ABSTRACT

Leading Extreme Projects explores the challenges, obstacles and techniques associated with running large projects in some of the most challenging environments and economies in the world. From an oil and gas program in the Amazon with a background of drug trafficking, delicate indigenous communities and some of the most challenging logistics; to a mining project in West Africa involving a consortium of state and private contractors plus a global supply chain. From a shipping efficiency project involving two joint venture programs with stakeholders from the European, North and South American and Asian continents; to a hostile gold project stakeholder management process in Central America involving substantial cultural differences between the north and the south.

The authors’ insights and advice will help the reader understand the global context of leadership in these extreme projects as well as the nature of the structures and teams required to create, design, operate and transfer global capital programs. In particular, they provide perspectives on the issues of leading cross-cultural teams, working amongst sensitive indigenous people and transferring knowledge to build local capacity.

This is an important reference text for senior executives involved in both the strategy and the delivery side of extreme projects, as well as for those researching and studying the field.

chapter 1|35 pages

Introduction

How extreme conditions challenge traditional project methodology in the oil and gas industry

chapter 2|24 pages

Mining and extreme transport

Why stakeholders should look twice before committing

chapter 3|24 pages

Mining and extreme infrastructure

What shareholders, directors, and management should look at twice before committing

chapter 4|23 pages

Mining operations in uncertain environments

What executives and investors should take good care of well in advance

chapter 5|20 pages

Mining and regional infrastructure operations in volatile contexts

What operations executives should first consider when deploying resources

chapter 6|21 pages

Ocean and river logistics in emerging contexts

Variables PMs should pay special attention to in order to accomplish a sustainable operation

chapter 7|15 pages

Mining operations in emerging Asia and Oceania

Variables beyond the ordinary PMs should render a special look before committing technology and financial resources

chapter 8|15 pages

Mining operations in emerging eastern and western Africa

Where to keep a sharp eye on the operations and how to balance global context variables with those of a project in extreme settings

chapter 9|13 pages

Suggestions for practice