#91 – ADVENTURES IN NEGLIGENCE – MALCOLM PEART

Malcom Peart pixHow do we deal with our documentation?  It’s probably the most mundane, controversial and opinionated part of a project, but possibly the most essential part of a project and, more often than not, the most delegated.  However, documentation is an essential part of communication.  Communication, or rather ‘information logistics’, is the art of ensuring that information is in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, and in the right medium.  Information also needs to be stored and now this is can be in the cloud, on a remote server, on disc etc etc…etc.  We tend to be rely on the computer to do this menial work and also rely on information technology to ensure we can retrieve this information rather than the old fashioned ‘filing system’. Continue reading

#70 – ADVENTURES IN NEGLECT – TEAM BUILDING – MALCOLM PEART

Malcom Peart pixNegligence is conduct that falls below the standard of behaviour for the protection of others against unreasonable risk of harm.  From a risk management perspective if one neglects to do something, and allows that something to happen, then risks have been ignored and there has been negligence. Continue reading

#60 – EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES SYNDROME – MALCOLM PEART

Malcom Peart pixDefinition – a situation in which people are afraid to criticize something because everyone else seems to think, or gives the impression of thinking, that it is good or important.

We all know the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson and the proud Emperor, opportunist swindlers, frightened people and childish innocence.  Unfortunately many of us have also experienced it, to a greater or lesser extent, when it comes to what has really been specified or required under a contract and what the Client wants, or is prepared to pay for. Continue reading

#56 – GOING WITH THE FLOW: EXPERIENCES IN MICROMANAGEMENT – MALCOLM PEART

Malcom Peart pixPeople say “go with the flow” when things are difficult or there is a crisis looming, but why?  Only two things go with the flow, dead fish and sh*t.

If we sail a boat, ford a stream, or fly an aircraft we need to account for a ‘flow’ of water or wind.  The shortest distance between two points is then a ‘vector’ as we consider the external forces acting on us. Continue reading