PHCC Essentials of Project Management Class Teaches Attendees Detective Skills

Construction project managers attending the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association Educational Foundation’s Essentials of Project Management class learned that effective management often begins with thinking like a detective. During the four-day course, held March 4–7 at Milwaukee Tool’s headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin, participants explored how careful analysis, problem-solving and attention to detail can help project managers identify issues early, make better decisions and keep projects on track.

Leading the class of 24 attendees through highly interactive discussions was Purdue University Professor Emeritus Kirk Alter. Throughout the course, Alter encouraged participants to approach their projects the way a good detective approaches a case — by carefully examining the evidence, asking good questions and managing with numbers. Job cost reports, labor productivity numbers and other data provide the “clues” that reveal what is really happening on a project. By learning to analyze those signals, managers can spot problems early, understand what is driving costs and can take corrective action before small issues grow into larger problems.

The class also reinforced the importance of developing habits that help managers cut through distractions and focus on the facts. Participants discussed the value of conducting root cause analysis when problems arise, improving processes incrementally (one percent better every day) on each project — and building trust with coworkers and customers by always communicating honestly.

By the end of the four-day program, attendees left with a clearer framework for approaching their work: learn how to deeply analyze the limited information available, support the craftspeople in the field and make disciplined decisions based on facts rather than assumptions. That investigative mindset will allow the construction professionals attending the class to solve the daily mysteries of how to run their projects at peak performance and ultimately become more effective, efficient and profitable project managers.

Milwaukee Tool sponsored and hosted the class at its headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

The Foundation will be conducting a two-day Creating Super Foremen workshop at Milwaukee Tool May 1-2, with Kirk Alter again providing instruction. Visit phccfoundation.org/essentials for more information.