by Joan Engebretson
April 2008
Security systems integrators are learning something that their counterparts in information technology and electrical contracting have known for some time - namely, the value that disciplined project management can bring to a business.
"With the technology getting easier, the pressure is more and more on managing delivery and making money on projects," notes Nadim Sawaya, president of Enterprise Performance Consulting, Pittsburgh, Calif., a firm that offers training and consulting on project management tailored for the security industry.
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| Project managers must be effective communicators who can convey critical information, which is what Darryl Keeler (center), president of Tech Systems, strives for with his managers. |
When Sawaya consults with a systems integrator, part of the analysis he does involves process mapping to determine where a company may be losing money. He has found that the net margin on a job, on average, ends up at 10 percent less than the original estimate. If a company can correct that by implementing project management best practices, Sawaya says, "The financial impact is huge - they can double or triple their net present value."