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Claire Rose, Deputy Programme Director for EDF, reflects on her experience of previously assistant project managing the Crossrail project and how the MSc Major Programme Management is inspiring her for future project management.
I finally managed to take a much overdue ride on the Elizabeth Line or, for those of us who have worked on the project, what will be forever and fondly known as Crossrail.
Having long suppressed the pride on working on such a transformational piece of infrastructure, we could finally celebrate!
Taking the journey from Paddington in the delightfully and much needed air-conditioned carriage, I had an arguably very short time to reflect and unpack the learning from my last module, ‘Stakeholder and Governance’, and apply it to a different project.
Crossrail had plenty of stakeholders, which ones did they often focus on and try to influence? What does success look like for the user? And do we have diverse enough teams working on these projects to deliver infrastructure for society now and in the future?
I’m sure there will be many lessons learnt emerging over the coming years for Crossrail which Major Programme Managers can unpack to improve future infrastructure projects. It’s important that we do so as the ‘projectification’ of society is anticipated to continue to increase.
The age-old adage of ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ really fits and bears MPMs asking: ‘what is beautiful to our users?’.
Why Major Programme Management?
Having spent over a decade working on major programmes, I saw the MSc in Major Programme Management (MMPM) as an opportunity to provide different perspectives on how to approach delivery.
It’s been more than that though, as each of the modules has been insightful not just on what we have learnt, but what we have reflected on from our own lived experiences. You could say its cathartic, reflective learning is incredibly powerful.
What's next?
Imminently, it’s Module 7 and ‘Managing Programme Performance’ The MMPM is a part-time masters which has allowed me to fit work, play and a new family alongside further education.
The combination of case studies, academics and learning from peers on the course is already providing ideas for how I can improve and contribute to the positive outcomes of future major projects. The answer to the question of whether they are successful however, will depend on your perspective… hopefully all stakeholders will answer similarly!
The Oxford MSc in Major Programme Management from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford is a unique part-time masters qualification for experienced project and programme managers.
Key facts:
• A two-year, part-time programme, designed in modular format.
• Eight compulsory modules of 5 days each. Full details about the 2023-25 module dates can be found here.
• The 2023-25 programme is now open for applications. Scholarships and funding options are available through our Women's Scholarship and Director's Award
Apply now
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