Major Projects Association

Project delivery performance: we're actually quite good! Who knew and what changed?

This podcast explores the commonly-held perception that transport infrastructure projects are consistently over budget and underperforming and the guests discuss the findings from a recent study that reveals that this is in fact a misperception: 93% of major road schemes have a positive benefits-cost ratio and are delivered within budget. In today's podcast we ask: who knew and what changed?

Andy Murray, Executive Director of the Major Projects Association is in conversation with Paul Chapman, Senior Fellow of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and Nirmal Kotecha, Founder and Director of Inframonik Advisory Limited and Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Major Projects Association. 

They discuss Paul's recent reports, one examining the delivery performance of road projects in England and another focusing on similar projects in Sweden. These studies challenge the widely-held belief that transport infrastructure projects are consistently over budget and underperforming. They discuss the surprising findings which the reports revealed about cost efficiency and benefit delivery, for example the Said Business School study concludes that major Road schemes in England outperformed their budgeted costs by c 6-7% from 2008 onwards. 

They dive into why Roads schemes in England went from cost over-runs of c. 10-15% pre-2007/8 to outperforming budgeted costs by c 6-7% post that period. They also consider whether these positive outcomes are unique to roads or can be applied to other types of major projects.

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Links

Project Delivery Performance: Insights From English Roads Major Schemes. Report by Paul Chapman, 2024.

Revisiting Project Delivery Performance: Evidence from Swedish Transport Infrastructure. Research article by Paul Chapman, 2024.

Review of Highways Agency's Major Roads Programme. Report by Mike Nichols, 2007.

Nirmal Kotecha
Founder and Director of Inframonik Advisory Limited

Nirmal is the founder of Inframonik Advisory Limited which focuses on helping develop Intelligent Infrastructure Clients. He has held senior roles in several Major Infrastructure Client organisation across many sectors including, Energy, Roads and Water and led the transformation of their procurement, commercial and programme delivery capability. 

He recently stepped down from UK Power Networks after serving over 12 years on the Executive Team as the Director of Capital Programme & Procurement, having successfully delivered its ED1 major capital programme via the ED1SON Alliance whilst also creating a Procurement function that has been accredited by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply as Platinum standard.

Nirmal was previously on the Board of what was the Highways Agency for almost four years as their Major Projects Director. He joined the Agency in 2008 on the back of the Nichols’ Review and is credited with transforming the Agency’s commercial and programme delivery capability. 

Prior to that he was at Anglian Water where he developed the @One Alliance which is still regarded as an exemplary model for collaboratively delivering a large and complex programme of works. 

Nirmal is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Major Projects Association and the immediate past Chair of the Infrastructure Client Group Management Board. He is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing Supply and is an Alumnus of the London Business School.

Connect with Nirmal on LinkedIn. 

Dr Paul Chapman
Senior Fellow, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Paul established Oxford’s MSc in Major Programme Management and currently serves as Academy Director for the UK Government’s Major Project Leadership Academy (MPLA). This role includes leading the “Sponsoring Major Projects Ministerial Programme” to equip UK Government Ministers to discharge their duties as major project sponsors, and co-directs the ‘Orchestrating Major Projects’ programme for sponsors who shape the operating environment that enables the delivery of major projects.  He recently concluded a report for the Secretary of State for Defence on procurement reform. 

Paul supports the project profession as Chair of the Association for Project Management’s Research Advisory Group, having previously completing a six year term as Board Director and Chair of the Professional Knowledge and Standards Committee followed by four years as Vice President. 

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn. 

AI in Major Projects

Andy Murray, Executive Director of the Major Projects Association talks to Huda As'ad, Managing Director - Capital Projects & Infrastructure for UK, Ireland, and Africa at Accenture and Dale Foong, COO and Co-Founder of Movar.

Huda and Dale spoke at our 'Pace of Change in AI' seminar in June and we have invited them back to share their insights from the seminar and our upcoming Annual Conference 'AI is the answer. Now what’s the question?'. They discuss where AI can be most effectively applied in major projects, the benefits and challenges of AI, how AI will change the roles and skills required in the industry and how to stay relevant.

Dale breaks down the meaning of AI and shares findings from a survey on AI in the construction industry including the barriers to AI adoption.

Huda addresses the issue of bias in AI, including data bias, algorithmic bias, and human bias. Huda provides examples of bias in hiring algorithms and facial recognition.

This episode is the second of 3 podcasts leading up to our Annual Conference 'AI is the answer. Now what’s the question?' in October.

 

Huda As'ad

Huda leads Accenture’s UKI Capital Projects and Infrastructure Practice and is passionate about ensuring critical infrastructure maximises benefits for people, supports the planet and keeps it safe for future generations. 

Her 20 year career experience to date has included government, having worked at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) which reports to both Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, where she co-authored the Construction Playbook which sets out key policies and guidance for how major public works projects and programmes are assessed, procured and delivered to include innovation and deliver sustainability. 

Prior to that, Huda worked for a Big Four consultancy where she was recruited to deliver work on critical national infrastructure programmes such as the London 2012 Olympics, Network Rail, National Grid, Thames Tideway Tunnel and others. Huda’s purpose is to encourage the use of technology and digitisation to support a sustainable, inclusive, diverse and productive infrastructure and construction sector. She is a Chartered Civil Engineer.

Dale Foong

Dale is a seasoned Project Consultant dedicated to empowering organisations and business leaders to optimise project outcomes through innovative digital solutions.

Originally hailing from South Africa, Dale has become a prominent figure within the UK's project management sector. As the Chief Operations & Innovation Officer and co-founder of Movar, he utilises his Executive MBA and vast industry experience to lead and deliver major projects across a wide range of sectors.

In 2019, Dale launched the Project Chatter Podcast, followed by the Gen AI Podcast in 2023, both of which delve into the transformative potential of AI in project management, providing valuable insights for senior leaders.

As a co-founder of the Project Connect Group and a Fellow of the ACostE, Dale is deeply committed to enhancing team dynamics and driving exceptional project outcomes. His approach is informed not only by professional expertise but also by the strategic thinking and discipline honed through his passion for rugby and sports.

Connect with Dale on LinkedIn.

The pace of change in AI and data analytics in major projects (and how we can keep up)

“AI is out there already. This is not some kind of super-duper future thing that we’re waiting for. It’s with us.” So said Mark Enzer, Strategic Advisor at Mott MacDonald, at our 'Pace of Change in AI, Data and Analytics' seminar in June. In this podcast, our guests Mark Enzer and Dale Sinclair, Head of Innovation at WSP, chat to Andy Murray, Executive Director of the Major Projects Association, to explore what can be done right now with AI. 

The guests discuss why the use AI in projects needs to be purposeful and the importance of getting the foundations right: good data and skills. 

They each give examples of where AI and data analytics is making a demonstrable difference to major projects and offer practical tips on how all of us working in major projects can keep up with the pace of change in AI. Dale also explains his 'Three Little Pigs' story metaphor which he first spoke about at our June seminar.

This is the first of three podcasts ahead of our Annual Conference in October which will be on the topic of AI.

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Resources mentioned 

Daisy AI

Top 15 Books that Support the Human Side of Digital

Mark Enzer OBE FREng

Mark is a keen champion of outcomes-focused systems-thinking, collaborative delivery models, digitalisation, connected digital twins and the circular economy in the built environment.  Mark is the Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in the digitalisation of the built environment at the University of Cambridge, and he is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London.

As Strategic Advisor at Mott MacDonald, Mark provides advice to key clients on digitalisation and broader industry transformation.  Previously, Mark was the CTO of Mott MacDonald and the Director of the Centre for Digital Built Britain, where he was the Head of the National Digital Twin programme.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn 

 

Dale Sinclair, Head of Innovation

Described as a pragmatic futurist, Dale is driven to transform project delivery through innovative use of digital technologies and offsite manufacturing. By integrating artificial intelligence into interdisciplinary workflows, he aims to revolutionise the approach to design complexity and future challenges including net zero. His global team is actively engaged in delivering cutting-edge projects, collaborating with clients and contractors to harness the advantages of progressive manufacturing methods including kits of part approaches.

Dale is a qualified architect with over 35 years of experience and has played a key role in shaping industry standards. He was the lead author of the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 publications. Recently, he contributed to the field with the publication of the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 Overview and the Security Overlay and contributed to the 2nd Edition of the DfMA Overlay. He has also authored multiple books emphasising design management and the crucial role of the lead designer in the digital age.

Dale is involved in many forums, helping stimulate and drive change in the built environment industry and he regularly talks at round table events and gives keynote addresses. He is chair of the UK Construction Industry Council (CIC) Digital Forum, chairs the CB/1 committee for the British Standards Institute (BSI), and is an adviser on the Bridge AI steering committee.

Connect with Dale on LinkedIn 

Neurodiversity in Major Projects

With Inclusion Moments now integrated into all Major Projects Association events and with many members actively involved in our Inclusion Hub, we are delighted to shine a light on the topic of neurodiversity and inclusion in this podcast.

Our guest host Al Simmonite, Managing Director of the Advance Consultancy and member of the MPA Inclusion Hub, is in conversation with Helen Buckingham of WSP, Caroline Keep of UCLAN and Anthony Newman of Projecting Success who share their experiences of living and working with neurodivergence. 

The guests discuss the use and meanings of terminology like 'spectrum',  'neurodiversity' and 'neurodivergence', and openly share their personal stories about living and working with autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions.

The conversation delves into how technology helps them, what useful resources, strategies and hacks they use and, importantly, they share insight into what employers and teams can do to make the workplace better and more inclusive.

Download the transcript.

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Neuro Cards mentioned by Helen are available on Etsy.

You may find this list of Neurodiversity terms and definitions by Dr Nick Walker helpful.

Al Simmonite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Al is the Managing Director of the Advance Consultancy, a SME consultancy business who have operated for over 30 years focusing on challenging and supporting individuals, teams and projects in complex organisations through effective collaboration and leadership.  Al has a career founded in working in complex teams where relationships and leadership are key. Advance are long standing members of the Major Projects Association and Al has been involved with the MPA’s inclusion hub team focusing on the role of the ally and the concept of allyship.

Caroline Keep

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline Keep, a data scientist and educator pursuing her PhD in digitalization in education at the University of Central Lancaster, specializes in the application of advanced technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence within educational settings. Her contributions to this field have been acknowledged by several national awards, including the National TES Award for Teaching. Caroline's background in engineering has been instrumental in shaping her approach to digital transformation in education, making her an asset in the realm of project management within educational technology. In addition to her academic and consulting roles, Caroline is an active disability advocate across the UK. She is enthusiastic about organizing STEM events, reinforcing her commitment to creating inclusive and accessible educational environments.

See Caroline's awards, research, interviews and more here. 

 

Helen Buckingham

 

 

 

 

 

It was as a direct result of being involved in a Major Project during lockdown that Helen sought a formal diagnosis for her ADHD. Previously she would often use the phrase ‘I’m wired differently’ to explain to friends and colleagues her experience of the world. Her success in Engineering and Project Delivery has been because of this thinking differently not despite it however having the diagnosis and gaining greater understanding of managing symptoms has been great. She was promoted to Technical Director of Pharmaceuticals at WSP in 2023 which is testament to their support and commitment to D&I – previously to get to the next rung Helen felt she had to moved companies.

 

Anthony Newman

 

 

 

 

Since starting out wet behind his ears building machine learning models for the supercomputer at QinetiQ two decades ago, Ant’s entire career has been focused on machine learning, data science and data product development, both stand alone and in concert with sensor technology. He was probably in an office full of neurodiverse colleagues back then, but he didn't know as we never used to discuss this stuff.
 
For the past decade, Ant has been leading on data science/engineering and data product strategy, which has led him to his present role as the Chief Data Officer at Projecting Success. Passionate about data driven delivery, Ant yearns not just to release the power of data, but to build a collaborative approach to tackling the problems we face, together.

Connect with Ant on LinkedIn. 

 

 

What can ChatGPT do for major projects?

MPA Executive Director, Andy Murray, talks to project data/AI specialist Lawrence Rowland on the latest updates to ChatGPT and how major projects can use Generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Co-Pilot and Google Bard.

Lawrence describes himself as someone who sits in the intersection of exploring project management practices and the application of disruptive technology. Since the launch of the public version of ChatGPT by OpenAI in December 2022, Lawrence has been posting once a week on LinkedIn a copy of his experimentation of using ChatGPT - from producing scope statements from site photographs to producing estimates based on local market rates based on a scope statement.

Andy explores with Lawrence what he has learned, discusses how transformative Generative AI is likely to be, what members and practitioners could be doing right now and where is it likely to go next, particularly with the recent launch of ChatGPT ‘assistants’ where organisations can train it on their own policies, frameworks and historical project performance data.

Lawrence Rowland

Lawrence began as an engineer on large capital projects with WSP and Motts, and moving onto Bechtel and Booz Allen. He spent ten years in project and portfolio management with CPC and Pcubed, before transitioning to data analytics and AI for projects, working originally for Projecting Success. He now helps project services firms find relevant immediate AI applications for their business.

Follow him for daily posts on how to get started on LinkedIn or write to him at lawrence.rowland@reactai.com.

Challenge of Major Projects: Experiential Learning

In this episode, Andy Murray, Executive Director of Major Projects Association, chats to Andy Taylor about the session he runs for the professional development programme Challenge of Major Projects. Andy Taylor is Managing Director of People Deliver Projects and he explains what the full-day experiential session called The Junction is all about and what participants will gain.

The Challenge of Major Projects is a unique programme offering a stimulating opportunity for senior leaders confronting the demands of larger or more complex projects to explore the factors affecting success. Special attention is given to studying the success and failure of projects from the different perspectives of owners, contractors and others. It particularly concentrates on pressures and tasks in the early phases of projects and studies policy and strategic issues for successful major project development. Find out more about Challenge of Major Projects here.

Andy Taylor

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn.

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Emerging Markets

Emerging markets for major projects can take many forms, including new geographies, new economic models, and new technologies.

In this podcast, drawing on the ideas from the recent Association Seminar, Emerging Markets - Opportunities and Threats for Major Projects, Andy Murray is in conversation with Stephen Beatty of KPMG, Dr. Zeynep Kurban of GHD, and Sam Mercer of Xlinks.

Through the lens of some of the latest developments in power generation, they explore the challenges and opportunities associated with emergence. One of Xlink’s HVDC transmission projects involves manufacturing and laying a 4000 km cable from a solar and wind energy facility in Morocco to the UK, where it can provide the power for seven million homes.

Dr. Zeynep Kurban brings us up to date with what’s going on with hydrogen power generation, an industry that is on the cusp of switching from hype to real delivery.

Both these industries ask fundamental questions of the major projects sector:

• What will be the demand and how do we assure the requisite infrastructure is in place with the requisite investment in such an uncertain and fast-changing technology marketplace?
• What are the different, alternative options for delivery?
• How do we develop the capability we need against a schedule which requires much of this is in place in less than seven years?
• What about the resources, in an environment where mega-projects are increasingly competing for people and raw materials?
• How do we sustain the sense of urgency?

The emerging market is exciting and fast-changing in equal measure and holds the potential for projects that can transform our nations and our planet. However, Major Projects will need a root and branch rethink in terms of process, human capital and finance, if the sector is to come close to realising what is needed.

Fit for Future Sponsorship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this wide-ranging podcast episode ahead of the Association seminar of the same name, Andy Murray from the Major Projects Association is in conversation with Carol Deveney of the consultancy See Change International. 

Together, they discuss:

• the lack of practical guidance for aspiring new sponsors
• diversity and different personalities and approaches
• the transition from project manager to sponsor; learning to move from the detail of delivery to strategy
• the art of cancelling a project
• development pathways for sponsors how to get the sponsors you need
• the difference between professional, full-time sponsors and occasional sponsors (executive and delegated sponsors, in the jargon)
• the attributes of a great sponsor
• the sponsor's role in developing sustainable projects and increasing social value

Collaborative Leadership in Practice

Tony Slater is Managing Director of SMP Alliance, the collaborative organisation set up by National Highways, Jacobs, WSP, BMJV, Balfour Beatty, Costain and Fluor, to deliver the smart motorways programme.

In conversation with Al Simmonite from Advance Consultancy, Tony tells the story of the Alliance and the challenge of creating an integrated, single entity; one that included National Highways and its key design and construction partners.

He covers:

• the value of the Alliance - a delivery model within which every partner wins or they all lose
• the aspects of collaboration that enable the Alliance to deliver its outcomes and how they were agreed on
• the power of common purpose and the new ways of working associated with the Alliance
• how to make it easy for people to navigate across organisational boundaries and work together
• the significance of an outcomes-based approach in identifying and recognising achievements as key progress
• the reality of individual and collective accountability 
• the Alliance learning model for sharing lessons and good practice
• the nature and role of Alliance leadership

Change, Transformation and Working at Pace

In this podcast episode on the topic of change and delivery at pace, Andy Murray interviews project delivery experts from the pharmaceutical industry: Denise Moody of the Pharmaceutical Industry Project Management Group, Fraser MacFarlane from GSK, and Danie Du Plessis of Kyowa Kirin International.

During their conversation, we learn:

• the imperative and the challenge of focus and prioritization
• how a highly innovative industry uses a mix of waterfall and agile against the backdrop of a strict regime of regulation
• why organisations die of indigestion rather than starvation
• how to manage projects in an industry where multiple projects will die, very few projects will get to success and where spending on projects is in the billions
• the challenge of bringing new critical projects into the portfolio and the need to terminate other projects to provide the requisite space and resources
• the opportunity to things faster by doing them concurrently, rather than sequentially
• the five Cs of successful change