The Japenese have one excel spread sheet which they plot the time cost profile across with simple bars and milestones with the plans of the building set in the background. The advantage of this is everyone has excel and so can view, print, ammend etc. It shows the project details, planned and actual costs and the outline of the works involved for the project.
The only other way of improving is as others have mentioned, the powerpoint slides showing phases etc with dates shown relating back to the programme.
Member for
19 years 11 months
Member for19 years11 months
Submitted by Trevor Rabey on Sat, 2007-07-28 06:39
Well, that could be cynicism, but cynicism has an element of sadness or bitterness attached to it, so perhaps it is just sarcasm or an attempt at satire. I have been trying to think of some humorous KPIs with TLAs, and graphs, such as a project anxiety index (PAI) or Contractor Credibility Index (CCI). Make some suggestions.
OK, I am all for effective communication, and there are things which can be done and should be done to make complicated information more digestible. But a certain minimum level of project management literacy remains essential. To illustrate, without some minimum understanding of what art is, and who Van Gogh was, to the ignorant his paintings are just daubs of coloured paint. Such a person might say, "its all too complicated. Cant you give me a quick one page summary and a photo of some sunflowers?"
I detect a bit of a cynical attitude, surely you respect your senior management and their undoubted ability to pick up simple concepts like a critical path, and follow through with informed action plans such as the normal, get more people and do it quicker! (otherwise known as the JFDI plan)
Member for
19 years 11 months
Member for19 years11 months
Submitted by Trevor Rabey on Fri, 2007-07-27 07:42
A few short years ago, perhaps before you were born, there was 3D modeling CAD software which started off clunky but got very good very fast. Still, no one would use it, and if it was suggested there were lots of good reasons (BS, actually) why it couldnt be done, such as too hard, client wouldnt pay, doubtful benefits etc.
Now 3D is routine and expected. Of course, everyone who could not see that the future would be different from the present just got left behind or had a hard time catching up.
Before that, troglodytes said that computers wouldnt replace drawing boards.
4D will be the same.
As for the presentation problem, sure, thicker bars, more colours, bigger fonts on bigger posters, all might help. But there must be a limit below which it is impossible to further dumb down the information to suit the deliberately obtuse and un-educated audience that composes senior management. How about a graph which shows how many months from now they will be broke?
Member for
18 years 7 months
Member for18 years7 months
Submitted by Richard Spedding on Thu, 2007-07-26 13:14
Most people when presented with a bar chart or GANTT chart are totally non-plussed. However they react quite well when information is given to them visually. That is why the 4D computer programmes are so good, in adding time to a design drawing or 3D model. However few contracts can afford the cost of these modelling tools.
I have found that a time slice approach is quite good, where you mark up plans, sections or elevations of the Works with the area of the work completed week by week or month by month. Most people in construction do understand and can interpret drawings, so they can appreciate the way the project is to be built given the information presented in this manner.
Member for
22 years 4 monthsRE: How can we Improve Programme Presentation
The Japenese have one excel spread sheet which they plot the time cost profile across with simple bars and milestones with the plans of the building set in the background. The advantage of this is everyone has excel and so can view, print, ammend etc. It shows the project details, planned and actual costs and the outline of the works involved for the project.
The only other way of improving is as others have mentioned, the powerpoint slides showing phases etc with dates shown relating back to the programme.
Member for
19 years 11 monthsRE: How can we Improve Programme Presentation
Well, that could be cynicism, but cynicism has an element of sadness or bitterness attached to it, so perhaps it is just sarcasm or an attempt at satire. I have been trying to think of some humorous KPIs with TLAs, and graphs, such as a project anxiety index (PAI) or Contractor Credibility Index (CCI). Make some suggestions.
OK, I am all for effective communication, and there are things which can be done and should be done to make complicated information more digestible. But a certain minimum level of project management literacy remains essential. To illustrate, without some minimum understanding of what art is, and who Van Gogh was, to the ignorant his paintings are just daubs of coloured paint. Such a person might say, "its all too complicated. Cant you give me a quick one page summary and a photo of some sunflowers?"
Try this:
http://itprojectguide.blogspot.com/2007/01/what-great-day.html
This is very well known:
http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000076&topic…
BTW, I know what JFDI stands for. Something a bit like RTFM.
Member for
18 years 7 monthsRE: How can we Improve Programme Presentation
Trevor
I detect a bit of a cynical attitude, surely you respect your senior management and their undoubted ability to pick up simple concepts like a critical path, and follow through with informed action plans such as the normal, get more people and do it quicker! (otherwise known as the JFDI plan)
Member for
19 years 11 monthsRE: How can we Improve Programme Presentation
A few short years ago, perhaps before you were born, there was 3D modeling CAD software which started off clunky but got very good very fast. Still, no one would use it, and if it was suggested there were lots of good reasons (BS, actually) why it couldnt be done, such as too hard, client wouldnt pay, doubtful benefits etc.
Now 3D is routine and expected. Of course, everyone who could not see that the future would be different from the present just got left behind or had a hard time catching up.
Before that, troglodytes said that computers wouldnt replace drawing boards.
4D will be the same.
As for the presentation problem, sure, thicker bars, more colours, bigger fonts on bigger posters, all might help. But there must be a limit below which it is impossible to further dumb down the information to suit the deliberately obtuse and un-educated audience that composes senior management. How about a graph which shows how many months from now they will be broke?
Member for
18 years 7 monthsRE: How can we Improve Programme Presentation
Welcome David,
Most people when presented with a bar chart or GANTT chart are totally non-plussed. However they react quite well when information is given to them visually. That is why the 4D computer programmes are so good, in adding time to a design drawing or 3D model. However few contracts can afford the cost of these modelling tools.
I have found that a time slice approach is quite good, where you mark up plans, sections or elevations of the Works with the area of the work completed week by week or month by month. Most people in construction do understand and can interpret drawings, so they can appreciate the way the project is to be built given the information presented in this manner.
Regards