Management
On February 20, 2014 we had the pleasure of hosting another eminent personality from the public sector, lecturing us about “California High-Speed Rail.” Mr. Scott Jarvis, the Deputy Chief Program Manager for the California High-Speed Rail Authority. What makes Jarvis so important is his extensive background and knowledge in multiple areas of major transportation projects. The California High-Speed Rail Authority oversees the planning, designing, building, and operation of high-speed rail systems in the U.S. It is estimated that by 2029, the authority hopes to run high-speed trains between San Francisco and Los Angeles basin in under three hours at speeds over 200 miles per hour. This project is highly ambitious, and involves a lot of planning, designing, and building. In addition to this, there are also plans to collaborate with regional partners to implement a statewide rail modernization plan to meet the state’s 21st century transportation needs.
In his 26 years at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Mr. Jarvis has just about worked on all the major projects under Caltrans’ jurisdiction. These include construction and project management, transportation engineering, contract administration, claims analysis, and dispute resolution. Prior to this, he held other management positions at Caltrans since starting with the department as an engineer in 1986. Currently, Mr. Jarvis provides oversight for project delivery functions, transportation and commercial planning, right-of-way, and environmental planning for the statewide high-speed rail system. His list of academic achievements includes a B.S. in Civil Engineering from California State University, Chico.
There were a lot of important points that I learned from Mr. Jarvis’s speech. As a Project Manager, I have benefitted tremendously from Mr. Jarvis’s views on accountability and ownership. By reflecting on the views expressed by Mr. Scott Jarvis, I understand the importance of involving other stakeholders in planning, designing, and executing projects of such magnitude. It will help me understand and focus on introducing a better, if not an alternative backup plan, to ensure the project’s success. I have understood that the chances of success can be achieved through the collective effort of team members, rather than just by an individual. I need to identify what is best for me and my organization and work toward it.
Finally, Mr. Scott Jarvis, with his experience, provided extremely valuable points on how to operate in a highly professional and challenging business environment. His presentation was effective and highly informative.
