‘We need high-calibre project management experts to accelerate growth’

Strategy is executed through projects. So, it is necessary to increase the amount of high-calibre project management practitioners – especially ones who can fill leadership positions on mega-projects in the public sector, said Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources.

He stressed designing the thinking skills of project managers at the closing session of the 2020 Bangladesh Project Management Symposium on Saturday.

Nasrul Hamid was the chief guest at the final session of the two-day virtual programme which began on Friday.

At the programme, hosted by the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Bangladesh chapter, he said this was the age of leveraging technology.

Therefore, project managers and project leaders must keep themselves informed about current technological skills, be it artificial intelligence, machine learning or something like that, he added.

"Every project can benefit from a more robust governance framework, and it will take deep expertise in process analysis and design to be able to improve how we manage our initiatives," he added. 

Nasrul Hamid announced the first ever project management excellence award of PMI's Bangladesh chapter at the event.

Kaymonto & Partners won the Champion PMO of the Year award and BRAC Bank Limited was the runner-up. 

The Champion Project of the Year award in Business or Service in the large sub-category went to Confidence Infrastructure Limited.

Meanwhile, Kaymonto & Partners bagged the Champion Project of the Year award in Business or Service in the medium and small sub-category.

The Champion Project of the Year award in the social impact category of the large sub-category went to BRAC. 

Experts praised Bangladeshi project management for getting attention by delivering good results through exemplary applications of project management principles and practices.

Additionally, experts from the power and development, IT and telecom sectors highlighted the importance of the Project Management Office at the programme.

The discussion titled "Expectation from Project Management Office (PMO) in an Organization" was conducted by the President of PMI Bangladesh Chapter Shamima Begum.

Managing Director of NESCO Limited Zakiul Islam, Founder and CEO of Brainstation 23 Raisul Kabir and Group Head of Technology Programme and Performance Management of Axiata Sarjil Sarwar took part in the programme as guests.  

A special discussion on "Project Economy, Chapter Development and Engagement Platform" was conducted by Abul N Kamal, current chair of the Strategic Oversight Committee of PMI.

He focused on getting involved with PMI's Chapter and becoming change agents utilising PMI's resources.

Abul N Kamal said the timeline of some of the high-level priority projects is crunched and PMO is then left with coming up with strategies to deliver the projects on time.  

When phases of a project are accelerated to meet a preordained schedule, PMO may have to adopt an innovative process to mitigate the project risks and manage quality issues, he added. 

Providing insight on project investments and startup funding, Chief Operating Officer of Bongo M Fayaz Taher spoke on "Entrepreneurship: Project Fundraising." 

The Director (Marketing and PR) of PMI's Bangladesh Chapter Annesha Ahmed welcomed all to the virtual symposium.

Director (Volunteer) Sk Naureen Laila also spoke at the programme while a vote of thanks was given by Director (Programmes and Sponsorship) Mohammad Shahadat Kabir.