.  Proudly sponsored by:  JustDo - https://www.justdo.com/   PlanAcademy - https://www.planacademy.com/chatter/ ($75 off any course)   InEight - https://ineight.com/   Prosci - https://empower.prosci.com/project-chatter (FREE resource kit)Stay safe, be disruptive and have fun doing it!