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TPM v29 n2 Presidents message
Construction and infrastructure projects across Australia are an essential component of our nation’s economic productive capacity and development. In 2009, the Federal Government announced the funding of 35,000 new projects, allocating more than $70 billion to roads, rail, ports, broadband, education, hospitals and clean energy. In his article ‘Not enough project managers’ (Oct/Nov 2009 issue), Michael Young outlined his concern, and—I believe—justified scepticism, that demand for competent project managers to match supply needed on government projects (and private sector projects also occurring) will not be readily achievable in the short term. The other compounding element to be addressed is a high level of project failures, which in statistical terms is signifi cant. According to global benchmarking agency Independent Project Analysis (IPA), in Australia, less than one company in 10 is genuinely capital effective, with a project delivering what it originally set out to achieve. A significant cause of failure is “because Australian owners have largely lost or are dismissive of the competencies and experience needed to set large technically complex projects up to be successful”. AIPM, along with the International Project Management Association (IPMA), both recognise and promote the importance of competency-based certifi cation as the leading form of project manager accreditation, as it is most likely to give industry and government confi dence in the selection of appropriately skilled project managers for any task. We have an unprecedented demand for project management competency, substantially riskier and more complex projects to deal with, a more demanding community with higher expectations, and historical evidence to show that project failure rates deliver poor capital effectiveness. The path ahead will take some time and require substantial capacity building in developing and promoting project management competence and professionalism, and it will require buy-in by individuals, corporations and government to resolve the situation. We need to focus on Australia being one of the leading countries in the world in terms of delivering capital effectiveness. Dr Bill Young National President |
