Purpose and Background 

Many engineering firms believe they have effective project management systems, but these are often flawed. There are many signs of a weak or ineffectual system. While no system is without its flaws, the goal of design firm managers should be to minimize their impact. Unfortunately, the press of business in meeting client needs often results in necessary changes being pushed aside because it appears to be more expedient to continue operating as you always have. Eventually, these inefficiencies and weaknesses can result in reduced profits, poor client service, quality issues, and many other undesirable consequences. All organizations require continuous improvement in their operations as many factors impact engineering firms on a regular basis. Standing still will eventually result in failure.

This webinar discusses six design flaws. It addresses the impact of having over-burdened principles and partners, the negative results of poor internal communications, and why project managers sometimes fail to make decision.
 
Primary Discussion Topics

• The impact of having overburdened principals/partners
• The negative results of poor internal communications
• The impact on other team members of poor external communications
• Why project managers fail to make decisions
• The failure of clients to make timely project decisions
• Definition of the "span of control" concept and its impact

 Learning Outcomes

• Understand the warning signs of weak or ineffectual project management systems
• Be equipped to evaluate your own firm's project management system
• Recognize several ideas to change the direction of your system
• Discover the root causes of some of your firm's project management problems
• Learn how to take corrective action
• Learn about resources to help improve your project management system

Webinar Benefits

• Discuss the causes of a poorly performing system
• Analyze why your system is not performing
• Hear various ideas to improve your system
• Learn about the concept of authority equaling responsibility
• Understand the need for continuous improvement will be highlighted

 Intended Audience

• Engineering firm principals and partners
• Current project managers seeking solutions to their firm's issues
• Aspiring firm owners/partners looking to avoid future problems
• Anyone seeking to improve firm profitability and performance

 Webinar Outline

• Six key signs of a weak or ineffectual project management system
• Project delivery systems
• Pyramidal systems
• Departmental systems
• Weak project management systems
• Matrix project management systems
• The role of "strong" full-charge project managers
• Adaptation for firms with small, short duration projects
• Questions 

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