Demystifying Project Controls?

Project Controls has been around for a while, but still, it has not been properly defined in the industry.

You are about to discover more about Project Controls from someone who took up the challenge of demystifying Project Controls in details in his book, Demystifying Project Controls; Dr. Dimitris Antoniadis.

Before diving into this interesting subject and learning more from the insights of Dr.Dimitris Antoniadis, let me give you a background.

Background

At Project Control Academy, we have helped tens of thousands of professionals across the globe to take their project controls skills to the next level.

We constantly think of how we can add more value to the professionals we serve. Sometimes ago, we created a page on the Project Control Academy’s website to list our recommended books in the field of project controls. This was actually on our to-do-list for a while and we finally did it.

Once we had this recommended page of project controls books up, we thought it would be great if we go the extra mile and interview the authors of the books that we recommend! And you know what? We did it. We contacted the authors and started interviewing them.

This is the first of many interviews that we are planning to conduct so you get to know the authors of some of the great books in project controls, project management, project leadership, and career growth. We believe that the interviews can not only help you get to know the authors better but also inspire you to do better and grow in both your career and your personal life. We hope that you’d be satisfied with the quality of the interviews.

The Interview

I had the honor of interviewing a well-known expert in project and program management, Dr. Dimitris Antoniadis. He’s the author of Demystifying Project Controls. He was awarded a Ph.D. from Loughborough University, UK, for his research on the subject of ‘Managing Complexity in Project Teams’.

Please watch the interview below to learn more from the insights of Dr. Dimitris Antoniadis.

Summary

Following are some of the questions that Dr. Antoniadis answered during the interview:

• How did you get into Project Management?
• How did you progress in your career?
• How do you differentiate project management from project controls?
• How do you demystify the importance of project controls to a project manager?
• What made you write the book, Demystifying Project Control?
• What are your expected learning outcomes from those who read your book?
• How can professionals who read your book implement what they learn from the book?
• What advice do you have for those who want to grow their career in Project Controls?
• Where do you think the industry and in particular Project Control is heading?

Here are some takeaways from the interview with Dr. Dimitris Antoniadis:

Project Management vs. Project Controls

When Dimitris was doing his research on complexity and reading all the available definitions, he could see that they did not include the team/human element as well as other critical factors. So, he developed and presented his ideas at a number of conferences on how the Project Management differentiates from all the other project disciplines, including Project Controls.

According to Dimitris, Project Management is “the management of transient, dynamic, and complex adaptive systems/agents, so as to deliver the expected change within certain parameters that are established by a seemingly ordered and stable environment”.

Dimitris thinks that this definition describes exactly what a project manager has to deal with.

Project Controls has to focus on parts of this, in terms of the ‘systems’, the ‘agents’, their integration, the data, and information that needs to be gathered and disseminated to the stakeholders. Project controller has to look ahead using information that describes what happened in the past.

Project controllers, as well as the other project team members, have to understand and work in the dynamic environment which is VUCA – Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. Project controllers have to operate and implement the Project Controls Loop – Plan, Measure, Monitor & Evaluate, Act- within this environment.

Dimitris thinks that Project Controls is misunderstood. Based on his experience, many times it is either seen as just planning or at the other extreme as a “black art”, known to a few and performed in isolation from the PM and the team.

Dimitris believes that Project Controls is neither of the above!

Project controller operates within the project team, has certain parameters/boundaries, listens to the team, explains, supports, and communicates clearly. Project controller also operates through integrated systems and data and presents information for decision making.

To get more information on the distinction between Project Controls and Project Management, check this video blog post.

Project Controllers of the Future

According to Dimitris, we are living in the 4th Industrial revolution which is all about Data, Information, and Knowledge. At the same time, practitioners face more volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) and that is to be expected on all projects irrespective of size.

Project Controls is right in the middle of all this as it materializes. Changes are happening very fast. Also, the technology that manages Data, Information, and Knowledge is running away now and we are trying to catch up.

For this purpose, project controllers will need to:

• Adapt the project controls approach to the environment and be flexible,
• Wisely apply the standards on projects,
• Always consider the wider – systemic context,
• Be open to the technology changes,
• Integrate information through the use of proper Project Management software and resist the tendency to deviate to easier/temporary software solutions,
• Simplify things to a certain degree, but do not over-simplify. Also, avoid the ‘analysis-paralysis’ effect.
• Above all – communicate, communicate, communicate.

Dimitris believes that the best project managers are those who have a solid Project Controls background. Therefore, those project controllers who are building their career now should invest in their leadership skills and use them to ‘manage upwards’.

“See What No One Else Sees… See the Whole World Anew Each Day”

One of the main reasons Dimitris wrote his book, Demystifying Project Controls, was that he wanted to leave a legacy, something that he could leave behind. He’s always lived his life by this maxim from Patch Adams:

‘See what no one else sees’, ‘See what everyone else chooses not to see out of fear, conformity and laziness’; ‘See the whole world anew each day’.

This quote helped him widen his perspective and write a book that addresses things that had not been properly addressed before.

Dimitris says that we need to understand that as project controllers, we work with other departments, not just the project team members. So, make sure to broaden your perspectives when it comes to the field you’re in. This would lead you to greater levels of success.

Work on Your Education, Training and Continuous Development

As a teenager, Dimitris was taught by his parents about the value in reading widely. His dad used to tell him, “Never stop reading and developing yourself. If you stop you will be left behind”. And, his mother said, “Read widely and not just on what you are working on.”

Dimitris believes in his parents’ advice. There are obviously other areas like history and autobiographies from people that have passed away, not people that are still alive, that we can learn from. You learn a lot by reading. Your knowledge as a result of reading widely will shape you in ways that you’d never known before.

As a professional, Dimitris worked his way up to become a Project Control Manager. Despite his educational background as a Mechanical Engineer, he still managed to expose himself in the project management field, joined as a project controls engineer in a construction firm, worked as an assistant project manager and eventually became a project manager. And as he was progressing career-wise, he also was volunteering with the Association for Project Management (APM). He managed to achieve all of these because he didn’t stop educating himself and exposing himself to similar minds in order to expand his knowledge in the field.

Overall, education will enable lateral thinking. Individuals and companies need to invest in education and training. Working properly and honestly through Personal Development Plans, participating in Special Interest Groups, reading PMI, PM Forum articles as well as articles in Academic publications such as the International Journal for Project Management will all assist you in growing your career.

Watching podcasts and videos such as those shared by Project Control Academy or attending their monthly free masterclassess, or investing in the array of Project Controls training programs they offer are another way for learning and growth.

Use the Standards Wisely, Don’t Over simplify.

Any project can become volatile. It can kick off with a $100k budget and finish at $600 which is unacceptable. So, the future for Project Controls is that it needs to adapt the approach to the environment, be flexible, and use the standards wisely.

New ways are always considered. Be open to technology changes and integrate information.

Simplify things to a certain degree. But do not over-simplify. At the same time, avoid the analysis paralysis effect.

About the Book, Demystifying Project Controls

Whether you are working in project control or indeed any other discipline, on a small or mega project, in any industry or type of organisation, in this book you will read almost everything you need to know about project control. You will be told about truths and issues that are not readily discussed and be given a large number of examples that are not always easily accessible.

 

About Dr. Dimitris Antoniadis

Dr. Dimitris Antoniadis has 30 years of experience in Programme and Project Management positions having covered project phases from concept to handover and operation/maintenance. Currently he is Director of DAnton progm and also Director of Programme and Project Management, PMO Services at Proc-Global.

Dr. Antoniadis held Senior Management posts in major utilities, infrastructure and construction organisations delivering programmes of works such as, Egnatia Odos (£3.2Bn), Southern Water Capital programme (c£1.5Bn), Thames Water Engineering Capital programme (c£1Bn), BAA-Heathrow East Terminal (£1.4Bn), Nottingham Building Schools for the Future (£250M).

As Head of PMO Dimitris has set up and run the departments within challenging partnering environments. He has also led/co-led major business transformation programmes.

He is the author of the book ‘Demystifying Project Controls’ (published in 2018), a guest lecturer/speaker on various project management topics at UK Universities and International conferences and also reviewer on various project management journals.

He was awarded the PhD, from Loughborough University, UK, for his research on the subject of ‘Managing Complexity in Project Teams’ and has written a number of journal and conference papers and contributed chapters in books on complexity, leadership and other project management topics. Parts of his work can be seen in www.danton-progm.co.uk

About the Interviewer, Dr. Kamran Akbarzadeh

Dr. Kamran Akbarzadeh is co-director of Project Control Academy and founder of Dream Achievers Academy. With his Amazon best-selling and international award-winning book, Leadership Soup, Kamran is an internationally recognized leadership and success expert. 

With years of experience as project manager and subject matter expert in big oil and gas companies, and as a successful entrepreneur, Kamran believes that everyone has the potential to achieve what he or she truly wants in life. His desire for adding value to people and helping them grow and achieve their dreams and visions motivated him to establish Dream Achievers Academy and write his second book Get What You Want, which also became an award winner.

Kamran’s vision is to passionately add value to people around the world and inspire them to realize their potential and fulfill their dreams. And his mission is simply to serve.

As an inspiring and motivational speaker, seminar leader, and coach, Kamran equips his audience with profound tools, techniques, and solutions to hone their skills, increase their influence, get what they want, and achieve long-lasting success in their personal and professional lives as a result.

Kamran holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering, PMP with Project Management Institute, and Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) with Toastmasters International.

Resources

• Audio version of the interview with Dr. Antoniadis on Project Control Academy’s Podcast, Project Controls Mastery Podcast
• Demystifying Project Controls book
• Danton Progm website
• Project Controls Training Programs
• Project Controls Video Tutorials
• Porject Controls Mastery Podcast

We’d love to hear from you. Please let us know what you’ve learned from this interview? Please post your questions and comments. There is a comment box below the video or audio post in which you can post your questions and comments.

Also, if you know of a great author in the field and would like us to interview him or her, please let us know. We welcome your cooperation.