Question

Please, I need answers for 2 questions, thank you.

Project Management in Practice South African Repair Success through Teamwork

When a fire broke out in the carbonate regeneration column in a major facility of Sasol, a leading South African coal, chemical, and crude-oil company, it was crucial to get it fixed immediately. It was deter- mined that the damaged portion of the 19-foot-wide, 231-foot-long column would have to be cut out and replaced before the facility could operate again. Time was of the essence, and only 40 days were allowed for the repair project. To achieve this unheard-of schedule, a number of special ground rules were established: • The project is to be schedule-driven, not cost-driven • There is no float anywhere on the project • Always plan to reduce scheduled times, not meet them • Resources are not to be considered as a limitation • Communication will be continuous across all levels • Safety will not be compromised • Quality will not be compromised In addition, special effort was directed toward making the project team strive to reduce time on the project. First, it was made clear that a higher premium would be placed on team performance than on individual performance. The “soft” aspects of management were always taken into consideration: making sure transport was available, accommodations were acceptable, food was available, excessive over- time was avoided, communication forms matched each member’s preferences (verbal, phone, written, etc.), and so on. A communication board was installed and updated twice daily to communicate project progress, and especially time saved on the schedule with the person’s name who achieved it. There were both twice-daily shift change meetings, where each shift communicated with the previous shift about progress and problems, and twicedaily planning meetings where the work activities of the next two days were planned in minute detail. The response to this level of project team attention was overwhelming. People raised ideas for saving even five minutes on the schedule. Enthusiasm for the project, and saving project time, became the dominant culture. As a result, the project was completed in only 25 days, 15 days early, with a corresponding cost savings of over $21 million out of an $85 million budget.

1. What are the main lessons learned from reading this case?

2. What does it mean ‘soft’ aspects of management

Answer 1

Ans 1) The main lesson learned from reading this case is that when we work as a team caring for everyone and remain united during the difficult times we can succeed and it does not matter how big the obstacles are. Also, we should not panic during difficult times as if we panic then we cannot make proper decisions because we all know that we do not know what will happen tomorrow, circumstances may change, there may be a sudden failure of any machine or an earthquake may come, or a fire may break out as it happened in this case but because the people did not panic and faced it confidently by doing whatever they could do and worked like a team, they could deliver the project on time and most importantly they completed the project in only 25 days, earlier by 15 days.

This case also taught us that taking care of employees is a must thing which every employer should do and this case showed the same thing by focussing on soft aspects of management, they made sure that transport was available, there was no excessive overworking, communication form was taken care off, food was available, accommodations were given properly. Employees are the greatest asset of any organization and when they are being taken care of, they will give their best in whatever they do, they will be loyal and will take that company as their own and will do everything so that the company's goals are met.

Ans 2) Soft aspects of management mean the emotions attached to the people who are working to get the work done and are not strict rules but friendly way to treat the employees. It means that while getting the work done management is also concerned that all the employees are getting the basic things like food, no excessive overworking, accommodations, the communication forms like verbal, written, over the phone which each employee prefers to have. It just means to take care of employees well being and see that their needs are being fulfilled.