Chris Jones BSc MCIHT on LinkedIn: #projectmanager #oraculum #ecology #rsk (2024)

Did you know ... If you are a construction client, you have certain responsibilities for safety and welfare by LAW!?? Part of my role is to make sure the client is protected from prosecution by ensuring they are meeting their legal obligations when engaging others to carry out construction work for them. Now I like to think I'm pretty savvy when it comes to knowing what is required but one of the first things I do is involve a health & safety expert, they're far cheaper than people in grey wigs. Under CDM2015, clients need to:* appoint other dutyholders as appropriate* allocate sufficient time and resources* prepare and provide relevant information to other duty holders* ensure the principal designer and principal contractor carry out their duties* ensure welfare facilities are providedSo the client can't just leave it to the contractor because the client has a duty to know what the contractor should be doing!Need some help?#projectmanager #oraculum

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I had great opportunity last week to engage with some young professionalsI was up in St Helens last week after being kindly invited by Ubique Risk Management Limited to deliver part of Oraculum's 'Building Effective Teams' CPD Accredited workshop to a group of young professionals.It's a privilege to be in a position where I can hopefully help others with their careers.They were a very engaging group and no one fell asleep which I'm counting as a win!Thank you to the group for your time and thank you Kate Farnell ChPP, MAPM, ChCMI, NECPM and Melissa Lawrenson for the opportunity.#projectmanager #oraculum #cpd #buildingeffectiveteams

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Great to see Team Search supporting this. Why not donate the cost of a Starbucks to Chris's page.

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Any of my connections riding in the Dave Myers charity event this weekend, supporting Cancer Research? 'll be riding a Honda Africa Twin, FM18 JRX, wearing the top in this pic.I'll be joining the convoy at Knutsford services and then partying the night away at the finish in Barrow in FurnessGive me a wave if you see me!!#projectmanager #oraculum #charityride

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Many Clients do not challenge the Contractor's programme revisions. Here's why you should....The construction programme is a useful tool, but if negected can work against you.▶️ Are the durations realistic, so that the handover date is reliable?▶️ The programme is used to assess compensation events, excessive timescales may mean you pay more than you should.▶️ Is the critical path resource or logic driven, which may determine the validity of the planned completion date. ▶️ The completion date defines when you may start applying Liquidated Damages▶️ Are key dates being revised along with the planned completion so you plan accordingly ?Need some help with Programme reviews. Drop me a line.#projectmanager #oraculum #programme

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My Client told me they disagreed with my viewpoint, I said that's good!The worst thing any Project Manager can have, is people around them that never challenge their viewpoint.Recently, I was presenting my position on a commercial claim to a Client, when they stopped me and said they disagreed with my position.I used this opportunity to draw out of them why they disgreed. The result? I found out 4 further facts in that discussion, which I was previously unaware of and they had a funamental bearing on how the claim should be progressed.So next time you are reviewing technical or commercial issues, make sure of the following:✅ Empower people to be open with you. ✅ Present your ideas to people involved, particularly those who have been working on it longer than you and find out what they think.✅ Don't see a disagreement as a slight on your capability, see it as an opportunity to get the final draft correct.✅ Challenges to your position are good, they really make you consider if your position is correct.✅ Don't be too proud to revise your position if you believe it is the right thing to do.Now who is ready for the weekend 😀?#projectmanager #oraculum

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How many overly long and ineffective meetings have you been to?I was chatting with someone yesterday about meetings. Meetings happen all the time but are often not run effectively, they go on too long and do not achieve the objectives they set out to.Lets talk numbers:▶️ Meetings are expensive. Say 10 people on £50/hour, so £500 for a 1 hour meeting, easily double that for travel and disruption - £1000 for an hour. Elon Musk empowers his staff to walk out of meetings if they do not believe they are of value to the meeting, because they are expensive! ▶️ Trying to solve a problem - more than 6 people in a meeting then you can forget problem solving, it becomes an informational meeting. If you're aiming to solve problems then keep numbers to an absolute minimum - be ruthless with your invite list.Consider the following:❗If you are organising a meeting, make sure you send an agenda with timings and clear objectives for the meeting.❗Start and finish on time!❗Control the meeting, temper the extroverts that waffle on too long and make sure the introverts have a voice.❗If your meeting is scheduled to run more than 2 hours (which it really shouldnt but that's another story) then include a break because people get restless, need the bathroom and a cup of tea.❗If you and your line manager regularly attend the same meeting (except maybe your team meeting) then consider if that is necessary. I bet in a 2 hour meeting you could brief your line manager on the salient points in 10 minutes.❗If you are chairing the meeting, get someone else to take the minutes. ❗Ban phones! Not even allow them to be put on the table. This sends a signal saying the person is not giving you their full attention. ❗Laptops! Everyone brings in and opens their laptop. Want to know what they are doing? They're sending emails during the meeting which is not connected with the meeting hence not giving their attention to the meeting.I could waffle on quite a while here but I'm sure you all have important meetings to attend. Let me know your thoughts, have a great day. #projectmanager #oraculum #team #meetings

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What exactly does a Project Management Consultant do ???I was talking to my neighbour recently and it was pretty clear he did not understand what my role was. Why would he, unless you work in construction development, you would never interface with project management consultants.So I wrote a little guide explaining what a Project Management Consultant does, but let's just go over the salient points below.A Project Management Consultant:✅ Helps the Client (person paying for the project) draft their requirements for the project.✅ Coordinates Designers and other Consultants to produce an outline design used for tender.✅ Establishes a budget for the project.✅ Produces tender documentation.✅ Manages the tender process and Contractor selection.✅ Reports on site progress and evaluates the Contractor's application for payment.✅ Administers the Contract on behalf of the Client.✅ Assists in the evaluation of any claims presented by the Contractor.❌ Does not run the site. That is done by the Principal Contractor's Project Manager or Site Manager.❌ Does not generally directly employ any of the other parties such as the Contractor. The Client employs the various parties.❌ Does not design the works, this is done by the Architect / Structural Engineers.If you would like to know more then please drop me a note and we'll have a chat.Have a great weekend.#projectmanager #oraculum

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The Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride - What is it? It's a global Men's health charity that organise a ride every year in May to raise awareness of prostrate cancer and mental health. In the UK there are rides all over the country this Sunday. I've ridden Birmingham and Shrewsbury rides. It's amazing fun and you meet some proper characters. Importantly you HAVE to:✅ Ride dapper! Think tweed, cravats, handkerchief, waistcoats and sock garters!✅ Ride a particular style of bike, such as classic, retro, chopper, cafe racer. No sports or adventure bikes on this ride.To the riders on DGR 2024, ride safe my friends and enjoy!#dgr2024 #menscharity #mentalhealth #projectmanager #oraculum

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