PROFILE
IPPM: Why Project Managers are Essential The building and construction industry in Kenya is awash with projects that went awfully wrong. The number of projects that have stalled, are mired in disputes or even buildings that have collapsed have largely one common denominator – failure by the developer to follow due process. In fact, in most cases it boils down to failure to appoint a professional project manager to oversee the project from conception to completion. Yet, project managers are the brains that determine the success of projects. This is because in an ideal situation, project managers determine the viability of a project and are responsible for developing its business plan that not only looks at the financial aspect but more critically the appointment of the implementation team including architects, quantity surveyors, contractors among others. Indeed, project managers are central from project inception through to design and construction processes, programming, cost planning and monitoring of project deliverables. “Ideally we should be one of the first people appointed on a project but this doesn’t always happen,” says Naomi Manasseh, International Project Planning and Management (IPPM) Consultants’ Managing Director. She adds that, it is critical to carefully advise the client and ensure compatibility of the entire team working on the project.
Deer Park Karen
This has been the core business for IPPM, which was established in 1995. The firm has two core divisions – project management and urban planning. Under project management, IPPM offers clients services cutting across corporate, programme, project/construction and operations management. In urban planning, the firm offers physical planning and development control services like physical and land use development plans, master plans, building plan assessment and approvals, sub-division and amalgamations schemes as well as change of user and lease extensions. IPPM is the brainchild of Jane Manasseh who is now the firm’s chairlady. Jane, a celebrated urban planner who was the first female registered planner in Kenya and who rose through the ranks to the position of deputy planning director at the defunct Nairobi City Council, founded the practice owing to 20
CR | Nov/Dec 2021
her passion in the building and construction sector. Having been brought up by parents in the sector (her father had interests in construction), Naomi was indoctrinated into the industry and from an early age she knew she wanted to follow in her parents’ footsteps. “I grew up seeing what my mother was doing. My dad also had an interest in construction and used to take me to sites. I started to get interested and ended up following their footsteps,” she explains. Naomi, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the University of Oxford Brookes and a Masters of Science in Project Management from the University of Westminster, started her career in the United Kingdom. Most of her projects in the UK were interior fit outs with one notable massive project that she was privileged to have participated in was the construction of the Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal Football Club.
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