T-Shaped Project Controls Professional vs. an I-shaped Project Controls Professional!
Which one are you T or I ?!
You might say… “ what on earth are you talking about”?
What is a T-Shaped Project Professional or I-Shape?
Have you made up these terms?
Well, if you’ve never heard of a T-shaped project controls professional, you might think I just made it up. But, such a term exists in the project management world. And it’s a pretty big deal. This is what future demands of the project professionals, especially those in Project Controls.
You should strive for moving from an I-shape to becoming a T-shaped project professional because it allows you to do more and add more value to the projects you are working on and the organization you are working for.
But what is a T-shaped project controls professional?
Note: This video was presented by Shohreh Ghorbani at the 2021 Project Control Summit. To get access to the other recordings and presentations of the Project Control Summit, please click here.
Video Transcription
What is a T-Shaped Project Controls Professional?
Before revealing the T-shaped project professionals, let’s explore the I-shaped one:
Let’s assume you are a project planner/ scheduler. You’ve built your expertise on Planning/ scheduling over the years and mastered your craft.
If that describes you, you are an I-Shaped project professional.
I-shaped individuals have in-depth knowledge of a single subject. Although it’s great to be an I-shaped project professional, it’s not enough. You need to work on moving toward a T-shaped project professional.
T-Shaped Project Controls Professional
The horizontal bar of the “T” represents the broader skillset. The vertical bar shows the more extraordinary and specialized skill. It’s the singular depth of knowledge on one subject. It’s the Project Controls facet that you are an absolute expert on.
There is another type of Project Controls professional who is neither I nor T. They are that flat top bar, let’s call them general project controls specialists, who know a little bit of everything but have no specialized skill set or expertise in a focused area. They are capable of many duties but specialize in none.
Now, which one are you in? I, T, or –?
Which one do you want to move on to next? From – to I or T?
What future demands of you are moving toward a T-shaped Project Controls professional?
Why?
What’s the Benefit of Being a T-Shaped Project Controls Professional?
All areas of Project Controls are highly integrated
First of all, all areas of Project Controls are highly integrated. The schedule will impact the cost, risks impact both the cost and schedule, cost estimate set your basis and impacts the rest of the work you do in Project Controls, and the list goes on and on.
When you have built your skillsets in only one area, you won’t be able to see the big picture of the projects and other moving parts, and as a result, may not be able to manage the project as effectively as a T-shaped project professional.
For example, you may have developed an aggressive project schedule that has a low probability of hitting its end date, because you didn’t know how to assess the impact of risks on your schedule or run QRA on the schedule.
Or your schedule might be completely isolated from the project cost. As a result, the delays on the schedule don’t show the consequent impact on the cost of the project.
Future moves towards seamless integration, real-time data gathering, and predictive analytics
Second, the future moves towards seamless integration, real-time data gathering, and predictive analytics. If you know only one facet of the whole PC umbrella you will soon fall behind and won’t be able to do effective analysis and problem-solving in the project.
Unfortunately, many companies have their functional PC areas working in silos and they keep encouraging the I-shaped PC professional rather than providing them with the opportunity to move to a T-shaped.
How many times you’ve tried to move to another field of PC and your company didn’t give you that opportunity because they needed you for your area of expertise?
Now you may say, ok cool…. But how can I move to a T-shaped PC professional?
How to Become a T-Shaped Project Controls Professional?
1- Start with the basics- Expand your knowledge in various fields of Project Controls
To become a t-shaped project manager, you want to start with the basics:
You want to start with a general understanding of basic project controls principles across the board. This doesn’t mean you need to go get a project management degree, but a broad training or certification that gives you a little bit of everything is a great way to start.
At Project Control Academy, we have developed training programs that help you become a t-shaped project controls professionals especially in areas that are critical to successfully controlling your project toward success: scope, schedule, cost, risk.
Click here and check the successful results that our students have obtained upon the completion of these programs.
2- Ask yourself “ What am I great at and what do I want to become an expert in?”
Believe it or not, the answer to this question was a turning point in my career. If I didn’t ask this question myself 15 years ago, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
When I had an accident at the workplace and all the consequences I experienced afterward, I realized that I was given a second chance to live my life and craft my career the way I want to shape it. But how?
This was the first question that came to my mind… “Shohreh, what you are good at, and what you want to be known for? “
The answer that came to my mind was “project Controls” and “teaching”.
Since that moment, I invested in expanding my skillsets in two things I was good at; project controls & teaching. Established Project Control Academy 10 years ago and kept working on what I was good at. Now fast forward 10 years, we are the leading global provider of PC training programs. We had the honor of training tens of thousands of Project Controls professionals across the globe.
All as a result of the answer to this question and pursuing what I was passionate about regardless of all the challenges on the way.
I encourage you to do the same.
Find the answer to this question and then work on improving your skillsets. Be an expert that everyone knows you for.
For example, if you are a project planner/ scheduler, go learn how you can integrate cost with your schedule, sharpen your skills on schedule reviews and analysis, learn forensic delay analysis, learn 4D planning, learn Power BI and how you can create powerful dashboards and graphical reports out of your schedule…. And the list goes on and on…
This is how you can make the foundation and pillar of your T so strong.
Ask yourself “ What facets of project controls I am the weakest in?”
Once you know what you’re an expert in, or want to become an expert in, you can ask yourself the second question: “What facets of project controls am I weakest in?”
For example, you might be great in project planning/ scheduling, but maybe you need to brush up on your cost management knowledge and strategies. Or maybe the risk analysis skills are what you are the weakest at. You’ll want to go over those again.
Remember, you don’t need to become an expert in everything, but you want to know enough to get around, and enough to be able to weave your project controls strategies together.
In Summary,
Becoming a t-shaped project controls professional is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself, your projects, and your organization. It gives you the breadth across all disciplines and the depth in your area of expertise. It’s the best of both worlds while still being achievable.
And in your journey to becoming a T-shaped project controls professional, we at Project Control Academy will be happy to give you a hand.
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About the Author, Shohreh Ghorbani
Shohreh is the founder and technical director of Project Control Academy, the leading provider of comprehensive online training programs in Project Controls. Shohreh has served tens of thousands of professionals and several international corporations to build their technical Project Controls knowledge and shave off years of trial and error in learning the vital skills in controlling their projects.
In April 2018, AACE International Source Magazine featured Shohreh as the “Woman in Project Controls” honoree.
With her impressive track record in teaching and years of hands-on experience on a wide range of project controls technical areas in various industries, clients have acknowledged Shohreh as a passionate trainer who transfers the knowledge of project controls in a simple and understandable manner.
Shohreh is a licensed project management professional (PMP) recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a professional member of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE International). Toastmasters International certified her as” Advanced Communicator Silver.” She holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering.
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