Introduction to Infrastructure
Management & Capacity Building

The objective of this course is to give the learner an understanding of the concepts of infrastructure, the main elements in the management of infrastructure and the role of capacity building in developing implementation capability.

Program Overview


Learning Outcomes

In this course, you will understand the meaning of economic and social infrastructure, the main categories of economic infrastructure, which include power, renewable energy, highways & roads, ports, airports, rail and telecoms; and the main categories of social infrastructure, which include healthcare, education, social care and legal services. You will learn about how project management is used in infrastructure projects, the importance of innovation and the role of Public Private Partnerships in infrastructure development. These topics are illustrated for three infrastructure sectors: power & renewable energy, highways & bridges, and ports & inland waterways. You will understand how capacity building is vital for organisations and professionals in developing and improving knowledge, skills, methods and tools for high standards of competence.

Duration : 20 hours


 

Learner will understand of the concepts of infrastructure, the main elements in the management of infrastructure and the role of capacity building in developing implementation capability.

Enroll Now

Course Contents

Module 1: Course Outcomes
  • In this course we will understand the definitions and categories of economic and social infrastructure
  • Economic infrastructure
  • Social infrastructure
  • We will understand the main principles of organising and managing infrastructure sectors
  • We will consider the relationships between:
    • infrastructure and economic development
    • infrastructure and social development
  • We will learn about the constraints in the development of infrastructure
  • In earlier decades, most large infrastructure projects in many countries were undertaken by the public sector
  • A main challenge now for undertaking large infrastructure projects is affordability
  • We will discuss the need to restructure infrastructure projects from the old-fashioned public sector procurement and management model
  • The standard procurement method involved
  • Infrastructure projects are now largely based on merging public and private sector resources, methods and funding
  • This creates a need to improve standards to the level of international best practice
  • Best practice must be adopted in
    • project management
    • finance management
    • contract management
    • stakeholder management
  • Infrastructure development in all sectors is evolving rapidly. As a result, innovation is important in every sector
  • We will discuss Public Private Partnerships as a means to
    • make infrastructure projects more efficient and cost-effective
    • create new funding and financing models
    • modernise every infrastructure sector
  • In this course we will consider examples of infrastructure sectors
  • This course and further courses in infrastructure will help guide participants in intelligent career choice and in the development of their careers as professionals
Module 2: Project management
  • In this session we will consider the main principles and practices of project management, and how they apply in the development of infrastructure projects
  • The definition of a project.
  • Project stages
  • The triangle of constraints. In every project, there is a triangle of constraints
  • Only two can be optimised, the third will be a result of the choice of the other two
    • If cost and time are optimised, quality can be compromised
    • If cost and quality are optimised, a project may take longer (more time)
    • If time and quality are optimised, the project may cost more
  • Differences and parallels with operations management
  • Project management systems and subsystems. Every well-planned and well-executed project will have defined systems and subsystems
  • Tools that are commonly used in project management
  • Gantt Charts were developed by Henry Gantt.
  • Project Management Office. The concept of a Project Management Office is now used as a powerful tool in making project management efficient and cost-effective.
Module 3: Innovation
  • Innovation depends on creativity
  • Innovation is now a management discipline
  • The Innovator makes use of and predicts trends
  • Prominent examples of ground-breaking innovation
  • Value innovation and blue ocean strategy. Blue ocean innovation strategies identify new market opportunities and sectors. This is value innovation
  • Value innovation makes the competition irrelevant
  • Disruptive innovation
    • Changes the structure of a market sector
    • E.g. the car manufacturing industry
    • E.g. the computer industry
  • The boss of Intel learned lessons from Prof Christensen, the Harvard Professor who developed the concept and theory of disruptive innovation. This led to the creation of the Celeron chip
  • Disruptive innovation leads to modularisation and standardisation, which gives opportunities for new players
  • Disruptive innovation
    • Creates new opportunities in the lower end of a market
    • Opens up new markets
  • Innovation is important in established industries, otherwise a company may lose competitive advantage or go out of business
  • Innovation is important for both entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship (entrepreneurship within established companies)
Module 4: Public Private Partnerships
  • In this session we will consider Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
  • A PPP project is one where a government-led infrastructure project is accomplished through a partnership with one or more private sector partners.
  • Why are PPP projects important for India’s economy and infrastructure development? PPP projects are vital for a number of reasons, including
  • PPP projects can be used for:
    • Economic infrastructure
    • Social infrastructure
  • PPP models
  • The elements of PPP projects
  • Why have PPP projects been introduced? A principal reason is that Government budgets are insufficient in many countries to carry out the necessary infrastructure development projects. A well-conceived and designed PPP project can help solve this problem
  • What can PPP projects achieve? When PPP projects are well-designed and executed, they can contribute in the different ways
  • Potential benefits of PPP projects
  • Potential risks and disadvantages
  • Principles of good PPP practice
  • Implementation capability gap
  • Spectrum of PPP projects
  • Roads
  • Urban water
  • Hospitals
Module 5: Power and renewable energy
  • The power sector is undergoing dramatic transformations globally
  • There is a growing emphasis on renewable energy
  • The Sustainable Development Goals, agreed by most nations, include targets for reducing and eliminating the dependence on conventional thermal power and replacing conventional power generation with renewable energy
  • This creates substantial challenges, but also opportunities
  • The balance of renewable energy sources will vary from country to country
  • For example, India has set itself the challenge of creating 100GW of solar energy by 2022
  • Challenges
  • Renewable energy power plants must be given whole lifecycle project support
  • Project support
    • Project specific
    • Technology specific
    • Country specific
    • Deal with the entire lifecycle of the project
  • Transition period towards a renewable energy environment
  • Modernising the power sector
  • Economic development and industrialisation
  • Making the power sector future proof
  • Requirements in the development of solar technology
  • International standard implementation capability
  • International collaboration is vital for the development of the power sector to international modern standards
  • Project finance- the use of PPP projects
  • Developing international best practice through an integrated combination
  • The importance of smart innovations
  • The capacity building triangle – integrating management and technical skills
  • Management techniques
  • Planning policy
Module 6: Roads & Bridges
  • The development of a comprehensive network of highways is vital for
  • Traditional government-implemented road building programmes were often short-term in their planning and lacked integration with national requirements
  • Contemporary national road-building programmes must adopt
  • Mega projects
  • National highway projects are ambitious programmes
  • Integrated transport system across all transport modalities
  • High professional standards are required in all aspects of planning, operations, management, maintenance and renewal
  • Integrated project support
  • Training programmes in consultation with senior management
  • Interdisciplinary expertise
  • Management
Module 7: Ports & Inland Waterways
  • The ports sector is one domain where international standards and best practice are vital in all areas of operation
  • International best practice
  • Challenges to optimise ports and the use of inland waterways
  • Project finance
  • Combined consultancy and capacity building
  • Areas of expertise