Welcome
Welcome to the Foresight Newsletter, a free monthly publication of Prevoyance Group Inc. This newsletter shares tips for high performance IT organizations and observations that we hope will prove informative and enjoyable.
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Contents
CONTENTS
Foresight is published by the Prevoyance Group, and this month contains four sections:
Work
Life
Heard in the Hallways
Travels with Patrick
Work
My wife and I are in the process of having a home constructed by one of the medium-sized national builders in the United States. Due to some combination of abundant land, a zeal for newness and perhaps American tradition, building a completely new home from the ground up is quite common in the US.
I have always been impressed with private-sector construction endeavors for their ability to keep massively complex projects on track and on budget. Even the colossal public works projects that often take a few extra months or a few extra million dollars function more like a well rehearsed military maneuver than a hectic free-for-all that frequently describes an IT or reengineering project. Other than the hardhats, what seems to make these projects tick? The observations below are from both watching our small house rise from a pile of mud, and from marveling at complex structures that dominate the natural landscape:
- The most successful construction projects seem to be driven both by their stated objective and an unwritten “imperative.” Reading about the Hoover Dam, Golden Gate Bridge of Statue of Liberty one can not help but get the sense that they were more than a dam, bridge or statue. Even more recent projects like the Petronas Towers are more than just a building but symbols of rising economic prowess. The best both make a statement and seek harmony with their environment; no one wants another “unsinkable” Titanic. In the case of our modest home, the pride in the company and their reputation shines though as more than marketing babble, and it is something palatable in each employee.
- The real work is not the construction, rather the design and planning. Construction and engineering projects seem to spend more time being painstakingly designed and prototyped, then planned, analyzed and planned some more. Before the first nail is hammed on our house, every nook has been drawn and measured, and everything from the microwave to the bathtub selected, budgeted and accounted for.
- The entire planning and construction process is made into a routine as much as possible, and knowledge and materials from past projects are reused. While a project may be unique, we get the sense that “we’ve done this before” when dealing with our builder.
- Construction projects have defined and measurable metrics at each stage of the process. While it may be easier to watch a physical structure take shape than see the effects of a project in the corporate world, measurement and benchmarking are critical in either case.
- Construction projects are very sensitive to critical path. For example, the foundation of a building must be fully completed before subsequent steps can occur.
- The corporate world could take a lesson in skillful use of contract labor from the construction industry. Specialists are hired only when needed, and brought onto the job site and quickly transitioned off when no longer needed, with little fanfare. General contractors are not necessarily sought for their technical expertise on one aspect of the project, rather they are project managers with access to a pool of “on-demand” talent.
Life
From star athletes to global corporations, momentum seems to be a finicky companion. The sports team with momentum on its side seems unbeatable, playing with both aplomb and an air of effortlessness. Similarly, a corporation with momentum on its side appears invincible, introducing the perfect product at the perfect time, while gaining the respect of Wall Street, the press and the public.
While not subject to the spotlight, momentum seems to play an equally important part in our personal lives. I can think of several weeks or months where life seemed almost effortless: relationships, work, health, etc. going astoundingly well, with what seemed like only a modicum of effort on my part. It was like an orchestra conductor might look to a layman, a simple wave of the baton bringing about beautiful music. Is this simply a chance occurrence, or can momentum be consciously created?
Reflecting over the past year, the times when momentum was truly on my side stem from perfecting one or two small aspects of life. Like an avalanche, conditions must be right, and just the right amount of force needs to be applied to the right place, but once the reaction has started, it is nearly unstoppable. Focusing on one or two areas, whether at work or home, and applying your full focus and attention seems to be the key to generating momentum. Tying to juggle every aspect of work and life simultaneously almost always leads to inactivity, burnout or unneeded stress, but working to advance one or two areas seems like a sure way to trigger the avalanche of momentum.
Heard in the Hallways
Our global workforce is an interesting one. So many different cultures, races and ethnicities now work together, yet also rush to conform to the norms of their working environment. Whether from Pennsylvania or Pakistan, we dress similarly and exchange the same platitudes and buzzwords. Take a few moments to really talk to people from these diverse backgrounds. Some of the most valuable and interesting experiences I’ve had in the last year have been from sitting down with colleagues and asking about their homeland, politics, family and personal history. Pushing aside talk of the workplace is not only a nice break, but more importantly has enhanced my own understanding of the world.
Travels with Patrick
I just returned from a walk along the Long Island Sound, at a lovely park within walking distance of our home. The park contains a few miles of loop trails along the marshes and shoreline, with vistas of the ever-larger water view homes of hedge fund executives, marshes teeming with wildlife, and the large bridges connecting the boroughs of New York City in the distance.
Amazingly I only discovered this place recently, as this little parcel of natural beauty is hidden behind a small and dirty sign, and a nondescript and poorly maintained road off a major thoroughfare. I am a bit ashamed that my zeal to get from point A to point B has caused me miss this park until now, and I’ve resolved to look locally as well as globally in my future travels.