Project Management Drivers
Project Management Drivers
Businesses thrive and survive based on their ability to manage projects that produce products and
services that meet market needs. Below is a small sample of projects that are important to their
company's future.
ORGANIZATION: PROCTER AND GAMBLE
Project: Global Ordering, Shipping, and Billing Project
The project goal is to improve customer service, processes, and organization structure. The global
team relied on virtual communication, while closely managing risk and milestone dates. The new
system is designed to allow P&G to make real-time decisions, enabling the company to collect and
respond to consumer/retailer feedback to create more compelling promotions to increase sales. The
system should also improve efficiencies in supply chains by, for example, identifying the best
warehouses to ship products to.
—PMI Today, 2012 PMI Project of the Year Finalists, December 2012, p. 7
Dateline 1/7/2009, Austin Texas: Dell Children's Medical Center becomes the first hospital in the
world to receive platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification. Platinum
certification is the highest award granted by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Dell Children's occupies nearly one-half million square feet on 32 acres that were once part of Austin's
old Mueller Airport. Its environmentally sensitive design not only conserves water and electricity, but
positively impacts the hospital's clinical environment by improving air quality, making natural sunlight
readily available, and reducing a wide range of pollutants.
In order to receive LEED certification, buildings are rated in five key areas: sustainable site
development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and environmental quality. Listed
below are some of the accomplishments in each LEED category:
Sustainable Site
47,000 tons of Mueller Airport runway material was reused on site.
About 40 percent fly ash instead of Portland cement in concrete yields a drop in carbon
dioxide emissions equivalent to taking 450 cars off the road.
925 tons of construction waste was recycled on site.
Water Efficiency and Water Conservation
Reclaimed water is used for irrigation; xeriscaped landscaping uses native plants, which
require less water.
Low-flow plumbing fixtures.
Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation
An on-site natural gas turbine supplies all electricity, which is 75 percent more efficient than
coal-fired plants.
Converted steam energy from a heating/cooling plant supplies all chilled water needs.
Indoor Environment Quality and Lighting
Most interior spaces are within 32 feet of a window.
Motion and natural light sensors shut off unneeded lights.
Conservation of Materials and Resources
Use of local and regional materials saves fuel for shipping.
Special paints and flooring emit low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
“Even before the first plans were drawn up, we set our sight on creating a world-class children's
hospital, and becoming the first LEED Platinum hospital in the world was definitely part of that,” said
Robert Bonar, president and CEO, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas. “Our motivation to
pursue LEED Platinum was not just environmental. Being a ‘green’ hospital has profound, measurable
effect on healing. What's good for the environment and good for our neighbors is also good for our
patients.”
* Austin Business Journal, 1-11-2009; www.dellchildrens.net/.