Lessons to Learn From an Executed Project (Ref.

- a Fertilizer Project)
Delays and cost escalation in projects in the public systems are a rule than an exception. Hence, those implemented on time and within the budgeted resources should provide useful lessons to Executives and Managers in Public Enterprises. n this, !ertili"ers project has useful lessons to offer, especially on timely completion and achieving cost reduction. Decentralised Decision- Making #hen the project organisation was formulated, the company made sure that the project manager was given necessary authority and financial powers besides responsibility to achieve the tas$s as per the time schedule developed for the project. t was not necessary to see$ the approval of the full %oard of Directors on the decisions ta$en and expenditure incurred by the project team. &his could save time and avoid delays in the project execution. Project rganisation

&he project organisation was set up at the inception of the project as a nucleus group of persons with proven experience of managing fertili"ers projects. &hey had the re'uire expertise to monitor and control the execution of the project. &he group which turned into project management team formulated a detailed execution plan including a comprehensive project implementation manual. Detailed Planning &he project management team formulated a detailed execution schedule using networ$ techni'ues, resource plan based on the networ$, milestone charts and information systems to report the progress and the li$e. t was the team(s responsibility to ensure the flow of re'uired resources so that the project would not suffer for want of resources. !imel" #ction &he project management too$ timely action to overcome the various problems confronted during implementation. !or instance, transporting imported ammonia reactor weighing )*+ M& from the port of entry to project site re'uired permission from the national highways. &here were some old culverts and bridges which would not stand the weight and therefore re'uired strengthening. f it were left to the ,ational Highways to carry out the repairs, transporting the e'uipment to the site would have caused enormous delay. -t that juncture, the project management did not waste any time on ta$ing decision to get the bridges strengthened on their own without depending on the ,ational Highways. .uch timely actions helped avoiding delay in the project implementation.

Moti$ation of %taff Motivation of the project staff was an important factor which contributed to the success. -n incentive scheme was introduced which had an in/built system of reward and punishment. 0n reaching the milestones in time or ahead of time, incurring cost within the approved budget, the project staff received 1+ per cent cash payment in part , *+ per cent before Diwali festival and the balance amount to be disbursed after completion of the project. Facilities at Project %ite .ite being a remote and bac$ward area, there exist severe problems of housing, medical and educational facilities, transport and communication services, and the li$e. &he company too$ care to provide all the re'uired facilities and services in the project site so that the team could pay undivided attention to their wor$. #hat is noteworthy here, is the top management(s commitment and ecouragement to complete the job on time. &his study reveals that the team wor$ involved the top management as well as once the top management(s total involvement is assured, there is no stopping for the other committed executives to achieve the goals.