Project Management update from Botswana

Professor Dean Kashiwagi, PhD, PE, Director of the Performance Based Studies Research Group at Arizona State University (ASU), who has been working with Joe Ssegawa, at the University of Botswana (UB) to help develop an interdisciplinary graduate program in project management, has just returned to the USA from his second month of work in Gaborone.

Professor Kashiwagi was awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant in early 2008 to lecture and conduct research at the UB during the 2008-2009 school year, and to assist the university with developing an advanced project management program. He has brought along a new model for construction contract and project management developed under his research direction at ASU. He is also helping establish an engineering and management linkage between ASU and the UB.

According to Professor Kashiwagi (pictured), “It’s time to provide an update on our efforts at the University of Botswana. I have just completed my second tour (each tour being one month.) We have had the following developments.”

Presentations were provided during the last month to the following:

1. Bank of Botswana: they are contemplating running the new PM model on both the design and construction of an executive cottage renovation project.

2. US Embassy: currently testing process on two small procurements: CDC posters for AIDS effort, and irrigation/landscaping project.

3. University of Botswana IT group: committed to run procurements using new PM model, and using procurements to setup transparent environment that makes all UB IT personnel accountable.

4. Engineering group representing Botswana government (DBES) made up mainly of engineers and quantity surveyors: show tremendous interest in changing paradigm of project delivery from reactive to more proactive.

5. Botswana Development Corporation: tremendous interest in running construction project using new PM model.

(map and location of Botswana shown at right)

"In teaching a class on the new PM model at UB, we have developed a new risk model, which identifies an explanation of risk minimization that is much clearer, logical, and makes risk more predictable. This new risk model will be in my updated text, the core of a PhD dissertation by Mselle, and presented in a paper at the CITC V conference held in Istanbul Turkey during May 20-22, 2009.”

“From our efforts in Botswana,” he added, “we plan to publish up to seven updated papers addressing the impact of the new PM model, the new risk management model, impact of culture on the new PM model, the impact on the Botswana procurement system, and the potential plan of the UB project management program to assimilate the new PM model in order to jumpstart their program.”

Dean T. Kashiwagi is a professor at Arizona State University’s Del E Webb School of Construction and also the Director of the Performance Based Studies Research Group (PBSRG). PBSRG is the worldwide leader in improving facility/project performance and efficiency. Kashiwagi has developed a “hands off” model to managing contractors or vendors on projects in any industry. His concepts are contrary to traditional price-driven procurement. The technology has been tested over 500 times totaling $1.135 Billion ($683M in construction projects and $451 in non-construction projects) with a 98% success rate since 1994. His work is now being tested in the Netherlands. Kashiwagi has integrated these concepts into a Facility-Project Asset Graduate Program at ASU.

Advice from the Front Lines - Business Boot Camp Announced for February 2009 BPUG Congress in UK

Managers facing challenging circumstances as they steer their organisations through the recession are invited to a 40 minute Business Boot Camp, taking place at the International Congress for Programme and Project Management on 10 February 2009.

Colonel Bob Stewart DSO – a former UN Commander and master military strategist - will kick off the event with this intensive training session. “I will provide delegates with a unique insight into business management and strategy, drawing upon lessons from real-life military scenarios,” Colonel Stewart says.

He will look at how business situations can be assessed using highly practical Intelligence techniques: “I’m going to show how to set realistic targets, providing the tools to ensure these targets are achieved within time and on budget. I’ll illustrate how military planning techniques can be applied as an invaluable aid to business decision-making.”

The Congress will represent an opportunity for delegates to gain insights into the latest news regarding the update of PRINCE2; the event will feature a broad programme of speakers from both the public and private sectors. The event will also provide excellent networking opportunities during the day and evening at its Gala Dinner. The 2009 International Congress on Programme and Project Management will take place on 10-11 February 2009 at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Heathrow, UK. A full conference pass costs £550 + VAT.

For further details and to register visit www.bpugcongress.com.