Earth PM

Dwarfing Cape Wind with a Patriot-sized (not Giant-sized) wind farm near Martha’s Vinyard

earthpm — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:36:52 +0000

Take a look at the two areas above.

The top one represents Cape Wind, about which we’ve posted several times.

Now, a new area has been set aside for a wind farm which, according to a story in today’s Boston Globe, “could produce as much as 4,000 megawatts, 10 times as much electricity as the proposed Cape Wind project, which is slated to sprawl over 25 square miles. That is enough, they said, to power up to 70 percent of homes in Massachusetts.”

For now, we’d encourage you to stay tuned to EarthPM and our tweets, not much is known about this yet but it has the potential to be come a giant…er….bad word around here right now….a very large and patriotic (there we go!) way to generate power for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts!

And what a great way to employ hundreds or thousands of project managers and team members!

earthpm — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:45:56 +0000

A blog post we created ended up as an article in PMSA’s (Project Management South Africa) monthly magazine. The posting was about BP, and their preparation for, and reaction to, the environmental project risk as a result of the so-called “Deepwater Horizon” well incident, which now seems like ancient history. In fact, already we encounter people who forget that this happened.

Anyway, after our article was published in PMSA’s The Project Manager (an excellent journal, by the way), there was a rebuttal of sorts by a gentleman who is very experienced in the oil industry. While we appreciated his technical expertise we felt that we deserved a chance to reply, and PMSA accommodated that recently with the following response by EarthPM:

Rejoinder from Rich Maltzman and Dave Shirley, co-authors of the award-winning book Green Project Management, to the article by Ronald Smith entitled “BP is not the enemy”, on the BP oil spill (March 2011 edition of The Project Manager)We thank Mr Smith for the explanation and expertise he provided on the process of drilling for oil. His description made the process much more accessible than most and, importantly, more relevant to us as project managers. We appreciate his acknowledgement that the consideration of sustainability early on in the project might have had an effect, although we understand his scepticism that it might not have made any notable difference.

For our part, we are increasingly convinced that sustainability thinking (and the resulting actions) could have had an effect on whether an incident happened the way it did and how it was responded to.

Since the original article was published, more facts on the story have come to light. For example, the risk register that the local BP team used was recently released by a United States government agency as part of its investigation; and it indicates that the only risk categories populated were in cost, schedule and production (see www.boemre.gov/pdfs/maps/AppendixJ_RiskRegister.pdf). You can see in the risk register that the suggested risk categories and those used by the team on the Macondo well.

Although BP, as a corporation, had admirably included environmental and safety risks in the overarching template, it incentivised all its teams with an “every dollar counts” programme, which did in fact yield significant savings for the company (see:www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7055139).

We would assert, however, that this incentive – and the immediate result it provided in terms of savings – drove behaviours, as illustrated by the fact that there were zero environmental and safety risks identified. Again, we know that we were not there to observe this happening so, admittedly, some of this is conjecture on our part (as we reminded readers in our original article); and no one can predict what would have happened if BP had identified these risks – but we do know as a matter of fact that unidentified risks will not have risk responses.

As far as the skimmer boats, with a $20-30 billion downside, and a need for “positive” public relations, why not have a fleet of these boats ready to deploy at key locations? It seems to us that it would have at least given the appearance that BP had been looking to prevent the spread of the oil, and at best would actually have recovered oil and helped prevent the spread of the oil. In our opinion, this is a relatively inexpensive purchase (or lease!), considering the downside risk.

Mr Smith discusses the way in which chief executive officer Tony Hayward and BP were treated by US President Barack Obama and Congress. On this note, we cannot defend politicians nor the political process and the actions of the committee that questioned Hayward.

We can acknowledge, however, that perception becomes reality; and the perception or impression that Hayward gave to many people – including some of these politicians – was that BP would sort of eventually get around to cleaning this up.

We think that part of corporate social responsibility is owning the problem and making it clear to all stakeholders that you believe the problem to be your own.

Now, let us talk to the point made about “low risk”. Let us be clear here on our terminology. Risk (in this case threat) is composed of two elements: the probability that something bad may happen; and the impact that this something may have. Multiplying the probability and impact yields the risk factor – the attribute used to judge how a risk affects a project objective.

We agree with Mr Smith that the risk event probability is low. But two similar events having occurred in 40 years is hard evidence that it is certainly not zero.

Furthermore, we think most people would agree the impact was high. Even BP would have to agree the $30bn of tangible fines and expenses and unknown intangible damage to its reputation is ‘high impact’.

When we multiply the probability (low, but not zero) and the impact (huge!), we still end up with a risk factor number that is fairly large. So – “low risk”? We disagree.

As to the analogy with plane crashes, we do not suggest clean-up crews at points all over the globe.

It should be noted that there are, in fact, emergency teams and equipment at every airport.

Furthermore, there are indeed agencies such as the Red Cross, the National Guard, the police and others who exist for the very reasons we discuss.

The analogy is not very appropriate nor relevant because the oil rigs are fixed in one place and not flying around. So it is therefore much less effort to plan and execute risk mitigations nearby at their source.

Mr Smith completes his story with this quote: “As Pogo the Possum said: ‘We have met the enemy, and he is us’.”

Well, we could not agree more, and we can do something about that.

Ensuring we include sustainability thinking in our projects, for example, including “environmental risks” in our risk analyses, goes a long way to helping us “go a long way” (i.e. being sustainable)

Here’s a link to the “rejoinder”:

Blame game
Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Quo Vadis, Projectmania?

earthpm — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:54:51 +0000

In 1979, a paper was published by A. Chapanis, asking the question Quo Vadis, Ergonomia? (Latin for “Where are you going, Ergonomics?). It was considered a landmark paper.

Chapanis was trying to challenge his colleagues in ergonomics (the study of human-machine interface and ‘ease of work) to think hard about what their discipline did and didn’t entail and how they could improve the lot not only for people in the field but for all of its stakeholders.

So – what the HECK does any of this have to do with Projects, Programs, Project Managers, or Program Managers?

Alot.

A whole bunch.

Much.

Tons.

You see, today, PMI posted on Facebook the following announcement:

“Get ready…beginning 6 February 2012, you will have the opportunity to participate in the update of two key PMI Standards. Visit the Exposure Draft page in the Standards section of PMI in February to view and comment on The Standard for Program Standard—Third Edition and A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)—Fifth Edition.”

THIS IS A CHANCE TO HELP TELL PMI ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF OUR DISCIPLINE.

Let’s take advantage of it.

Here is a link to the standards exposure page:

http://www.pmi.org/PMBOK-Guide-and-Standards/Standards-Exposure-Drafts.aspx

Mark your calendar now – for February 6. Mark it to remind yourself to begin the review of the documents. Of course, we’d encourage you to review them to assure that the documents take into account the long-term, sustainable view of project management we’ve been discussing with you ad nauseum (keeping the Latin theme here) since we started with a couple of hundred hits per month on this site (we’re now averaging 40-50 thousand).

They didn’t specify when the exposure period ends. That’s why it’s critical that you initiate a Start-Start dependency with February 6 and review/comment as soon as they’re available for exposure draft.

Thanks for your attention.

The Ironic China Air

earthpm — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:55:30 +0000

This is a brief, but (we think) interesting post.

It’s about air. Not just any air, the air in China.

Now I’ve been to China, visiting Hong Kong and Beijing in 1999. It was a great trip, but I noted even back then, that Beijing had a brownish tinge to it. A haze of smog was ever-present in the city. And that was then. The growth in vehicle and power use since then has been immense.

So, it can only be worse now – and it was bad then, I can tell you from experience.

So where is the irony? Well, as you know, China’s economy has grown and they’re becoming a leader in alternative energy manufacturing. And, China has recognized the problem of air pollution, setting aggressive goals for renewable energy sources.

In this story from yesterday’s Boston Globe, learn about A123 and AMSC, and how their alternative energy projects born in the Boston area, but deployed in China, are challenging US companies to take advantage of this craving for clean air.

The desert sun

earthpm — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:47:11 +0000

In our book, we wrote about DESERTEC.

It’s nice to see that it’s:

more than a dream
employing project managers
employing project team workers
setting an example for renewable energy

See this really nice and very new video:

Note the aspects of social, economic, and ecological sustainability involved.

And note the importance of project management to the effort.

THIS is a good example of a solid intersection of sustainability and project management.

What do you think?

Delicious and Sustainable Capitolism

earthpm — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:48:27 +0000

Visiting family in Washington, DC (The capitol of the USA, and the core of the play-on-words of the title) this weekend, I was able to enjoy an absolutely wonderful dinner at a restaurant there called Founding Farmers.

Immediately I was struck with connections to EarthPM and our book on Green Project Management. One of our themes is to have a strong connection between idea/vision/values and operations. Here’s what this restaurant says about itself (and this came through sincerely via our waitress right from the start):

The American family farmer is truly at the heart of Founding Farmers because the restaurant is owned by genuine, hardworking, American family farmers.

We believe it is the right of all diners and food lovers to enjoy of a good “meal away from home” that is fulfilling, delicious and honest, made with ingredients from high-quality sources. We strive to source the best products seasonally and regionally whenever possible, and our meals are prepared with the utmost care and attention by our talented chefs and kitchen staff. “Strive” is an important word, because in today’s world and today’s economy, it isn’t always possible to source or buy the ideal products.

The Founding Farmers name represents a combination of ideas: it is a celebration of the land and the American family farmer; it is a nod to the founding fathers of our country, many of whom owned and farmed land that surrounds Washington, D.C.; and it is a place where true, sustainably farmed, grown and harvested American foods are brought to our guests.

So their mission is not only clear, it goes right into the menu and the service. A connection is made between Ideation and Operations. In our business (and discipline) of project management, we say that is what brews success.

This restaurant is always packed, always highly-regarded, and we can say from personal experience, does a fantastic job. Everything about our visit was an 11 on a 10-point scale.

Since the restaurant has such a sustainability theme, we decided to check their web presence, and were delighted with a highly-informative site with a dedicated page on farming and restaurant sustainability.

Check out their “why we care” page. It’s a great resource.

What we found interesting was their tenets that describe how they expect their suppliers (farms) to act. Again, this links to project management in that procurement practices can also have these tenets. They may not be exactly the same because all projects don’t necessarily deal with farms, but you can transpose the idea. Here are their tenets:

Conservation and Preservation: What is taken out of the environment is put back in, so land and resources such as water, soil and air can be replenished and are available to future generations. The waste from sustainable farming stays within the farm’s ecosystem and cannot cause buildup or pollution. In addition, sustainable agriculture seeks to minimize transportation costs and fossil fuel use and is as locally based as possible.
Biodiversity: Farms raise different plants and animals, which are rotated around the fields to enrich the soil and help prevent disease and pest outbreaks. Chemical pesticides are used minimally and only when necessary. Many sustainable farms do not use any form of chemicals.
Animal Welfare: Animals are treated humanely and respectfully and are well cared for. They are permitted to carry out their natural behaviors — such as grazing, rooting or pecking — and are fed a natural diet appropriate for their species.
Economic Viability: Farmers are paid a fair wage and are not dependent on subsidies from the government. Sustainable farmers help strengthen rural communities.
Socially Just: Workers are treated fairly and paid competitive wages and benefits. They work in a safe environment and are offered proper living conditions and good food.

So, if you’re ever in or near Washington, DC, stop by this restaurant and have one of the best dining experiences you’ll ever enjoy – and you’ll learn a little, too!

Click on the image below to go to their home page.

Winding up with savings

earthpm — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:48:03 +0000

An article in yesterday’s Boston Globe describes a project in Gloucester (pronounced “Gloss-tah”*), Massachusetts, in which the city will power its school and city buildings fully from wind power. The windmills will save Gloucester at least $450,000 per year and more than $11 million over the next 25 years. Located in one of the windiest areas of the state, averaging over 16 miles per hour, and away from any neighborhoods, this project has received little in the way of protest.

Investment in the project is about $10M, and with the savings from the agreement, the town is now jumpstarting two other projects in the next two years, a new police and fire safety building and a new elementary school.

So: project begets project begets project, and the city ends up with ongoing savings that pay back on its original investment.

Not a bad deal – winding up with savings. And not a bad deal for all of the project managers who’ll be gainfully employed to bring these deliverables in on time, within budget, and with proper scope management.

You can read the entire article by clicking here.

*really!

Exposure Self

earthpm — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:40:43 +0000

Despite the image and the play on words, this is actually a very serious and urgent posting regarding exposure.

It has nothing to do with being too “revealing” or getting too cold.

Rather it has to do with an “Exposure Draft” which the Project Management Institute (PMI) has made available for comment, and it’s only open for comment until 14-January.

The document is The Standard for Portfolio Management. And it’s only open as an Exposure Draft until 14-January-2012

Here is a link to the page that explains how you can make comments and suggestions on the Exposure Draft of the Standard for Portfolio Management.

http://www.pmi.org/PMBOK-Guide-and-Standards/Standards-Current-PMI-Standards-Projects.aspx

We are urging our readers to go there and to review the document for how well (or poorly) it integrates sustainability thinking. Already in our initial review we notice some problems. For example, when it discusses ‘Organizational Value’, it says that

“Organizational Value … also includes other forms of value such as employee or customer satisfaction, contribution to the community, enhancement or protection of the environment…”

” Also?”

Like it’s a “throw-in” gimme?

It’s good that the environment is mentioned, and that social and community aspects are mentioned, but not good enough. These items – these sustainability, long-term items, must be integrated.

Help us, won’t you, by spending some time with this document and adding your comments and insight. We feel it’s very important because it’s at the Portfolio level that business make fundamental decisions about what types of projects and programs to undertake.

Thanks.

The Year End

earthpm — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:00:19 +0000

It’s been a very interesting and wonderful year for us. We’ve gained a lot of new friends along the way. We also know that some of the issues we talk about can get a little “heavy” at times. So we wanted to share with you a little video that was sent to us to say thank you to all of you who follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and enjoy our posts. Please continue to add your input.

And to all our friends, old and new, world-wide, we think you’ll get a big kick out of this. Happy New Year to all from Rich and Dave at EarthPM!!

Click Here to Enjoy

A spot of tea with Susanne Madsen

earthpm — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:37:07 +0000

Join us as we enjoy a spot of (virtual) tea with author and coach Susanne Madsen.

You may just find a nice resolution in the interview – but you will definitely gain some wisdom. CLICK HERE to go to the interview!

Happy New Year as well to all of our EarthPM fans.

Oh, and speaking of New Year’s – if you were looking for a resolution - just go to this site - it will only take you a few minutes to sign our petition to ask PMI to incorporate sustainability thinking into the 5th Edition PMBOK® Guide.