Before entering the business field, whenever I heard people talking about consultants, the image of "Men in Black" would instantly pop into my mind - a sci-fi movie from the 90s about special agents in black suits monitoring extraterrestrial life on Earth. They come in, get the job done, and then leave. There's some truth to this in the consulting world: suited professionals are brought in to handle unfamiliar, "alien" situations. Armed with their slideshows, they come in, captivate the audience and sell their vision. Typically, this is consulting for small scale projects.
Now, let’s think grandioso. Let’s envision grand-scale projects. Today, one of the most ambitious projects is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's (KSA) Vision 2030. The $1.3 trillion real estate and infrastructure giga-project aiming to transform KSA into an attractive and diversified economy independent of oil. While this project promises a meaningful legacy for KSA, but no reasonable person would believe that any country possesses the sole strategies or expertise needed for such a transformative project. This is where consultants step in to lay the groundwork for the various mega projects of Vision 2030. But can slideshows and theoretical strategies really deliver a meaningful project of such a magnitude?
To provide a comprehensive answer, it's essential to delve into the specific behind-the-scenes work consultants are performing on one of Vision 2030's mega-projects: King Salman International Airport. This $50 billion investment aims to transform the existing airport into the world's largest (until Dubai's recent announcement of their own plan to build the world largest airport. Typical Dubai!) This task was entrusted to Mace Global, a world-renowned for project delivery consultants and construction experts. An interview with Mr Rachad Hajjar, the Associate Commercial Director at Mace Group aimed to answer how can Mace lead this project maze.
Initially, seasoned consultants are approached to provide guidance. Their expertise in the field is invaluable to set the pillars of the mega-project. Such experts can grasp the project's complexities, devise a strategic plan and a management system to be able to sustain the implementation of the project. Easier said than done! But where to start? As Mr. Hajjar states, “Clear governance is essential. Who does what, who approves what? How do we manage the budget, quality, and delivery by 2030?” Governance, a term that frequently emerged in both the interview and my master's program courses, underscores its significance in such projects, especially given their division into multiple sub-projects involving additional consultants. With so many people and parties involved, it's crucial to define the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders explicitly.
“Alongside, a robust project management system is developed to ensure the timely delivery of the first phase by 2030. The estimated completion date is 2050. Despite the challenges, the project must be executed without disrupting the ongoing operations of the current airport” added Mr Hajjar. That's another level of complexity that takes the game to a whole new level. Moreover, such mega-projects often require the collaboration of international experts from diverse fields at various stages. These experts may have different business practices and come from various cultures, backgrounds, and areas of expertise. The objective is to implement a unified, efficient system that everyone understands, accepts, and adheres to, especially considering that this project will function as a program with multiple large projects running simultaneously.
In other words, Mace consultants are entrusted to co-create with their client a strategic system that should comprehensively cover all relevant topics, including policies, procedures, governance, and standards. In addition, to set up a centralized Information System that provides a user-friendly interface for accessing project management information.
At this point, all insinuated that they have everything under control, a team of experts stepping in ready to pull their tricks from under their sleeves. Up until Mr Hajjar bluntly said “No one in the world has worked on such a big scale project. We bring our expertise from previous smaller projects, but we have never built a project on a plot of 57km²” This statement raised eyebrows. Traditional slideshows and conventional strategies will not suffice for this mega-project. Its scale and complexity are unparalleled. It requires incorporating innovative approaches, strategies, and technologies that have not been implemented elsewhere. Ongoing proactive approaches, such as town hall meetings involving leaders from both the client and consulting firm, are essential for strategic alignment, and the development of a structured project management system for the next 25 years.
Ultimately, this presents opportunities for learning and professional growth, making such projects particularly meaningful for consultants on a personal level. Such long-term and large-scale projects goes beyond creating a strategy and a system. It links the gap between theory and practice while emphasizing on client collaboration and real engagement from multiple players to ensure that the project is well adopted and implemented.
In conclusion, consultants are unquestionably the unsung heroes behind massive projects like those in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. They bring order to the chaos of large-scale visionary projects by stepping into uncharted terrain with knowledge and strategic vision. It is evident from the complexity of a project such as King Salman International Airport that conventional approaches are insufficient to lead the way and deliver a meaningful project. Consultants understand the complexity, design a strategy then bridge it with execution while making sure it will be properly put into action. To ensure seamless execution over decades, these consultants must be creative, collaborative, and able to coordinate across teams. They are the real “Men in Black” of the business world, silently making a difference.
Oussama TANNOUS