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(1) Explain your problem, don't simply post "This isn't working". What were you doing when you faced the problem? What have you tried to resolve - did you look for a solution using "Search" ? Has it happened just once or several times?

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A Junior Planner

18 replies [Last post]
Sat, 2006-07-29 09:31
Irem Aksay
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Hello

First I would like to say... What a helpful site=) I am a fresh engineer that is working in an airport project as a junior planning engineer. I would love to be able to read some helpful papers or surf helpful websites like this one. Do you have any suggestions. This is a broad question because I am looking to just read and I am not looking for a specific answer.

Irem
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Replies

Thu, 2006-08-31 03:04
#1
Suraj Bhatt
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Hi Irem!
You are at the right place. This site helped me immensely in the last 2 years. There are instances when I learn about the problem and the answer both from PP forum. Needless to say that I have to create a dummy schedule to see it.
But I have a question to all senior people here-

Being at site helps to understand the intricacies better but there is so much to know that we can never say that we have reached a level from where we can shift to planning.
I mean , I was fortunate(or may be unfortunate-I don’t know yet)to work as a planner for totally different projects(high attrition was major reason as all exp. and senior kept on leaving so everything eventually landed on me) viz. Water Treatment Plant,Sewage treatment plan, road, Power supply network, Substation, villas and now joinery
I cannot say that I am good at all these things but I know something of everything but I do not know where I am heading.
I have not failed as a performer and was lucky to always have a good team (it takes some time to win confidence of site people though) but I do not know where I am heading in my carrier.
But I also wish to work in different types of project and do not wish to be just an one area expert.
I do not know what I will become after 6 years down the line???

Suggestions please.
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Thu, 2006-08-31 00:55
#2
Irem Aksay
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Wow... I am so glad I opened up this forum because I learned so many valuable things and I believe other juniors have as well. At the moment I am still trying to read papers on others experiences in this field as well as postings on this site. These readings are good for me to see how planners think and what tools are out there to help. I copy our P3 file onto my desktop and play with it to further understand its capabilities. I know it will take time but I plan to do my homework. I follow site reports on a daily basis and go to site as much as I can. I have always found site fascinating because seeing the project rise is worth all your effort. Thank you all so much for warming me up to planning=)
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Wed, 2006-08-30 15:04
#3
Clive Randall
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Thro all your books in the bin dump the software and strap yourself in
You are about to enter the planning roller coaster just when you thought you had done a really good job you realise you had made an invalid assumption because you had not talked to the appropiate person and got your programme validated and then you really wonder what you are busting yourself for. Then everything goes right and you know you have cracked it but nobody is following your plan. Back in the dumps again.
Planners require patience, tolerance, and the ability to stand back up when everybody is rolling over them. If you can do that and remain sane you will be a good planner and if you question, ask, listen, communicate, and look one day you will be an excellent planner.
However remeber planning has nothing at all to do with software that is just a tool planning is being able to understand a project its methods philosophies and structure then and only then should you set it down on paper
Good luck I always need good planners as do all senior planners so if you are good you wont have to look far for a job.
Clive
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Wed, 2006-08-23 03:40
#4
David Moses
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Hi Irem,

As a planning engineer you are the facilitator b/w all parties.
Try to see the big picture or frame. Nobody is magician.And everybody is get together just because of the realisation of project itself.
Keep in mind that, Engineering, Procurement-Logistics, Construction could not be apart from each other. It is not just a construction activity. You will understand what I mean as time goes by.

To present, where we were in the past and where we are now and where we will be is your responsibility.

Good luck...
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Wed, 2006-08-23 03:15
#5
Sunil Kumar
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Irem,

Be on site first,understand what it takes to complete a PROJECT since you are a fresher ELSE you will end up knowing the software only and not the LOGIC.
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Wed, 2006-08-16 07:41
#6
Jawad Al-Nimri
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Irem,

All the advices provided to you are excellent, but i would add something really really important

you have to be educated and fameliar with the theory of planning it self, by that i mean when you see any softeware application you basically know what it does for you by your thorough knowladge.

another thing, by thoroughly understanding the theory (i mean haw to calculate the schedule, and how the costs are calculated and how they appear ...etc) you will minimize the extent the other can critisize your planns.

i see many schedules prepared by many schedulers they think they are the best, bu they are all subject to review and i tell u what thier schedules will fail in courts and other reviewing bodies, so please follow the right way and DO NOT IGNORE READING.
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Wed, 2006-08-09 06:00
#7
Damian Smith
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Irem,

Best of luck with your career, just remember, dont be afraid to ask questions, and learn what you can on the ground ie during the construction phases. Plus try and attend client & construction meetings so you can learn the bigger picture.
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Wed, 2006-08-09 05:52
#8
Irem Aksay
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Hi Chris

Thank you so much for the website. I have found so many easy to read papers that really help me see the big picture. Reading from here is helping me ask the right questions. I would really like to learn the engineering part of planning on my spare time. Being the freshes engineer in the group naturaly my role is limited to entering data which is good for learning primavera but I would like to see the real project management tool side of things. I am really interested in the delay and claims part of planning. As the project progresses I am sure I will learn more about delay and claim but it would be nice to get myself prepared for when that time comes.

Irem
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Sat, 2006-08-05 04:07
#9
Irem Aksay
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I would like to thank everyone for their helpful feedback. I have been thinking long and hard on these topics. Each topic has become a different to-do item for my daily schedule. Thank you=)
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Fri, 2006-08-04 08:47
#10
Charleston-Joseph...
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Hi,

Continue reading books about planning. concetrate on the PERT/CPM part. try to apply if it will have relevance.

and let PP know your progress.

Cheers,

Charlie
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Tue, 2006-08-01 04:42
#11
Joros Burgondy
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I agree with Mr. Damian you have to go out also on project site and take a notes with you and be more observant the resources-count it and what are they doing how many nos. or area they can do in an hour, and equipment they are using, in the end you can realiaze this would help you.....

regards,
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Tue, 2006-08-01 02:53
#12
Damian Smith
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My best advice would be to get on the tools, by that I mean go and spend time with the guys on site. Learn how long things take to do for yourself rather than hearsay.
Basically if you can become a site enginner/planner you’ll get the best of both worlds.

It is all very well to be able to make up pretty programmes that look all fine and dandy, but at the end of the day they need to be useful and work in the real world.

Another useful saying I use

Is what are they doing
What can wrong
What can I do to avoid this

Experience like anything is best. Learn how to do it first, the rest will follow.
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Mon, 2006-07-31 05:55
#13
David Moses
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Welcome to Planning Planet,

Keep on Planning...
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Mon, 2006-07-31 01:18
#14
Chris Oggham
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Hi Irem,

Philip and Marcio have given you really good advice, the only thing I would add is that you might find Planning Engineers Organisation website useful.

Regards

Chris Oggham
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Mon, 2006-07-31 00:34
#15
Irem Aksay
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Thank you Philip and Marcio

This site has been helping me a lot. I have copied our schedule to my desktop and I play on it. Mistakes seems to be the thing that teaches me the most. I have to say if I made any of the mistakes I make on my dummy program on the real program I would have been on the street by now;) Thank you for the wonderful advise.
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Sun, 2006-07-30 13:07
#16
Philip Jonker
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Hi Irem,

Still my original advice, get some mentors, and learn from them, no easy route, like reading papers and following links, learn by experience. That is if you want to become good, for average, follow the easy routes, but always remember, it is something you do not read in books, or on the internet.

Regards
Philip
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Sat, 2006-07-29 20:08
#17
Marcio Sampaio
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Hi Irem ... go on "Links" here on PP ... u will find what are u looking for.
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Sat, 2006-07-29 10:27
#18
Philip Jonker
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Yes read the postings here, be prepared to do a lot of legwork, and spend alot of your time, learning from experienced people. It is a lot better than reading books.
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