Integrated project delivery at Autodesk Inc
Integrated Project Delivery at Autodesk, Inc
Leadership is usually a challenging task. Leaders are expected to have organizational skills, emotional intelligence, and stability in decision making among other many skills. Some of these skills are usually in borne while others are gained through training. As a project manager, there are certain key things to consider while running a project. The most important aspect is the scope of the project that clearly defines the boundaries of the project as required by the client. This means that despite all challenges faced, the project should meet the deadline scheduled. In the end, this project will be considered a success. However, there are other things that should cross the projects managers mind while organizing a project. The project should be cost effective and efficient. All project managers would wish to get other job orders, therefore they make sure that there work is excellent. Therefore, several ways that a project manager can implement to make sure that results delivered to the client are satisfying will be discussed along the paper.
Project management is a concept that involves planning, organizing of ideas, motivating people and utilizing resources to come up with an appealing result. A project manager is supposed to have organizing, planning and motivational skills to ensure that the goals are met. In addition, a clear scope of the project should be identified and discussed so that all people involved in the project should be in a position of understanding their duties. In order, to make this happen, every project manage should have a vision statement that will guide the people on how to achieve their goals. A vision statement simply shows what the project intends to do. For example, as a project leader for the office building construction project, my vision statement would be “Encouraging effective construction project sustains and enhances our skills and knowledge.” Every vision statement must have a reason behind it (David, 2007, p. 7). Therefore, the main idea of this vision statement is to integrate all people who will engage the abilities towards sustainability and meeting the clients’ desires. In addition, doing a good job would improve the skills of the workers and in the end; they would be in a position to get jobs in the society’s competitive job market. Apart from showing what the project leader and his team are focused on doing, there is need to show the how part of the statement. This is known as a mission statement. Combining the two will eventually direct the project and his leader in achieving desired results.
How to foster higher levels of performance
All organizations usually have pressures of their own. Apart from work related pressure, the employees equally have personal problems that may burden them and in the end affecting their performance. However, it is vital to note that, no employee is perfect. Every one of them has a problem of his own and the fact that some come to work smiling does not mean that they do not have problems. Companies usually suggest that when employees come to work they should leave other things behind and focus on their jobs. This concept was useful to Phil Bernstein as he was looking for best ways of solving. He allowed his employees to see a counselor more often especially when the change of scope mad them work extra hard in order to deliver the output as initially suggested. Counseling helps workers to be open and share their problem with a neutral person who according to ethics should not reveal the patients secrets. It’s upon the therapist to come up with ideas of helping the patient to overcome his fears.
Phil Bernstein, encouraged integrated project delivery to increase performance of his workers. Integrated project delivery is an approach that allows different stakeholders, systems and business structures and related practices to come together with an aim of coming up with a the most appropriate way of meeting the projects stipulated goals (Bendewald & Franta, 2010, p.5). There are certain projects that may seem obvious. In the end, the project leader may assume a project scope that may be unbearable. Some companies may have been given credit for the good work they have done initially, however, this credit mostly should be directed to the project leader for the wonderful organization. Through Integrated Project Delivery, all stakeholders are allowed to give their views regarding the project through a round table discussion (Integrated project delivery, 2007, p.2). Various segments of the projects choose their representatives after discussing on how their departments should run. Ideally, this helps the project leader to come up with the best alternative on the projects scope to meet the desired results. When workers have an agreement, they will do their tasks ambitiously knowing that their opinions are respected and in the end increase performance.
Identifying the project scope is very important as it helps the workers organize themselves physically and psychologically (Cohen, 2010, p.5). Phil Bernstein identified this concept as a platform of increasing performance in order to meet the projects objective. Assumptions are vital in decision-making as it directs the leader on how the future results should be. However, it is also necessary to note that, not all assumptions yield good results. Therefore, Phil Bernstein considered a change of scope as he had miscalculated certain issues. For example, there was an unforeseen circumstance that involved increase of workers. This meant that the budget had to be increased to make it flexible in handling all expenses and costs. The increase of employees was important in increasing workers performance as the initial scope was already burdening the existing employees.
Unsuccessful tactics to inspire a team to greater heights
Phil Bernstein had issues with contingency as he tried to increase performance. All projects usually have their good and bad side. This will depend on how the project leader handles uncertainties. In this case, Phil Bernstein discovered that his project would not meet the deadline targeted. Therefore, he had to find a way of increasing performance. His tactics of drafting the project plan with an assumption that Autodesk was a renowned organization and was in a position to handle issues without strict supervision. On the contrary, it seems like he was over confident with Autodesk, therefore, Phil made a shoddy proposal that never considered obvious uncertainties like increase in employees. Therefore, when there was need for an increase in employees so that they could meet their target as desired the team was forced to reorganize the scope of project and include the avoidable and unforeseen circumstances. If such issues were tacked earlier enough then the project would have been completed on time.
Another failure that Phil encountered while he was trying to increase performance was in the area is time management. Immediately Phil discovered that the scope of the project was in appropriate, he had to find ways of solving the situation. Some factors can be challenging to change when a project is in the process. Phil had increase the peoples pace s to meet the deadline. However, this tactic was not successful, as the project still did not meet the deadline.
After studying the Autodesk project, one can discover that there are many challenges facing a project leader and his team. However, if an effective solution can be implemented on time then the project can meet its goals as per the deadline stipulated. As a project leader, I would emphasize on Integrated Project Delivery. This approach sums up most of the requirements a project leader should consider before undertaking a project. For example, Integrated Project Delivery will allow different stakeholders of the project to come together. Having a round table discussion will encourage every person to give his or her opinion regarding the scope of the project. Project leaders should also know that they are not perfect in all areas. Therefore, allowing a discussion with the employee who is in the lowest position can help in proper decision-making. Effective assumptions will help the project leader and his team to budget accordingly and include uncertainties so that they may not affect the reorganization of the project if need be.
In conclusion, the project leaders should be visionary to empower the workers attitude towards work (Barry, n.d., para. 2). Project management should involve extreme planning, motivation and organizational skills. Research is necessary as it helps in determining unforeseen issues that may affect a project. The project leaders should be visionary to empower the workers attitude towards work.
Reference List
Barry, T. R. (n.d.). Top 10 qualities of a project manager. Retrieved February 25, 2013, from
http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/top-10-qualities-project-manager.html
Bendewald, M. & Franta, L. (2010). Autodesk AEC headquarters and integrated project design.
Retrieved February 25, 2013, from
http://students.autodesk.com/ama/orig/SD_Images/AutodeskAEC-HQ_RMI.pdf
Cohen, J. (2010). Intergrated project delivery: Case studies. Retrieved February 25, 2013, from
http://hga.com/sites/default/files/downloads/resources/ipd_casestudies_aiacc_final_010410_0.pdf
David, F. (2007). The business vision and mission. Retrieved February 25, 2013, from
www.csun.edu/~hcmgt004/chap02.ppt
Integrated project delivery. (2007). Retrieved February 25, 2013, from
http://info.aia.org/SiteObjects/files/IPD_Guide_2007.pdf
