Paul and I have worked together on many projects at IJssel Technologie, from sales, mobilisation, engineering, execution, up to hand over to operations (clients). Paul was one of my direct reports in the project management team.
The interesting, but challenging environment within the manufacturing business constitutes a ‘nice to have’ view on project management. Project management was more than often seen as a supervisory coordinators’ role, not one where project management actually adds value by overseeing risks and opportunities, and steering the projectteam and its scope to success. A schedule, for instance, was only developed to show deadlines, or even worse, the delivery date!
We have managed to change that view with some of our clients, where Paul has had an exceptional impact by applying logic combined with best practices and his practical experience.
For a projectmanager it is extremely important to apply a fit for purpose mindset, where the project management tools, systems and procedures are implemented as per the requirements of the project, but tailored to the environment of that project. Paul demonstrated resilience, determination but even more important in this environment, the agility to adapt, take the client to the next level en secure that level, with the aim to raise the bar to the next ambition level. I would say, all in line with his determination in bodybuilding.
A good example was a prefabrication plant for houses in the east part of the Netherlands, where Paul acted as the project manager on the clients’ side. He managed the technical scope, schedule, risks, stakeholders and all contractors. The contractors add another interesting element to managing projects in this particular environment; there is a tendency to perceive their part purely as a product, not as an integral part of the project or to that matter, a service. This resulted in an extremely transactual relation, which increased the difficulties of managing such a project and its interfaces. Paul did extremely well in bringing all together, resulting in a successful project.
Paul is a pragmatic, practical project professional that applies theoretical principles where and when required.