Mike FrenetteManager, IT PMO| Halifax Water (retired)Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
I recently had solar panels installed on my house and was delighted to see evidence of the contractor using project management processes, from well defined requirements and deliverables to a proper schedule.
Unfortunately not - through three houses and umpteen contractors, I have yet to find one who used even a rudimentary set of PM practices or tools. You must have lucked out!
Kiron
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1 reply by Mike Frenette
Jul 01, 2024 1:32 PM
Mike Frenette
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Or maybe I lucked in. 😉
I wonder if PMI in the built environment and the PMI-CP (not to be confused with the PMO-CP although that could help too) will have any effect. I have brought it to the attention of our engineering group, and there is definitely interest.
Saving Changes...
Mike FrenetteManager, IT PMO| Halifax Water (retired)Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Jul 01, 2024 11:47 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Mike -
Unfortunately not - through three houses and umpteen contractors, I have yet to find one who used even a rudimentary set of PM practices or tools. You must have lucked out!
Kiron
Or maybe I lucked in. 😉
I wonder if PMI in the built environment and the PMI-CP (not to be confused with the PMO-CP although that could help too) will have any effect. I have brought it to the attention of our engineering group, and there is definitely interest. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Mike, I work in Construction, and it's a mix of both. Some large contractors and GC's do follow PM Processes and have streamlined operations while other smaller ones work with a handshake, with not formal contracts or processes. Each scenario comes with their own pros and cons.
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1 reply by Mike Frenette
Jul 01, 2024 4:46 PM
Mike Frenette
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Of course you can still do business with a handshake and follow good PM processes. Although that would insinuate a verbal contract.
Glad to hear that some construction firms, aside from the one installing my panels follow some solid processes.
Saving Changes...
Mike FrenetteManager, IT PMO| Halifax Water (retired)Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Jul 01, 2024 3:24 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
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Mike, I work in Construction, and it's a mix of both. Some large contractors and GC's do follow PM Processes and have streamlined operations while other smaller ones work with a handshake, with not formal contracts or processes. Each scenario comes with their own pros and cons.
Of course you can still do business with a handshake and follow good PM processes. Although that would insinuate a verbal contract.
Glad to hear that some construction firms, aside from the one installing my panels follow some solid processes. Saving Changes...
It definitely varies widely by provider. Some manage their businesses better than others. The ones that don't demonstrate any project management can't be very profitable since they aren't getting many referrals or positive reviews if they are way off on cost and/or schedule.
Bigger, higher volume contractors are often more focused on that, but it helps the smaller ones too. A friend has a small painting business where his wife acts as a remote project manager so that he can focus on managing his work crews. It works out very well for them. Since it's all temporary work, keeping everyone occupied without over-booking is critical, and as we all know in the PM world that is a career in and of itself. Saving Changes...
Perhaps it is the cynic in me, but more often than not, when I work with a contractor who claims to have a PM role involved, the PM is really just a glorified sales person.
The challenge in the residential market is that the customer demand outstrips the supply of talent so much that there isn't a strong incentive for companies to institute disciplined, predictable practices.
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