APM responds to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report
In response to the publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Gill Hancock, Head of Technical Content at the Association for Project Management (APM), said: “Today’s publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is a long-awaited milestone in the response to the tragic loss of 72 lives in June 2017. APM would like to extend our sympathy to all the families impacted by this tragedy.
“As the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, APM is shocked by the report’s findings and the many examples of bad project management practice applied at Grenfell that contributed to the tragedy. These include:
- Numerous failures to appoint competent project professionals with the relevant training and experience of managing large projects such as the Grenfell Tower.
- Not establishing the scope of the work to be undertaken before finalising the budget available or being clear on the focus of the project.
- Lack of project management capabilities, including no clear responsibilities, failure of information management and no change control.
- Appointing sub-contractors and project teams that did not have the relevant competence.
“The competence framework for managing projects in the built environment, which APM helped to create, is a good step on the journey to ensuring a tragedy like Grenfell never happens again. However, we acknowledge it is only one step. Businesses operating in the built environment sector must recognise the importance of appointing dedicated project experts. Not only that, but they must ensure these people are competent and have the right level of qualifications and training in place.
“Many are doing so already. APM’s goal now is to work with the public and private sector as a whole to ensure this understanding is embedded across industry, so businesses can be confident they are appointing the right people to manage construction projects of all sizes.
“It will take time for the project profession to give careful consideration to the recommendations set out by Sir Martin Moore-Bick in the report and that lessons are learnt. We will continue to work with our members, the wider industry and government to develop appropriate responses and implement the necessary changes.”
5 comments
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Should APM start the process of pushing the authorities to legislate that specific positions/jobs in a project must have the PMQ? And, of course that Project Managers (in specific instances) must be Chartered; in order to have parity with other professions (accountancy & law) that have legal backing/status.
A simple statement on 4 essential requirements of project management and the basis of good management. I would also after a lifetime in the construction industry add CULTURE
1. Were any APM members found wanting in the enquiry report? If so, what is our follow-up? 2. Will we review our guidance against the Grenfell report and update where we see oppportunities to improve?
Thank you all for your comments following APM's response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Due to the complexity and significance of this report, it will take time for APM to fully review and draw informed conclusions. As stated in our response, we are committed to working with our members and the wider industry to develop the appropriate responses to the recommendations and implement the necessary changes.
I have always been surprised that this is not a topic covered in either the PMQ syllabus or in the Chartership Standard so I hope this is something the APM will take on board and seriously reconsider. Understanding the legal accountability that we hold, as Project Delivery Professionals, is really important, and something I feel is overlooked.