Professionalism in Project Control Howard Malleson The Assessment Service Centre of ACostE

Professional Development Learning Event – 27 March 2007

Professionalism in Project Control

Howard MallesonThe Assessment Service Centre of ACostE


Projects are enterprises or activities that:-

•Bring about, or result from, change.

•Have defined goals and objectives.

•Create business opportunities.

•Contain elements of uncertainty and risk.


“The key purpose of those engaged in project control occupations is to develop and provide professional

estimating, cost control, planning and commercial support to the successful

implementation of projects”


Projects are enterprises or activities that:-

•Bring about, or result from, change.

•Have defined goals and objectives.

•Create business opportunities.

•Contain elements of uncertainty and risk.

Project ControlPlanning Estimating Cost Engineering

Commercial Support


The Functional Map

Using technical

skills

Working with people and managing yourself

Starting the project

Carrying out the project

Closing out the project

The Functional Map


Using technical skills

•Using information technology

•Risk identification, analysis, monitoring and control

•Estimating resource requirements

•Assuring and controlling the quality of project control

•Controlling project documentation

•Acquiring, interpreting and using data and information


Project Control Body Of

Competence

51 Occupational Standards

346 specifications

of what you must be able

to do

408 specifications

of what you must know

Level 3 – 17 Standards

Level 4 – 35 Standards


Unit – Oversee the application of IT to project control

Context• The collection and processing of project control

data.• Reporting project current status• Predicting future status• Application of software and hardware as a

competent user, not an IT specialist



You must be able to:• Make recommendations about the choice and use

of software and systems• Extract, enter, edit and process information• Structure and create reports to meet project

needs• Share your skills and understanding• Improve the effectiveness of IT application• Recommend and implement security measures



You must know:• About the attributes of available IT tools• How to select and customise IT tools• About the operational needs of the project

control IT systems• Sources and flow paths of project control data• About data security systems• About data system interfaces within your own

and with external organisations


To download the National Occupational Standards and the details of the National

Vocational Qualifications:

Go to

www.acoste.org.uk


Some Users Of The Standards And Qualifications

Azerbaijan International Oil Company

Atomic Weapons Establishment

British Nuclear Group Worley Parsons

Rolls Royce Stone & Webster

Kellogg Brown & Root Berkley Power Station

Rolls Royce Marine Power Franklin and Andrews

Selex - SAS Chicago Bridge International

BAe Systems Foster Wheeler

Turner & Townsend UKAEA


Using The Standards

• Achievement of formal qualifications

• Creation of training and development programmes

• Bench marking

• Recognition of personal and professional growth and capabilities

Assessment structureAwarding Body

External Verification

Approved Centre TASC

Internal Verification

Assessors

Candidates

The Assessment Process identify opportunities which generate

evidence

assess evidence of competent

performance

assess knowledge

match performance and knowledge

evidence against scope requirements

analyse evidence

collate evidence in a portfolio


Candidate Profile• Candidate 4• Early 40s, outgoing and personable

– HNC (Mech) and apprenticeship – Planning and site experience – Lead Planning Engineer on proposals

• Since NVQ level 4:– Top Strategic Planner in company – Working with Strategic Lead Team– Has gained real confidence as a

consequence– Is a big believer in NVQs


Candidate Profile• Candidate 2

• Late 20s, low career aspiration/enjoyed work– Site Office Technical Assistant

background– Very capable at grade– Started on Level 3

• Since NVQ Level 4:– Worked in Planning Risk and Estimating – Willing to be the “Project Acupuncturist”– Now Project Control Manager– Considered one of the ‘High Fliers’


National and International Recognition• National Vocational Qualifications at Levels 3 and 4

awarded by ECITB• Matching with Engineering Council UK Spec as a

basis for CEng, IEng and Eng Tech through ACostE

• The Standards and qualifications ‘hosted’ on the ICEC website

• Certified Cost Engineer from the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) through ACostE based on the NVQ

• Corporate and graduate membership of ACostE – MACostE and GMACostE


The National Qualifications And

Professional Excellence Develop and demonstrate the ability to DO

plus

Develop and demonstrate depth and breadth of KNOWLEDGE

Proven Competence and Professional Excellence


Future Developments

• Improving intake into the profession

• Bench marking to improve team

management

• Extending professional standing and

recognition


Structured Alternative Intakes Into The Profession Of Project Control

GCSE/A level entrants to apprenticeships

Experienced craft/technician or HNC/HND or graduate entrant to apprenticeship/graduate training scheme

College based basic technician training – key skills, project control elements & F.E.

Off the job bridging courses including key skills, technology, project control elements and F.E./H.E. – tailored to individual needs

Company defined on the job coached basic introduction to project control including:

• Estimating, planning, purchasing, cost engineering, risk, QA, change control etc

• Provided by a mix of off site (training establishment or college) and on site

NewFoundation Level

NVQ in Project Control (Level 2)

In company job related coached project control experience

ExistingIntermediate Level NVQ in Project Control (Level 3)


Benchmarking Process

Candidate completes the Experience and Knowledge Self Assessment

Review, initial rating and interview preparation by Assessor

Interview by Assessor – 30 to 40 minutes. Adjust initial ratings

Prepare and issue report


E x p e r ie n c e a n d K n o w le d g e S e lf A s s e s s m e n t – S a m p le F o rm C a n d id a te N a m e : G ra h a m W a tk in s D a te : 0 1 .0 3 .0 5

D o yo u c a rr y o u t th e a c tiv ity?

H o w c a n yo u s h o w yo u c a rry o u t th e a c tiv ity? A c tiv ity

C u rre n tly P re v io u s ly

U s in g te c h n ic a l s k ills O v e rs e e th e a p p lic a tio n o f in fo rm a tio n te c h n o lo g y ( IT ) to p ro je c t c o n tro l.

N N

A p p ly in fo rm a tio n te c h n o lo g y (IT ) to p ro je c t c o n tro l

Y Y S ta n d a rd a n d s p e c ia l re p o rts I g e n e ra te d fro m th e IP M S s y s te m . U s e o f E xc e l a n d A c ce s s to p ro c e s s c o s t d a ta a n d c o d e a llo c a tio n s .

Id e n tify r is k s a n d e v a lu a te o p tio n s fo r th e ir c o n tro l.

N N

M o n ito r r is k s a n d th e im p le m e n ta t io n o f r is k c o n tro l m e a s u re s .

Y N I w a s g iv e n a c o p y o f th e p ro p o s a l s ta g e ris k re g is te r.

R e v ie w c o n tin g e n c ie s

Y N B u d g e t tra n s fe rs in th e m o n th ly c o s t re p o rt ta b le s th a t I p re p a re .

A s s u re th e q u a lity o f, a n d a p p ly q u a lity a s su ra n c e p ro c e d u re s to , p ro je c t c o n tro l

Y Y E m a ils I s e n t th a t re c o rd e d th a t s o m e IT s y s te m s w e re n o t b e in g u s e d a s re q u ire d b y th e p ro je c t p ro c e d u re s .

A c q u ire , h a n d le a n d p re s e n t p ro je c t co n tro l in fo rm a tio n

Y N R e c o rd s o f m y in p u ttin g in to a n d e x tra c t in g fro m p ro je c t d a ta b a s e s . P o w e r P o in t p re s e n ta tio n d a ta I p re p a re d fo r th e L e a d C o s t E n g in e e r.

W o rk in g w ith p e o p le a n d m a n a g in g yo u rs e lf P ro v id e a d v ic e a n d s u p p o rt to m a in ta in p ro g re s s .

Y Y E m a ils a n d m e e tin g n o te s

M a n a g e th e p ro je c t c o n tro l te a m – a g re e o b je c t iv e s w ith te a m s a n d in d iv id u a ls .

N N

M a n a g e th e p ro je c t c o n tro l te a m – a llo c a te w o rk .

N N

M a n a g e th e c o n tin u in g d e v e lo p m e n t o f yo u r p e rs o n a l a n d p ro je c t c o n tro l p ro fe ss io n a l s k ills .

Y N R e c o rd s o f m y 6 m o n th ly p e rfo rm a n c e a p p ra is a ls w ith m y m a n a g e r.

D e v e lo p th e s k ills o f y o u r p ro je c t co n tro l te a m m e m b e rs .

? N N o te s th a t I p re p a re d to h e lp o th e r te a m m e m b e rs w ith in p u ttin g d a ta in to th e IP M S s y s te m . Is th is a v a lid re s p o n s e ?

D e v e lo p a n d m a in ta in e ffe c tive w o rk in g re la tio n s h ip s .

Y Y R e s p o n s e s fro m m e to re q u e s ts fo r fo r c o s t i n fo rm a tio n n e e d e d o n a n u rg e n t b a s is .

O b s e rv e a n d a p p ly p ro fe s s io n a l e th ic s a n d v a lu e s .

? ? N o t s u re w h a t is re q u ire d b u t I h a v e a tte n d e d a c o m p a n y tra in in g s e s s io n o n th e c o m p a n y ’s c o m m e rc ia l c o d e s o f p ra c tic e .

P la n a n d im p le m e n t p ro je c t c o n tro l o p e ra tio n a l d e v e lo p m e n ts .

N N

D e v e lo p in g th e p ro je c t D e te rm in e th e re q u ire m e n ts fo r p ro je c t c o n tro l.

N N

E s tim a te a n d s p e c ify fin a n c ia l re s o u rc e s .

Y N B u d g e t c a s h flo w g ra p h s I p re p a re d .

D e v e lo p a n d p re p a re th e p ro je c t p ro g ra m m e .

N N

E s ta b lish p ro je c t p ro c u re m e n t re q u ire m e n ts .

Y N B u t a lim ite d a m o u n t o f w o rk o n ly o n in p u ttin g p u rc h a s in g b u d g e ts fo r b u lk m a te r ia ls in to th e IP M S s ys te m .


Benchmarking

Responses by the candidate will be accorded one of five ratings

0 – No knowledge

1 – Aware of the activity but little practical

knowledge or experience

2 – Competent to deliver at Intermediate level

3 – Competent to deliver at Professional level

4 – Recognised expert can supervise others and

advise clients.


T A S C F o rm 1 0 3 C o p y r ig h t T A S C 2 0 0 5 . A l l r ig h ts re s e rv e d P a g e 1 o f 1

E x p e r ie n c e a n d K n o w le d g e A s s e s s m e n t – S a m p le A s s e s s m e n t a n d R a t in g

C a n d id a te N a m e : G r a h a m W a tk in s D a te :2 6 .0 1 .0 6 A s s e s s o r :A .N .O th e r

T A S C C o n tr a c t N o . 3 5 1

D o yo u c a r r y o u t th e a c t iv ity ?

S o u r c e L e v e l

R a t in g M /O U n it N o s .

C o m m e n ts A c t iv i t y

C u rr e n t ly P re v io u s ly 3 /4

U s in g te c h n ic a l s k i l ls T o ta l R a t in g 1 1 O v e rs e e th e a p p lic a t io n o f in fo rm a tio n te c h n o lo g y ( IT ) to p ro je c t c o n tro l.

N N 4 M 1

A p p ly in fo rm a tio n te c h n o lo g y (IT ) to p ro je c t c o n t ro l

Y Y 3 4 M 2 S e e U n it 1 5 re s p o n s e

Id e n tify r is k s a n d e v a lu a te o p t io n s fo r th e ir c o n t ro l.

N N 4 M 3

M o n ito r r is k s a n d th e im p le m e n ta t io n o f r is k c o n tro l m e a s u re s .

Y N 3 & 4 1 M 4 & 5 N e e d s t ra in in g a n d e x p e r ie n c e

R e v ie w c o n t in g e n c ie s

Y N 3 2 M 4 (p a r t )

C h e c k e d d e p th a t in te rv ie w .

A s s u re th e q u a li ty o f, a n d a p p ly q u a li ty a s s u ra n c e p ro c e d u re s to , p ro je c t c o n tro l

Y Y 3 & 4 2 M 6 & 7

A c q u ire , h a n d le a n d p re s e n t p ro je c t c o n tro l in fo rm a tio n

Y N 3 & 4 2 M 8 & 9 C h e c k e d d e p th a t in te rv ie w . A p p e a rs to h a v e re a l ta le n ts . T ie s in w ith o th e r IT re s p o n s e s .

W o r k in g w ith p e o p le a n d m a n a g in g yo u rs e lf T o ta l R a t in g 9 P ro v id e a d v ic e a n d s u p p o r t to m a in ta in p ro g re s s .

Y Y 4 2 O 1 0 C h e c k e d a t in te rv ie w

M a n a g e th e p ro je c t c o n t ro l te a m – a g re e o b je c t iv e s w ith te a m s a n d in d iv id u a ls .

N N 4 O 1 1

M a n a g e th e p ro je c t c o n t ro l te a m – a llo c a te w o rk .

N N 4 O 1 2

M a n a g e th e c o n tin u in g d e v e lo p m e n t o f y o u r p e rs o n a l a n d p ro je c t c o n tro l p ro fe s s io n a l s k i l ls .

Y N 3 & 4 2 O 1 3 & 1 4

C h e c k e d re c o rd s a t in te rv ie w

D e v e lo p th e s k ills o f y o u r p ro je c t c o n tro l te a m m e m b e rs .

Y Y 4 2 O 1 5 C h e c k e d a t in te rv ie w - IT

D e v e lo p a n d m a in ta in e f fe c tiv e w o rk in g re la t io n s h ip s .

Y Y 3 & 4 2 M 1 6 & 1 7

O b s e rv e a n d a p p ly p ro fe s s io n a l e th ic s a n d v a lu e s .

? ? 3 & 4 1 M 1 8 C h e c k e d a t in te rv ie w . N e e d s to d e v e lo p h is k n o w le d g e

P la n a n d im p le m e n t p ro je c t c o n tro l o p e ra t io n a l d e v e lo p m e n ts .

N N 4 M 1 9

D e v e lo p in g th e p r o je c t T o ta l R a t in g 5 D e te rm in e th e re q u ire m e n ts fo r p ro je c t c o n t ro l.

N N 4 O 2 0

E s t im a te a n d s p e c ify f in a n c ia l re s o u rc e s .

Y N 3 & 4 2 O 2 1 & 2 4

D e v e lo p a n d p re p a re th e p ro je c t p ro g ra m m e .

N N 3 & 4 O 2 2 & 2 5

E s ta b lis h p ro je c t p ro c u re m e n t re q u ire m e n ts .

Y N 3 & 4 1 O 2 3 & 2 6

C h e c k e d d e p th a t in te rv ie w


Project Control Practitioner Experience And Knowledge Self Assessment

Results Report TASC Contract No.

Candidate Name Graham Watkins Location Zenproc Contracting, Chiswick Date of Candidate Form 23.12.05 Date of Interview 26.01.06 Assessor Name A.N.Other Report Date 29.01.06

Activity Group Assessment Rating Using Technical Skills

11

Working With People And Managing Yourself

9

Developing The Project

5

Project Implementation

7

Closing Out the Project

0

Total

32

Comments Typical ‘bench mark’ total ratings are:-

26 – fully competent to deliver under guidance and when working to established procedures.

60 – Fully competent to ‘self start’, define approaches to executing project control activities and to provide guidance to others

351

The Overall Rating indicates that Graham is operating at a Level 3 standard but, in some aspects, he is performing above that level. He needs training/experience in risk management and in the part professional ethics and values have to play in the work of Zenproc. He has particular strengths in IT and it may be worth looking at his potential in training and supporting other team members. He is proactive in providing support outside his formally defined scope of activities. A Level 3 NVQ programme would provide a focus for his development and visible recognition for his competence.


Certified

Professional

Intermediate

Foundation

Route Membership Designation

Level 4 VQ + Dissertation + Interview

Level 4 VQ

Level 3 VQ

Level 2 VQ

Member

Member

Graduate

Registrant

CCE, MACostE

MACostE

Grad.ACostE

Reg.ACostE

The ACostE Professional Qualification Family


The Pillar of

KnowledgeThe Pillar of

Experience

The Key Stone of

Competence

ACostE – Building The Arch of Professionalism

Documents

Professionalism in Project Control Howard Malleson The Assessment Service Centre of ACostE