MSc Project and Programme Mgmt @ UL

Squall Leonhart

Looks like I might be on this course come September.

I work in the design side of construction for a consulting engineer firm, where I am a technician.

My employer has backed me to lead and manage my own jobs. Before the course begins it looks like I'll be assigned a role to manage a decent size project on a pharma site with some support from other staff. I'm hoping some people here might have done the course, or made the move to project management and might be able to offer some advice with it.

I am keen to get going but apprehensive about my lack of knowledge of project management. It's a different ball game than just being the guy who produces the drawings. Nobody knows it all and we all have to start somewhere, I'm just hoping that my pace of learning isn't too slow!

If anyone can suggest good books that might assist bergen now and September it would be most welcome.

It feels like a good opportunity and I'm grateful for it. Trying not to let fear of failure plague me!

firebird84

Hi OP, I've been in project management a good few years (in a very different industry), no need to be apprehensive! Project Management principles are very common sense, the hardest part is making sure you've kept the right people in the loop and that you've planned ahead for what could go wrong. Having said that, it's amazing the amount of people I meet in my job who just launch headfirst into a project without a budget or even a timeline drawn out.

I'd recommend the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) which would give you a solid footing in traditional style project management and some of the methods you can use to keep timing on track, also different tools for stakeholder engagement. But I'd also try source some books on Agile Project Management.

Good Luck!

Squall Leonhart

Thanks firebird.

Have seen this book actually and was recommended to me by another as a decent starting point. I might look into getting a copy of it ordered.