Managing projects Flashcards
Belbin team roles
Belbin Types Analysed hundreds of projects teams and found that the most effective project teams have different personalities.
1. Coordinator – able to get others working to a shared aim; confident; mature, a good chairperson, clarifies goals, promotes decision making
2. Shaper – motivated; energetic; achievement-driven; competitive, dynamic, has drive and courage to overcome obstacles
3. Plant – innovative; inventive; creative; problem solver, imaginative, unorthodox, solves difficult problems
4. Monitor-evaluator – serious, prudent, critical thinker, sober, strategic, sees all options
5. Implementer – systematic, common sense, loyal, reliable, structured, turns ideas into practical action, conservative
6. Resource investigator – quick, good communicator, networker, extrovert, enthusiastic, explores opportunities
7. Team worker – supportive, sociable, adaptable, listener, mild, perceptive, diplomatic, builds, averts friction
8. Complete-finisher – attention to detail, high standards, delivers to schedule, painstaking, conscientious, anxious, searches out errors, delivers on time
9. Specialist – technical expert, highly focussed, single-minded, dedicated, provides knowledge and skill in rare supply
Can you identify key pieces of legislation that you comply with?
H&S at work Act, CDM, Planning regulations, Equality Act
What skills and techniques would you use when managing people?
*Forming the team – Tuckman
*For understanding and motivating the team – Belbin & situational leadership
*Ensure that the team are working towards the objectives and goals, and understand their roles and responsibilities – this could be included in the PEP
* Situational leadership
Building Regulations
A - Structure
B - Fire safety
C Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture
D - Toxic substances
E - Resistance to the passage of sound
F - Ventilation
G - Sanitations, hot water safety and water efficiency
H - Drainage and waste disposal
J - Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems
K - Protections from falling, collision and impact
L - Conservation of fuel and power
M - Access to and use of buildings
P - Electrical safety
Q - Security - dwellings
R - Physical infrastructure for high speed electronic communications networks
What skills and techniques would you use when managing people?
- Forming the team – Tuckman
- For understanding and motivating the team – Belbin
- Ensure that the team are working towards the objectives and goals, and understand their roles and responsibilities – this could be included in the PEP
Tell me about Soft Landings
Soft Landings is a building delivery process which runs through the project, from inception to completion and beyond, to ensure all decisions made during the project are based on improving operational performance of the building and meeting the client’s expectations.
What tools have you used to communicate how the project will be delivered?
On all my projects I advise the client and TSP team how a project will be delivered through setting out roles, accountability, who is to be consulted and who is to be informed in the RACI, this feeds into the PEP, and also implement a programme to show sequencing of works and the deadlines.
Advise what happened when you were involved in a design change.
Being pre-contract, design changes are part of design development, however I understand the process, for example - On the CAMUS project, there was a design change raised by the architect in implementing a ramp and new alternate entrance to the refurb area. In the first instance I discussed this with the design team to review the practicality across the disciplines, I then raised this with the client and facilitated a site visit to review the possibility further. On site there was a discussion with the head of establishment and end user who advised the area was not to be made available to the project, so I advised the client this was not a viable design change and we would not progress this idea further, however had this been post contract I understand this would have followed the CE route in the instance of being a viable change.
Tell me about document management on one of your projects?
Across all my Defence Projects I utilise Project wise, a BIM and security complaint document handling and sharing system in line with client requirements.
What can you tell me about lifecycle costing and when it has been used on one of your projects?
As part of all stages in the feasibility and concept phases in Defence projects, a lifecycle costing exercise is undertaken at the end of the stage to inform the costs and viability of the project to be inputted into the business case to build evidence to gain approval to proceed to the next stage of the project.
Can you tell me about the planning process?
On the CAMUS project as part of the planning process I initially advised on the need for a planning consultant, the first stage after their appointment was a review of the scope and any immediate constraints, and work / surveys undertaken to date. The next step was to engage with the client’s town planners to seek their review of the assessment of if we needed a pre-app and whether we could utilise PD or needed a full planning application. The pre-app was submitted with a 6 week determination, timescales do vary based on if it is a major or minor application which is calculated based on the size of the new build element of the project, the outcome was followed by adhering to the recommendations of the pre-app including further engagement and bat surveys, these alongside other supporting documentation provided by the design team was submitted in accordance with the requirements to the council (Westminster city council). WCC respond once the documents have been submitted and payment made and will contact you within 2 weeks to advise of the case officer and ref number and validate your submission or request more information validated proceeded into the determination period, typically 13 weeks for major / complex applications and 8 weeks if a minor application and thereafter a determination was provided by the case officer of the outcomes.
Tell me of a time you have advised the client on statutory requirements?
On the CAMUS project, contained within the RIBA 2-3 RFP response, I advised of the need for a Planning consultant, and provided the fees and scope for Arcadis to provide this. I advised that their expertise would assist with navigating the planning requirements for the three different councils, along with adhering to DIO’s policies, and would lead on assessing the planning route to be taken for each site and compiling and submitting the relevant documents, advising of the relevant engagement which needed to be undertaken and providing advice on the site specific constraints which impact planning such as required ecology surveys and the heritage constraints.
Working in Government / public sector, tell me about the document management protocols you have to adhere to?
I am aware that there is a requirement set as a minimum target by the UK government for all work on public-sector work to adhere to BIM Level 2. Level 2 BIM is distinguished by collaborative working, and requires “an information exchange process which is specific to that project and coordinated between various systems and project participants.
Any CAD software that each party uses must be capable of exporting to one of the common file formats such as IFC (Industry Foundation Class) or COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange).
How can you ensure you get a planning determination by a set date?
A planning performance agreement is a project management tool which the local planning authorities and applicants can use to agree timescales, actions and resources for handling particular applications. It should cover the pre-application and application stages but may also extend through to the post-application stage. Planning performance agreements can be particularly useful in setting out an efficient and transparent process for determining large and/or complex planning applications. They encourage joint working between the applicant and local planning authority, and can also help to bring together other parties such as statutory consultees. A planning performance agreement is agreed voluntarily between the applicant and the local planning authority prior to the application being submitted, and can be a useful focus of pre-application discussions about the issues that will need to be addressed.
What is included within a planning determination, is it just an approved or rejected?
Planning determination will be received and will specify if permitted or rejected. Also included will be conditions to comply with and the reason(s) for.
