Change Management

Handling Changes

Change is the only constant in life.. they say!

Well for Architects the changes could be more dreadful. There is a way to handle the same. This is called change management.

First let us understand what causes changes. Some main reasons:
1. Deficient design
2. Incorrect design
3. Non coordinated design
4. Design not done as per site context.
5. Unfeasable design not as per tender or clients requirements.
6. Site issues during construction.
7. Preferential changes needed by client at later stage.
8. Unforeseen influences by Authorities on construction.
9. Mistakes made by contractor
10. Modifications by other stakeholders.

If the change falls in 1 to 5 above it is due to consultants neglect.

Changes falling in 6 to 10  are beyond control of consultant.

What we just established above is the reason or triggers for changes. Thats the first thing to record for change management.

Then comes who and why? Fixing responsibility of triggering the change and necessity to carry out the same.

Impact assessment comes next which include costs, time and abortive works analysis to carry out the change.

Lastly the focus shall be on action taken plan and mitigation measures to reduce impacts.

Changes handled in right way with proper planning and approach means more money to consultants unless the original design was deficient.

रोज़ का सफरनामा

जैसे जैसे मेट्रो रोज़ाना की ज़िंदगी में हमारा हिस्सा बन रही है, वहीं ज़िन्दगी के इस सफरनुमा दौर में कुछ ऐसा भी है, जो प्लान नही किया गया था। समझाता हूँ --

मुम्बई में जब लोकल ट्रेन स्टेशन से बाहर कदम पड़ते हैं तो आदमी अपनी रोज़ की जरूरत का हर सामान पटरी विक्रेताओं खरीद सकता है। वड़ा पाव, पर्स, बेल्ट, जूते जाने क्या क्या नही बिकता।

कनॉट प्लेस या राजीव चौक के स्टेशन पर उतरो तो टी शर्ट, चश्मे, जैकेट, मोबाइल एक्सेसरीज आपको अपनी और खिंचती हैं।

पटेल चौक स्टेशन के पास रोज़मर्रा की छोटी छोटी चीज़े जैसे जुराब, रुमाल, स्क्रू ड्राइवर सेट वगैरह बिकते मिलते हैं।

जनता की ज़िंदगी का हिस्सा हैं ये सब। और एक अनकहा सा जुड़ाव होता है आम आदमी का इनसे रोज़ाना के सफर के दौरान।

सिगरेट की टपरी, पानी की मशीन, चाय की दुकान, पान वाला, नीम्बू पानी शिकंजवी एक सुख का अहसास कराते हैं इस सफर में।

दुनिया का हर शहर जहां पर्यटक जाते है, इस एक बुनियादी ज़रूरत का सबूत मिलता है।

लेकिन हम इसे प्लान नही करते। हमारे बनाये नक्शों में नही होता ये सब। प्रॉपर्टी डेवलपमेंट तो करेंगे लेकिन अपने वास्ते, लोगो के वास्ते नही। हमसे अच्छा एक पुलिस वाला है, लोगो की ज़रूरत समझता है। हफ्ता लेकर बैठा देता है पटरी पर इन लोगों को। ज़रूरी तो है, पर क्यों नही प्लान किया इसे कोई नही जानना चाहता। साइट कॉन्टेस्ट, अर्बन फैब्रिक, लैंडस्केप जोन जैसे बड़े बड़े शब्द तो हैं लेकिन ये छोटी छोटी ज़रूरत की जगह नही है।

कभी कोई गांव से अपने बच्चे को मेट्रो दिखाने लाये और बच्चे को छोटा सा चाबी से चलने वाला खिलौना दिला सके एक नियोजित वेंडिंग जोन से तो शायद वो प्लानिंग सार्थक होगी।

गौर कीजियेगा ।।

Success and Integrity

Recognising the right people in your path of success.

At work front we meet many people, work with some and deal with others. For a successful venture integrity of team members, coworkers etc. is of utmost importance. Over the years working on many projects internationally I have found some trade trends how people behave and what you can learn from that. Some observations.

1. People who are honest and tell on your face what they think of a given situation are the ones whom you should have long term association. They are actually helping you to know the right things.

2. Never ever believe a person who keeps you nagging with that he worked hard overtime despite his other committments. Such people want you to feel responsible for their actions and seek favours in return. In this world everybody works for himself not for you.

3. People who change their words as the authority changes and act differently what they agreed with you, such people are opportunist liers and should be on your out list. These people will use you for their own benefit.

4. This is world of fast communication. People who do not answer calls or return calls related to work (repeated behaviour) shall be on your firing list. That tendency is with people who are hiding something, do not want to work or fear their failed committments. Even banks never give loans to such people as they find them untrustworthy.  When you find people failing to keep committments and then becoming non communicative such people shall lead you to failure. One more trait of such people is over rating themselves to seek opportunity and then hide like a ostrich once they are unable to deliver.

5. In todays fast world, the people who give you time, invest hours of sincere working (not pretending) and able to deliver as per instructions and agreement are the ones who should be given priority. The people who give you the real time are the ones who bring you success. Such people shall be promoted and taken care of as giving time is the best committment.

6. Never trust a person who talks wrong about a person in his absence. Such a person will talk wrong about you also behind your back. Such persons are to be ignored for good.

7. Be honest in your dealings with others. Be transparent and tell straight what you think truely. Make right committments and promises which you can keep. Remain truely conmunicative. The other person's reaction will tell you whether to trust him or not. Remember that your own integrity is the first step to success.

Satyakam Garg