The Importance of Starting Well

The seeds of success for a major project are sown right at the start, as are the seeds of failure. If the start up phase is handled thoroughly and perceptively the probability of success is high, if not, the probability of failure is high. And this applies in all sectors of major project work in all parts of the world. Once the execution phase of a project is under way, there are severe limitations on what can be done to alter the course of events. Conditions for success are largely determined very early on in the life of a project and it is at this time that the life cycle issues including environmental sustainability and decommissioning must often be considered.

In this seminar we will examine how all the key early decisions should be made. This will include, procurement, contracting strategy, selecting and motivating the team, establishing and communicating clear objectives aligning key stakeholders and attitudes to risk. Other issues tackled will include balancing thorough preparation with the pressure to get started, and scope optimisation. Are high technology projects such as IT different or are the principles the same?

Seminar chairman is Ann Minogue. Ann is a partner in law firm Linklaters and has a powerful reputation in setting up major construction projects and equipping them with appropriate contracts. For the first contributor we have invited Morten Fangel from Denmark who has specialised in developing effective start up approaches for projects for many years and is regarded as the world expert in the field.