Becoming a Planner?

What is sure that the definition, scope, attitude, work experience and education of ALL planners vary.
Considering Charles has made some trajectory/off the wall comments/opinions, which he quite entitled to, further clarification has been requested.

I think the majority of contributers to this thread await, with bated breath, the response from Charles.
I certainly do!

Hello to all,

Including the Aliens in Planning Planet.

Actually we can live together in harmony as long as we know our place in planning planet and living with the forum rules and guidelines. The bottom line is live and lets live.

I’m not the bad guy. I just stand on my principle, belief and values.

I really touch by the story of Gary and Clive. I keep silence because i dont want to show disrespect of the person they are now.

How I wish that this thread may end on that post where the wonderful experience this Gary and Clive were revealed.

But faith have it that we will not be sentimental and continue to rock and roll planning planet.

So, I will answer each to the best I can.

Cheers

To Daya,

My secret on how I become a planner remains a secrets.

Only prospective employers, my employers, my previous employers, other persons i have personal contact with that i have confidence will know HOW I BECOME A PLANNER.

I hope you know the word "CONFIDENTIAL".

I just can’t reveal who am I to anyone, including anonymous people. I’m a private person and my only wish is for my privacy to be respective. I also offer you same treatment, I dont impose on you to reveal yourself.

It is preferable to respect the privacy of our peers in Planning Planet.

Best Regards,

Charlie

To Clive,

I really feel insulted with your query. How can you treat me like a students asking me to answer such question. I also did not apply for job in your company so you cannot impose on me to answer your question.

Your question also has no meaning to me. Those productivity rates that you have in mind maybe applicable from one labourer working in a particular project. It has no meaning to me because I worked in internationa and multinational setting.

I always evaluated manhours rates base on project specific: the country i worked (PNG, KSA, MAL, etc,.) In multinational setting, i have to consider the diferent nationalities of workers in arriving at manhour productivity rates: case study workers from one country with productivity rates of XXX combined with workers from another country with productivity rates of YYY will on the average will have a productivity rates of ZZZ.

I have no choice but to disregard your question. I hope you understand.

The manpower norms in my possesion is applicable anywhere in the world including construction work in outer space (astronauts, cosmonauts, etc. working in international space station like fixing some parts of the station or someday it will be applicable when man start to construct high rise building in Mars or any plannet in the Universe.

Where to find this manpower norms: i will give a hint (ask Bernard).

I’m really sorry i did not answer your question.

Charlie

To my peers in PP,

I’ll stick with the basics: laborers as planners is a no no to me in construction.

One of the fundamentals in management is organizational chart, that is to know the division of work and the person responsible to work. Laborers have their place in construction.

If a person is qualified to do planning then due respect to that person must be in place and such, the person category should be changed to planner.

It is also very dangerous to consider laborers as planners. Tha chargehand will have second tought in giving instruction to laborers. There will be fraternization between supervisors and rank and file to the point of ineffective chain of command or leadership.

It is just a simple no no for laborers as planners. I know this because i was a labor pusher before.

IMHO, Charlie

To Darell,

I did not set the standard. I’m only a simple employee earning an honest living doing honest work. I’m no big name in construction

It is the industry that set the standard. The client set the standard. The client prefer to have planning engineers with degree in planning.

With regards to pay, salary, etc. it is also the client that set the standard. The client is willing to pay the right price to the qualified individual.

I cannot offer you anything because im only an worker, i have no money to offer to you.

Why don’t you try Philip? or ask Philip the compensation package same as you ask me.

Yours, Charlie

Hi,

Forgot your name, thanks for refering people to me

Charlie,

Your secret on how you become a planner can remain a secret as far as I am concerned. The question only arose when you linked your degree to a qualification as a planner.

I have read all your comments to help others with planning problems and queries and I have been able to assess how you have reached your current position.

I would still like you to explain you posting #90 with reference to Colonialism etc etc

Daya

Philip
I am not on the look out for a job and enjoying a position as a senior-planning manager with one of the largest global project management companies, who I have been with for the last 20 years.
I wish you the best of luck in your recruitment drive.
Daya

Charles,

I marvel as the norms you own.
Can I have a copy of the following norms please.

1. Construction work in Artic conditions 70 degrees N with a project that had CO2 reinjection.
2. Construction work on Australian NW Shelf Island on a Class A nature reserve. All incoming personnel, food, containers, equipment, drilling rigs, bulks,gravels and modules from Oz mainland and Far East or in Ozs case the Near East have to be quarantined in order to protect the flora, fauna and sub strata fauna. Also the norms for turtle breeding seasons, migratory flight paths for various indigenous birds, same for whales. Also any norms for the likehood of bringing in any organisms of tankers, flotels and delivery barges to such a Class A nature reserve and Maritime National park.

Many thanks

Gwen

Dear All

Just a reminder, this thread started as follows

ibrar ulhaq posted his questions:
"I am a graphic engineer, with a HND in computing.
I have got myself a P3 package/software, but I am not sure where to get training and how to get a job in planning!
also what the salary.. i am new to this therefore
whats the starting/ what can it go up to?
was told to get into Railways! "

Where are we now?

Adil

It has been answered by many people.

It would be good if Mr. Ibrar Ulhaq could let us know if he was successful in moving into planning.
The debate has however progressed into very interesting topics. Surely you are not complaining? ah
Daya

Excellent idea. The originator has, perhaps, seem the requirement for pychoanalysts and gone down that route.

Regardless, any norms for construction of LNG terminals in remote locations with exteme weather conditons in a Class A nature reserve and maritime park welcomed.

Well my dear Charlie and Se
Rather got your naughty bits in the mangle here
Seems like those that employ the people dont consider a degree is a benchmark but the ability to think is
Strange that
More from Oscar later been on R&R
Sorry about that
PS Charlie Stop Think :Listen bit like the planners green cross code
And the final point in the chain is who would I employ
Perhaps Gwen Gary Clive and Philip as they are on the lookout could advise dont think you need to send your CV,s if your name appears above despite being unwilling to answer the questions because its not an interview
Over an out
big green alien labourer.

Charlie,

Your post #122.

Surely one of the principles of good management is to abandon old fashioned methods like knowing the division of work and the person who is responsible to do what work. Surely it is better to have a team of people who work together to solve a problem, no matter what their title is or what they are responsible for.

For example, as a planning director I am prepared to do whatever it takes to get the right end result. Putting people into boxes and only expecting them to do that piece of work they are responsible for stifles growth and innovation. It also frustrates people enormously.

If somebody in my team is very busy with a problem, I will offer to help them. If I had one, it wouldn’t be in my job description to assist them with doing some detail for them, or even making their coffee for them, but I would (and do) do both if it is what is needed.

There is nothing wrong with fraternization between supervisors and those that work for them. Far from creating an ineffective chain of command or leadership, it promotes teamwork, makes for a better working relationship and gets the best out of people. As a leader, I would do almost anything for my team, because I expect them to do the same for me.

As for your view that “If a person is qualified to do planning then due respect to that person must be in place” I couldn’t disagree more for as you know, my view is that qualifications have absolutely nothing to do with ability. As Clive says, having a degree is no benchmark. Respect is earned from individuals, not given because of a framed certificate on the wall.

Hopefully one day you and I will be able to agree on something!

All the best,

Gary.

Gwen,

This is not really my bag, but you job sounds like quite a challenge. Whilst I know very little about LNG terminals, from what I do know it seems to me that there are two distinct issues with the impact of such terminals on the environment. Firstly, the design of the system – open loop and closed loop have considerably different environmental impacts (depending on how close to the shore they are) and of course very different price tags that accompany them. Second, how to undertake the construction.

It seems to me that if constructing the terminals in such a sensitive environment is so challenging, that doing as much prefabrication as possible off site in less sensitive areas is the key. Ok, this depends on so many factors such as additional cost, how large the terminals are, depth of water, sea conditions, the nature of the client and their environmental position, so it is difficult to try to give an overall answer. It does however seem that if your weather conditions are so extreme, why not build it somewhere else in better weather conditions and in a less sensitive environment and then transport it – might be extreme, but it might be more cost effective than building in such a hostile environment?

Or, am I missing the point? You talk of a maritime park so I assume your terminals are at sea. I saw a tv programme (Ok, not always the best of sources, but it was fascinating to watch) recently about such a process terminal that was completely pre-fabricated in one location (Spain maybe?) on a series of massive barges and them moved many thousands(?) of miles and then positioned where it was needed.

Is this an option?

This is what I find so fascinating about planning and why people should seriously consider becoming a planner – you get to deal with issues like these. Even if my ideas are about as useful as designing a bicycle that a fish could ride, it’s the sheer fun of trying to solve the problem. Fantastic!

Regards,

Gary (What I don’t know about LNG you could write on a football pitch) France

Oscar,

Really??? Tell that to the fu$##&& marines.

C’mon get real. Stop this argument that thinking because you have the experience is better than having a degree. In the first place you don’t know how we were trained in school so you better leave your opinion about the educational system of your country to your own. Friendly advise, keep it to yourself. it doesn’t apply to me.

Please go back to reply #60, that is the summary of my stand regarding the matter in case you have not read it.

Se

To Oscar again

Have you encountered a classified ads that reads like this:

Wanted Senior Planner:

qualifications: No need to be a graduate of any course. Just demonstrate your ability to think.

Haha.

Are you kiddin me? Don’t go that far. Look at the classified ads in Planningplanet you will see what I mean.

How can you say employers are not considering educational background?

As much as I don’t underestimate the value of experience, I also don’t underestimate the value of education.

Se

Clive,

I don’t underestimate the value of education.
Sorry to disagree with you on some of the qualifications.

Se

Se, I don’t think anyone is underestimating the value of education. It’s just being pointed out that education doesn’t only take place in schools and universites. It also happens on building sites, workshops and shipyards. As for qualifications, it depends on what you mean. As Clive demonstrated in post #136, qualification means having the necessary mental and physical attributes to do the job. Many employers have found to their cost that formal qualifications (university degrees etc.) don’t always guarantee this, sometimes they mean that the person just has the ability to pass exams. Chris Oggham

Gary,

Presently on Snohvit. See www.staoil.com. Modules were built in Flanders and the barge in NW Spain, process mods in Cadiz. You are correct. Sailed it up, docked it into dry dock, shut the doors, backfilled. Project more or less approaching Mechanical Completion stage.
Site is an island off an island about 2 hours drive from the North Cape. Stunning scenery.
Previous to this on the Gorgon NW Shelf OZ LNG plant on Barrow Island (Class A nature reserve and Maritime Park) Still in Detailed Design stage and going to Finiancial Investment Decision Date 2006. Cant build offshore, tornado alley, building on Barrow Island so they can reinject CO2 into old oil reservoirs.
IMHO modules the only way to go in remote locations and or harsh weather environments.
You are correct in that there has been much debate in putting LNG plants offshore in the States, vey much a NIMBY syndrome. Now thre is a subject to debate!

One of my main beefs is in past expereince is FPSOs, modules etc is that sailaway day is never missed (due to dockyards slots)and construcion continues en route as they play catch up. Mech completion and Commissioning get the squeeze between contruction delays and hitting the Clients 1st oil and or gas. Makes life interesting and at times frantic! Would not have it any other way.
Slange!

Hi Chris,

Well that’s the signal I got(underestimating value of education) from the previous posts maybe you should ask the others like Clive and Oscar.

I partially agree with you that employers are not totally looking for graduate people. But if you look at most ads, you can see from the job openings that they are looking for people with degree and sometimes with masteral degree, PMP, PSP cert. etc. etc. I’m not saying it should be the case always. But that’s reality.

I’m just speaking from what I can see. Just look around the openings in Planningplanet, you will see what I’m trying to say.

Cheers,
Se

Hi Clive,

Maybe we should be talking more on a general sense and not specific in this issue of qualifications. I understand your point about repeat requests from client.

On the lawyers, in my opinion i find specialists are in a better position to answer specialty subjects/cases but of course guided always by lawyers.

Se

Now i reckon Gwen is a real planner you can smell the words she writes
[Deleted by Moderatoe]
Oscar

Se
You need to get off the fence
you are either a planner which I believe you are or you are a political animal I believe you dont care so much for quals but a lot for the common sense
Whats it to be
planner or spin
you seem to have less spin
so go for it
tell us who you are
come out like Gary
Oscar

Gwen,

Please don’t tell me the TV programme I referred to is the project you are working on – that would be too funny! Oh well, I guess you are right – prefabricate it somewhere else and sail it up. I can see what you mean about pressure is on to meet sailaway day and the impact that must have on trying to get everything finished before then – finishing at sea must not be fun.

As you say, frantic – great fun – just like the project I am working on at present. A big job for London with an immovable deadline in 2012!! Different from working in the cold with tight commercial deadlines, but working with the Government has its challenges too.

Cheers,

Gary.

Se,

I cannot agree with what you have said in your post #142, when you say “I partially agree with you that employers are not totally looking for graduate people. But if you look at most ads, you can see from the job openings that they are looking for people with degree and sometimes with masteral degree, PMP, PSP cert. etc. etc.”.

I was interested in what you said, so I went and checked. I looked at the job postings in PP and I read the first random 14 advertised jobs I found (14 being the number that came up on the page I looked at). Of those 14 only 4 mentioned needing a qualification of a degree. This little bit of research (Ok only a small sample) shows that generally employers do not want degree qualified planners – they want people with experience.

I have copy and pasted the requirements below for each of the 14 jobs. The jobs with 2 stars mention a degree is needed.

Interesting eh? Experience gets my vote every time.

Gary.

1. Intermediate Construction Planner/Senior Construction Planner (-The ideal candidate will have spent at least 5 years in a construction planning position)

** 2. Intermediate P3e Planner (Degree.)

3. Planner - Thames Valley (Utilities/Water) 3 to 5+ years expertise working within a planning or project controls position

** 4. Construction Planner – Residential (You will need to be of degree calibre and have 4+ yeas in a project planning environment. You will have ideally come from an engineering background and moved into a project planning role more recently in the construction sector)

5. Senior Construction Planner/City based (The candidate must have previous site experience)

6. Construction Planners/Various UK locations (experience in a construction environment)

7. Project Planner PFI/Health Sectors (To apply you need to have a solid grounding in project planning)

8. Junior Planner (You will have over 2 years planning experience)

** 9. Junior Planner (You will also be educated to degree level)

10. Claims Consultant - Central London (To apply you need to have 10+ years experience ideally in a consultancy environment and have experience with Delay Analysis and producing expert witness reports.)

** 11. Urgent - Planners (Oil & Gas/Utilities/Water exp) (HNC/HND/BSc. or equivalent education)

12. Planning Consultant required - Portsmouth area (previous Construction experience gained from a building contractor with previous site planning experience.)

13. Planning Engineer contract MIDLANDS (MS PROJECT (recent) essential, heavy engineering, ideally exposure to P3.)

14. Intermediate Construction Planner, Liverpool (3 + years Project Planning Experience)

Hi Gary,

What i mean was if you look at most ads you will see that they are looking for experience and educational credentials.

I did not say they’re not looking for experience. I’m just reacting to the argument of Oscar that employers does not benchmark education but experience only. Do you believe what oscar said?

I stand by my observation that employers are asking for educational credentials also. i don’t want to argue with you on the numbers because both of our views remains as views, with no scientific proof.

Cheers,
Se

Even if the position asks for a degree, there is nothing to stop you applying for the position especially if you have an edge on say expereince, working with the company or can bring some other skill the project.

I think most recruiters would agree that the degree goes out the window if you have that particular skill set, attitude or expereince the project/recruiter/client wants.

Hi Gwen, Clive

I agree with that. With 10 years experience, degree is not that important anymore because he has already taken his route and would have proven himself in a certain field.

I just pity those who has to contend with some employers who insist on having a certain amount of qualifications aside from his adequate experience.

Cheers,
Se

At present it is a "Planners Market" so guys and gals make hay whilst the shine suns or at least until the next global recession casts a few shadows.
Sun? Now whats that again?

Hi Gary France,

My attitude is finding people with the right experience, who have planned, not as dedicated planners, but with the right experience, and teach them the software, in my opinion and a few other people involved in management the right approach. Planning is a mindset, and either you can do it , or go back to running a site. The point is certain people have the mindset and others don’t

Tegards

Philip,

You are spot on. I totally agree.

Cheers,

Gary

Hi Clive,

You and Philip are absolutely spot-on. You can’t teach the mind-set, you either have it or you don’t. If you have it, it can be developed into a truly remarkable and versatile tool.

Chris Oggham

good read! :) anymore views??...

Dear All

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