Event Report: 2 DAY COURSE ON BASIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR YOUNG ENGINEERS ON WHAT SHOULD YOUNG ENGINEERS KNOW

The Graduate & Student (G&S) Section of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia organized the above course for two (2) days from 13 to 14 December 2011 at Tan Sri Prof. Chin Fung Kee Auditorium, 3rd Floor, Wisma IEM. The course was attended by 51 participants.

The course was delivered by Ir. Noor Iziddin Abdullah Bin Haji Ghazali, M.Eng. (Telecommunication), B.Eng. (Elect. Eng), Diploma Islamic Studies(UIA), P.Eng, MIEM, PMP® now attached to KLCC Projects Services for commercial projects at Putrajaya Holdings in Project Management Consultant team. The speaker also currently is the Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) for the undergraduate program in project management at University Malaysia Pahang (UMP). According to Ir. Noor Iziddin the project management (PM) knowledge and its methodologies have evolved and improved significantly over the last three decades. This in part is attributable to many of the lessons learnt from the successes and failures of projects undertaken by organizations. Ir. Noor Iziddin gives the essence of project management, especially suitable for those who intend to gain a fundamental but solid grounding on project management. The participants also learn the structured and integrated approaches, processes, tools and techniques that are applicable to managing phase in project life cycle. This course contents are closely referenced to PMBOK Guide, 4th edition of the Project Management Institute with a short presentation on PRINCE2 from UK.

The 1st day starts with the topic on Introduction to Project Management, Definition of Project Management, Context of Project Management, History of Project Management and Knowledge Areas & Process Group.

Some of the benefit on implementing the right project management process and tools such as minimize the project challenges, ensure project deliverables achieved the project objectives within the agreed budget, time, scope & quality, ensures customer’s investment is protected, actual implementation is realizing the agreed project execution plan, takes away the customer’s hassles from managing the resources in the project, ensures the integration between our technical solution implementation and the customer’s quality expectations and the documentation of the project lesson learnt.

The details of each five (5) process groups and nine (9) knowledge areas which has been use by project managers around the world been explained throughout this two (2) days course:-

Figure 1: Project Life Cycle

Project manager, as the single point of responsibility, will be responsible for either performing the work or delegating it.

Figure 2: Intersecting Management Skills

When planning and control techniques available to manage complex projects were inadequate, this encouraged the development of scheduling methods which integrates project procurement, resources and costs.
With these shortcomings in mind, Network Planning Techniques using similar network format were developed; i.e.
• 1956 CPM – Critical Path Method. (Microsoft Project)
• 1961 PERT – Program Evaluation and Review Technique. (Primavera)
Effective communication is important for project managers for two reasons. Firstly communication is the process by which the management functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling are accomplished. Secondly communication is an activity in which managers devote an overwhelming portion of their time.

Subsequently for the projects to be successful, the selection of appropriate processes within the project management process groups required to meet the objectives. The speaker stress the use defined approach to adapt to project specifications. One needs to comply with the requirements to meet stakeholder’s needs and expectations. Not forgetting to balance the competing demands of scope, time, cost, quality, resources and risk to produce quality outcomes.

Figure 3: Functions & Challenges of Project Management

In Project management, the goals set are usually referred to the following;
1. Time
2. Cost
3. Quality

In addition, the speaker also explains the needs of the models are to aid decision-making leading to project selection. In establishing relationship between a project’s expected results and the company’s strategic goals, the following information’s are required;

• Production Considerations
• Marketing Considerations
• Financial Considerations
• Personnel Considerations
• Administration and Other Considerations.

The selection of the right project for future investment is a crucial decision for the long-term survival of a company. Numeric methods are used as a process for ranking and evaluating prospective projects as a commitment for the future.
The financial models are;
• Payback Period
• Return on Investment (ROI)
• Net Present Value (NPV)
• Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

On the 2nd day which is the last day discuss about Project Life Cycle, Project Management Framework, Goal & Objectives, PRINCE 2, Practical approach to infrastructure project management and close with the final topic which is Project Management Consultant (PMC) Concept.
Some of the benefits to this course participant are:-
• Learn the structured and integrated approach to initiating, planning, executing, monitoring & controlling and closing out projects.
• Apply and relate knowledge learnt to their work place
• Identifying what the trainees need to know
• Understand the role and selection of project manager as well as project organization structure & issues.
• Exposed trainees to various PM Methodologies, Tools & Techniques
Lastly the speakers explain about the concept & role of project management consultant
in the construction industry through the following diagram:-

Figure 4: Concept & Role of Project Management Consultant

Before the end of the course, the speakers explain the widely used Project Management Standards in today world:-



During the Q&A session throughout two (2) day course, Ir. Noor Iziddin answered all of the questions raised by the participants related to project management framework. Ir. Noor Iziddin also shares the route to PMP® certification from PMI USA which he has gone through four (4) years ago.

The course ended at 5.00pm on 14 December 2011 according to the allotted time, practicing the Project Management on timely delivery.

At the end of the course, Ir. Noor Iziddin received a certificate of appreciation and a memento from Engr. Shuhairy (YES Chairman). Readers may wish to read and obtaining the course material in softcopy by email to the speaker at laplace82@gmail.com for any enquiry.

Ir. Noor Iziddin (Speaker) during the course opening.

The participant listening to the course

The participant listening to the course.

The speakers have a short discussion with one of the participant.

Ir. Noor Iziddin receiving IEM certificate of appreciate from Engr. Shuhairy (YES Chairman) with the present of Engr. Vivek and Engr. Amirul at the end of the course.

Prepared by Ir. IEM YES
Post ed by Engr. Mei Wong