About this Presentation
Major projects are critical for governments – they are a key economic tool for stimulating the economy, the results of the investment have a significant contribution to the lives of the citizens, and they represent a significant proportion of the government budget. In the UK, construction, IT and defense projects represent roughly 20% of all government spend. Major projects are also notoriously difficult to manage – late, over-budget and cancelled projects are common place. Although projects can be controlled and their performance improved, this often involves the use of a highly-experienced resource that is both rare and costly. Our research suggests there is an alternative, and this presentation outlines the case for change in the way most public sector projects are procured and managed. Using powerful but simple ideas that have been proven in a range of organizations can lead to dramatic improvement in project outcomes, and we present our framework for implementing these ideas. The first element of our framework involves changes in the way projects are planned and controlled. Over the past 20 years organizations such as Boeing, Tata and the Japanese Government have made step-changes in their project performance using critical chain project management. We show how they have achieved this. However this by itself is not sufficient. The method organizations such as these have used to reduce durations by 25-50% and costs by 10-30% cannot be implemented on projects which procure and contract in the way government usually does. In order to reduce project duration and cost the procurement approach will also need changing. The second element of our framework covers the proven approaches to selection and procurement that is needed. This framework delivers projects on-time in less time, to budget for lower cost, and without compromising on scope and quality. There is just one catch – implementation is not easy. Habits need to be changed, and suppliers need to be coached and developed in the approach. Not easy, but worth it. Imagine spending the same as you do today, but giving your citizens 25% more improved roads, parks and systems that enhance their daily lives. In order to significantly reduce project duration and cost the procurement approach also needs changing.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
Instructor(s)
Ian Heptinstall
Ian is an Associate Professor of Project Management at the University of Birmingham (UK).
He is a late-career academic, joining the University after 35 years of working in project management, procurement and management consulting.
His project & procurement experience primarily in the capex, construction & engineering fields.
He has been a regular TOCICO Conference attendee since 2011, and in 2020 he helped set up the annual Critical Chain virtual conference, to share CC real world experience with project management practitioners who have little or no knowledge of TOC or critical chain.
In 2016 he published “The Executive Guide to Breakthrough Project Management” about overcoming obstacles to using critical chain on capital/construction projects, in collaboration with Robert Bolton, and he supported Rene Nibbelke in producing the APM’s “Senior Managers’ and Project Managers’ Guide to Critical Chain” (2024
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.