ESI

Source: Technology Digital

Date :08/05/2008 06:45:12

In 2003, as Henkels & McCoy executed a ?growing number of large projects, the need for standard project management methodology was all too evident; step forward ESI

Written by Ian Armitage and Produced by Sean Bakke

Henkels & McCoy, Inc. is one of the largest privately held engineering, construction and network development firms in the US. Serving clients in the communications, information technology and utilities industries, it has established itself as one of the country’s premier contractors, winning a significant number of utility contracts ranging from the building of transmission lines to inside wiring for the Pentagon.

However, as the company executed these large projects, senior executives began to realize there was a need for standard project management methodology throughout the organisation, which too often depended on longstanding habits and procedures. Indeed, they determined the benefits of improved project management would be vast – particularly in terms of efficiency and communication.

“Our industry has become increasingly more sophisticated over the years as people look for enhanced productivity and safety,” says Kathy Mills, Director of Human Resources. “We realized we needed to keep pace with industry knowledge.”

Because of Henkel’s unique position, it needed help – and fast. After all, it is one of the country’s premier contractors and that doesn’t necessarily qualify you as an expert in management training.

It didn’t need just any old help either. What Henkels & McCoy needed was a project management provider with the global infrastructure required to easily and consistently deliver high-impact training to its employees.

“They needed a partner who not only understood their very complex industry, but a partner who would be mindful of staff workloads and differing lifestyles,” says Stephen Stilwell, Executive Director for ESI’s online programs.

The answer? ESI International of course.

THE ESI ADVANTAGE

Since 1981, ESI has worked with more than 500 clients to develop customized on-site training, e-Training, assessments and professional services that deliver results.

“We help people and companies around the world improve the way they manage their projects, their contracts and their vendors,” explains Stilwell. “We do that through offering a formal training program, coaching and mentoring, as well as other professional consulting services.”

ESI International is the recognized leader in innovative project management, contract management, business analysis, sourcing management training and business skills training. It provides complete integrated solutions designed to help clients improve business performance.

“Our reputation is unsurpassed,” says Stilwell. “While some training companies have grown and lost touch with their customers, we remain true to the belief that a customers’ success is our success.”

The ESI solution

From the beginning of its partnership with ESI in 2003, Henkels & McCoy’s executives were committed to providing training to staff members across a variety of internal levels, ranging from project team members to senior executives.

Because of their unique situation, and the fact they had a number of people out in the field, Henkles & McCoy was looking to implement a program where a formal methodology and training could be used, but away from the classroom. Their employees often didn’t have the time to go to traditional and structurally-led classes - so a program was crafted for them, which was entirely electronic.

“We had to be aware of their needs, while being flexible to them,” added Stilwell. “Doing training in this manner meant employees could do it at their own pace in their own time, wherever in the world they happened to be.”

The results were fast too. “Our custom solution meant we were able to train a much larger number of people within a shorter period of time than otherwise would have been achieved in traditional training,” says Stilwell.

The result

Henkels & McCoy has gone on record in saying that since starting training with ESI, its bottom line has improved year over year. It now has a solid methodology and, somewhat ironically, tends not to bid for as much work - a result of the bid review process now in place which enables the company to look at the associated scope and risk before it gets too deep. This was something that was only just imaginable before ESI got involved.

“There was a time where we might have place educated guesses on whether opportunities represented a good project for Henkels & McCoy,” says Kathy Mills. “Today, we use our processes to more closely pursue work that fits our corporate strategy and that will deliver the return we expect.”

Like any major change management initiative, this was initially met with resistance. Many were reluctant to change longstanding habits and procedures. However, in the time since work started with ESI in 2003, employees at Henkels & McCoy have come to understand that customers and a highly competitive market required them to apply more sophisticated methodologies in order to succeed.

Henkels & McCoy has no plans to slow down its training. The company is working hard with ESI to develop and further refine its new project management culture.

“Henkels & McCoy has re-upped their license for our e-training seats,” explains Stilwell. “It has proven very popular within the company.

“Why do we remain a popular choice? Well, we have a huge variety of training methodologies, each proven to work,” he concludes.