Abstract
Project management is one of the essential fields that any executive personnel who have a vision to establish outstanding projects should embrace. There are different strategies that are utilized by large, medium and small corporations and projects to ensure that the management business within and externally goes on smoothly. Ideally, the project report aims at investigating the management practices that existed in the Shard Tower Project. First, the reports outline and give a background description of the manner in which the Shard Tower Project has been managed in the previous times. There will be the use of professional measures to outline the way in which management theories have a hand in the way the management policies are instituted in the project. A comparison will be made to ensure that there is a comprehensive link of related projects. That is; other related project will be scrutinized and lessons learned from the management behaviors will be expressed in this section of the paper. It is concluded that besides the effective management strategies, the technological know-how of the management team and the contractors selected for these projects are also essential. The inter-connections between the myriad factors results into the best expected results for an outstanding project.
Introduction
The tenacity of this report is to enable and report the outcomes of the study (survey) of the shard tower project. Ideally, recent news and articles site on the unique features that the tower project has. It is characterized by the height quality and outstanding features of the management practices that have conceded to the success of the project. The report describes the main strategies used to ensure that there is effective management in the project (Cicmil & Hodgson, 2006). Performance of the projects is gathered and evidenced by the state at which the project has achieved the status of London’s masterpiece of the architecture art. The building is the tallest feature in the urban site of London.
The success behind this project is based on the manner in which it was managed. The report considers the impacts of improved management practices with the aim of boosting management attributes. There is an outstanding look of how the management of the project has been carrying out the activities. However, there are several issues that the project intends to address. For instance, there are sensible management issues that might befall the project or related categories of projects (Cicmil & Hodgson, 2006). One of the issues that are effectively worked on in the project is a risk management issue. The paper also explains the characteristics of the different contractors given the responsibilities to run sectors within the project.
There are numerous similar projects that are constructed in the same manner like the Shard tower. Ideally, the report tries to create a simple relationship between the project and the related projects. One of the objectives of doing so is to ensure that there is the lesson learnt from the way the projects have managed their activities. It is essential to note that the building is assumed to be one of the tallest structures. To ensure that the project was achieved, there was a special strategy that was used to ensure that the project is stable and completes successfully. Efforts from the management team where ideas are identified, developed (nature) and then executed are the reason the project has registered this outstanding success.
Description of the project
The shard tower project is based in London, Britain. It has its history dating back in the year 2000. It has a history of numerous fiscal issues, the absolute condemnation from different authorities and government bodies. Ideally, it is the largest landmark-based in London (Parker, Sharratt & Richmond, 2012). It has the reputation of dominating the status of being the skyline in the city. The region within which it is located is the Western Europe. It was designed by one of the most effective architectures from Italy named Renzo Piano. The project has a history of being constructed with influence of the entrepreneur’s skills on the project. Particularly, it was constructed on a piece of land that was occupied by the famous Southwark Tower project.
Within the history of the projects running, there are some issues that have arisen. For instance, there were some doubts that were issued by the fact that there was uncertainty in the future of financial markets within the globe. Particularly, the global characteristics brought an involuntary hold into the startup of the project (Parker, Sharratt & Richmond, 2012). Physical characteristics of the feature imply that it is one of the most soul-striking innovations to have ever been identified in the region. The Shard tower project is 310 meters high. The sloping walls are made of glass. This is the characteristic that has given the project name. The construction of the building involved outstanding engineering skills that could not be achieved in case misappropriation of funds was encountered. In addition, the foundation of the project is based on a professional strategy layout.
A mix of ideas and follow-up of the ideas and directives provided by the chief architecture of the project has been the solution for the successful rising of the construction. First, the project has 1.2 meter square with ground designated floor retail. It has a sum of 25 floors and three floors of restaurants among other outstanding features in the project. The project’s outstanding state and tallness was designed to offer a secure operating floor for different categories of investments. This is contributed by the effective operation of the architect Piano. In addition, the developer of the property is drafted innovative construction methods. The construction is done where substantial development of the ideas for the project is identified.
Additionally, there is an innovative use material in the construction of the tower. The construction of the building is stable in a manner that the wind cannot have any impact on the stability. For instance, the use of the concrete rather than the use heavy steel to the higher levels of the tower has become one of the factors that are aimed at determining the tower is stable. Intensive utilization of the necessary levels of material to construct the project indicates the fact that the there was a stable entity.
Ideally, the project is intended to participate in the ultimate regeneration and create an energized London city. The project has a stiff record of the team work strategy, and the client is subject to realizing an aspirational environment. It is important to point out that before the project became a success, the project faces many development challenges which require solemn follow up before execution.
The Shard tower building is deemed to have been constructed and developed within a confined area. The commencement of the project was quite challenging because there was a structure that existed at the site. Structural engineers and construction managers had the responsibility of making calculated moves on the kind’s levels and amounts of concrete and glass used in the foundation and development of the project. An analysis was done concerning the concrete that had been used for the old building at the site. It was not effective and sufficient to serve the purpose of enhancing the current project.
The management team made steady efforts to ensure that the deadline was hit. There were several affirmative and negative impacts of engaging in a deadline based operation. First, some weaknesses were identified within the organization. This resulted to the death of several workers as well as individuals whose deaths were caused by the locomotives used in the operation. Some of the trucks were identified to have crashed pedestrians in their triumph to reach and hit the deadline. However, a reasonable inference concludes that the project did not do so poorly with reference to the manner in which the deadline was reached.
Property development and management is one of the riskiest activities that an individual or organization can take part in without preferable experience. For instance, the large and tall constructions are more expensive than the small-scale establishments. Before the constructions were made, a strategy was put into place where different contractors were invited to bid for the chance. Ideally, Mace was one of the bidders that were in the recent times involved in small-scale bidding. That is; it had a history of having fixed price bids. The process of looking for the optional bidder to take on the tower project incorporated the contractors Mace and Turner & Townsend. The objective of the manager of the project was to initiate some developers and constructors who operated on a fixed price bid.
Initially, the Turner and Townsend were delegated to manage the project in London. However, a decision was arrived at where a fixed priced category of contract was preferred for the timely strategy. It is essential to consider that the project if financially sensitive and any mistake to misappropriate the funds could lead to a failure of the project. Bearing in mind that the 310 meter tower is one of the largest and tallest structure to put into practice and construction, must a better contractor to take charge. One of the policies that are deemed important in such an incidence is the SMART strategy where the decisions and ideas that are incorporated in the process do not lead to fail, but to a successful end.
The preferred management team was the Mace, who had an original budget of 350 million pounds. However, the towers financial projection proved that the project was supposed to run under a secure but sane system to ensure that follow-up and success is acquired (Burke, 2013). Effective personnel who are qualified to manage and strengthen the current system of management team have been incorporated within the system. The art of professionalism was keenly observed in execution and identification of the task forces.
The process of management in the construction of the project engaged an appropriate team work framework. It is important that a team requires comprehending the drivers and tools that can emphasize on the focal point which the project aims. For instance, the management ensured that there were commercial-based aims at every step and stage of the tower project design (Cleland, & Ireland, 1999). In addition, the management utilized the time resource to analyze and assess the rising options which were geared towards developing a perfect solution for the entire process.
Accordingly, the management also encouraged the teamwork behavior among employees and contractors. It persisted on basic togetherness and congruence in the manner by which the task forces carried on with their responsibilities. It is essential to stipulate that for any tall tower project like the shard project, the contractors have to inhibit a special entrepreneurial skill. The project is likely to face complex situations in terms of the economic and financial encounters.
Analysis of the project management of this project against theory
According to Whetten (1989), a theory comprises of concepts, as well as, relationships that in actual application interrelate. There lies a sound and vast feasibility of categorizing project management in terms of theoretical approaches. This is done with the objective of proving the legitimacy of the different approaches of the project management practices and policies within the subject project. Ideally, a theory related to the project management ought to possess the prescriptive character trait. That is; it should indicate the manner in which the designated goals are attempted to be achieved. The theory should have enough proof and evidence to indicate the design and the systems that are instituted to ensure that the projects endeavors have a professional approval point (Koskela, 2000).
Ideally, the Shard project management procedure incorporates the slow, assessed process of assessing the best contractor to take over the construction process. It is essential to note that the project management is taken by a fixed price bidder. An analysis of the financial situations implies that the management has to concede with dictates that any mistake in the delegation of construction and design responsibility could lead to failure. According to Koskela (2000), an overt theory in the project management arena is deemed to serve several roles. These roles are crucial in the process of assessment. For instance, these theories imply that must explicit explanation of the behavioral and analytical process during the project management process. A theory is issued to identify the value of the already learned issues concerning a specific process (Koskela & Howell, 2002). For instance, the project management process of the Shard Tower proves that the theory of assessing the targets and applying a practical approach towards it is every essential.
In the literature learned most of the theories related to project management fail to materialize as expected. According to Shenhar (1998) and Turner (1999), there are two procedures that a solemn analyst can follow to arrive at a suitable position. Theory attempts to disintegrate the project management related process into several steps. The first step is initiating of the process. The second step of the process is the planning process. The third step is the execution. Finally, the control and closure of the process conclude the essential steps of the project management. Similarly, the management is identified to take every stage and level of the tower under scrutiny. This is one of the reasons behind the recorded success of the project.
Lessons learnt from similar large programs and links to the Shard project
The development of such projects as the Shard Tower project is one of the most challenging endeavors for any management team. First, there is a high risk in poor undertaking of the financial and operational sectors of each of the projects. Shard has had a history of having other related projects. Accordingly, most of the successful projects have to undergo a detailed process of collecting ideas to tackle the challenges and the management issues related to commencing, running and completing the project.
Examples of the similarly developed project are the Heron Tower in London and the 122 leaden halls Street in London. The management of these specific projects was actively involved in the planning process to ensure that the output was desirable. For instance, the 122 Leaden Halls street tower was constructed after a serious procurement selection process took place. In addition, the management showed outstanding features and abilities in the manner in which the deadline was met during the construction. The cost effectiveness and efficiency was done in a superb way. In fact, the manner in which these projects were carried acted as a reference to the manner in which the Shard was constructed.
First, the project management teams need to consider the most outstanding technological analysis to ensure that the chosen channel is the best for the design developed. In addition, the plan that can be selected to ensure that the contractors who are delegated the responsibility to carry out construction is supposed to be analytical (Parker, Sharratt & Richmond, 2012). Financial perspective should be one of the most important aspects. For instance, the long run desire for the program is to have a fixed price contract form. This means that it is feasible for the management teams to identify and follow up the sectional activities of the contractors and workers. Ideally, the architectural, as well as, engineering elucidations are usually deemed actual if the management team does its work of assessing step by step.
Most of the successful projects are said to have respected the team work perspective of operation. That is; collective performance leads to the closure of all the feasible loopholes that could lead to failure of achieving the desired goals. The common procedure where ideas and alternative approaches are assessed initiated and finally executed has been the hem of success for the projects (Cicmil, & Hodgson, 2006). The professionalism practiced by most of the management teams has acquired the projected life. The shard tower project, under the management of the Mace, has seen its objectives accomplished. In addition, the feature takes a better status of being a landmark in the London city.
Conclusion
Shard tower project is one of the largest and tallest constructions in the London city. Accordingly, for the project to succeed, the virtue of persistence was evident in the management team members. The designs and the architectural directions were very clear. Every stage of development was monitored to ensure that there was no failure. For instance, structural proofs such as the material used indicate that the project was constructed effectively. The management teams in such large project have a sense of comprehension of the targets that are put into place. Commercial targets take the lead in the strategic policies of these management teams. Essentially, frequent assessments are deemed importantly to rule out the elements that do not play effective for the projects operations. Indeed, the efforts to maintain quality control in the subject Shard tower project have been vivid. Therefore, the project was a success.
Recommendation
For any project that has intensive quality and financial requirements to sail through, it has to ensure that the management team selected is professionally qualified. For instance, the decision to award the contractor the responsibility to run such a project required detailed consultations. In addition, the entrepreneurial character traits in any investor within such a project should be heavy willed. It is essential to take into consideration procedural assessment of decisions made in the process of developing a project should be done within the right policies. Ample research for the best solutions for problems facing the running of the projects is needed. This may ensure that the desired goals are fully achieved, or a suitable approximation is made. A risk management team should be incorporated within the system to ensure ample scrutiny of the arising risks is addressed (Chapman, & Ward, 1996). Ideally, risk management team may not incorporate the already existent members of the management team. This is essential since it may create room for independent address of these issues without offering biased solutions. The combination of professionalism and persistence in project management is a suitable solution for long-term success of large and small-scale projects.
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