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Project Management: 4 Steps to Success
Columnist Andrew Gager discusses four steps for successful project management
I had some work done on my house recently. A new roof had become a top priority. Of course, I had a couple of companies come out and give me a quote. The first thing the estimator did was scope the work and estimate it. Then the company needed to work it into the schedule.
The first group out were the roofers. Scoping is pretty straightforward. The work will include shingles, felt, nails, pipe boots, and new flashing for the chimney. They determined the square footage, did the math and gave me the estimate. Every contractor did the same thing.
I decided to go with one particular company because of recommendations. Also, they said they could fit it into their schedule pretty quickly. That’s where the trouble began.
The weather turned, and that delayed the start of the project. Every time it appeared that the weather would break, a thunder shower would pop up. Each time, I took time off from work so I could be home. So the project was delayed two weeks with multiple false starts.
Finally, the day came for the work to start. I took the day off from work and was there when the crew arrived. Masterful is the word I would use for this team. One group attacked the roof by removing the old shingles. Another was scurrying around picking up the mess, and yet another was working on the ground picking up debris that fell from the roof. One worker did nothing but walk around with a large magnet on a pole trying to find stray nails in the lawn and on the driveway.
Shortly after work started, a truck arrived with a Dumpster on a hydraulic lift. Unfortunately, when the driver moved the Dumpster into place, he engaged the motor, at which point it got away from him and crashed into the house’s exterior wall causing significant structural damage. The site manager was nowhere to be found. One of his crew members had to call him to report the accident.
After tearing off the roof’s shingles and felt, the workers discovered that several sheets of plywood had dry rot and required replacing. Furthermore, the eaves were rotten and need to be replaced.
Continue Reading: Management Insight: Andrew Gager
Project Management: 4 Steps to Success
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