It took a week for us to get things sorted out before we proceeded to setup dates for presentations/sessions/interviews to collect the information for each predetermined function and sub-function of the domain of the project with the focusing on:
- Why do they perform that function;
- What does it take to complete the job in terms of resources including information, skills, and technology; and
- What is the ultimate product or service.
We wanted to make sure that people assigned from each functional area are dedicated to the project schedule and prepared to meet with us. Harold was doing an excellent job as a coordinator for the project. At the same time the DG (Director General) who was assigned for our project was also a reasonable guy. We needed all the help we could get to make the project a success. Nobody we came across has any clue about the methodology that we were following. Luckily, the consultants we had assigned for this project had gone through each step of the methodology more than once and I, as a project manager, was feeling quite comfortable with our team.
I was talking to Lynda almost every night. She was doing fine. Our friends were checking upon her to make sure that she wasn’t lonely. She was going out with them to casinos and restaurants and at the same time she was back to making breakfast for everybody on Sundays, which gave her another reason to keep her busy.
Lynda had left notes everywhere in the kitchen to remind me what is where for me to cook whatever I want but make sure that I also keep the kitchen clean.
I was working late as I didn’t have anybody at home waiting for me.
In the morning, I never bothered having anything to eat before I left for the office, but when I got to the office, I used to have coffee and toast in the cafeteria. If I decided to eat lunch, I would have gone out with Adam and other consultants or taken some clients to lunch. I used to come back in the evening to our condo, basically tired and sleepy. I used to be so tired that I didn’t feel like doing anything including eating. Most of the nights I used to have cereals in the evening while watching TV or speaking to Lynda. Adam and Jenifer used to invite me for supper to their place or take me out for supper.
Harold knew my situation. He knew that I live in Las Vegas and came back to Canada for a visit and ended up working on the project. He also knew that Lynda went back to Vegas. He used to say to me – Mir you’re working long hours every day and you should take some time off to go see your wife in Vegas. He also knew that we had a fixed contract and it wasn’t based on the number of days we would put in.
I decided to take a break on Friday to go to Vegas.
Lynda came to pick me up at the airport and took me home where she had already cooked a nice meal to celebrate. We had a wonderful time.
I remember the next morning when I got up early in the morning and went to the Clubhouse for my regular exercise, sauna, and swimming. I met folks at the Clubhouse, and they appeared to be happy to see me. I thanked some of them for keeping an eye on Lynda while I was gone.
I was there for almost a week; we took folks to dinners and lunches and enjoyed their company. Adam spoke to me on the phone several times and told me not to worry about the project. He said everything is going just fine, dad.
When I got back from Las Vegas, we had to go to British Columbia (BC) to visit and discuss what we were attempting to accomplish for the department. It was very critical that we explain to them what kind of project we have and we also wanted to make sure that we need their input in various aspects of their functions and how those functions are being performed even though the contract in Ottawa was specifically focused on the functions being performed in headquarter. Nevertheless, I wanted to understand how the internal mechanism works for them.
Environment Canada had Research Centers and Laboratories in BC, primarily falling under the Pacific and Yukon Region. These offices were focused on environmental research, wildlife protection, weather forecasting, and enforcement.
When we got back, I was supposed to go to Vegas for my 60th birthday on April 11, 2001. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to Vegas and Adam ended up taking me out to a nice Indian restaurant and giving me an expenses fountain pen for my sixtieth birthday.
Lynda was very upset as she had tickets to go to the show where Smoky Robinson was performing in Vegas.
Smokey was Lynda’s favorite singer, and he very seldom used to come to Vegas.
I suggested Lynda take one of her girlfriends to the show which she ended up doing and they had a wonderful time.
Things were going relatively smoothly, and Adam kept telling me to go to Vegas again for a few days. I had a feeling that he was feeling much more comfortable running the project, and he was looking for some additional time.
Lynda was on the phone every night asking me when I was going to go there.
Harold was a nice man, and he was doing an excellent job of coordinating project activities. He also told us that IBM had requested a meeting as soon as they found out that they didn’t win the contract. They brought some vice-president with them to demonstrate their level of interest in the contract that they lost. He said they were very interested in finding out why and where they didn’t meet the requirements. They specifically wanted to know if the price they had quoted was the main reason for not winning the contract.
Harold also told us that he explained to them very slowly so that they could understand it clearly. He told IBM that the price wasn’t the main reason for them losing the contract. They came very short to meeting specific requirements related to ABC direct experience working in the federal government whereas the winners had extensive experience not only working in the federal government, but they also had worked in the scientific environments which was a part of the Department of Defence (DND).
Herald also told us that IBM was very curious about knowing the name of the company that won the contract.
We completed the project earlier than we had planned which wasn’t unusual for us but it surprised Environment Canada.
I made the final presentation to walk through the recommendations that we had articulated for the next phase of the project.
I spent the remaining time writing a proposal for much more money than we had made, explaining why they should go ahead with the proposed plan.
The proposal that I had written, I proposed Adam as a project manager to run the show, and I put myself as project advisor.
Adam had worked very hard to establish himself. The folks we were working with had no problem whatsoever with Adam being the project manager.
Everybody appeared to be happy with the overall performance and thought it was the right time for me to go back to Vegas.
