http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/2242685447

Frontinus-- a project manager from the Roman Empire era

Several project management authorities cite ancient civilizations as having practiced a form of project management while developing the great building and infrastructure projects of antiquity. We compare selected project management practices undertaken almost 2,000 years ago with current literature on best project management practice. We take a case study approach focusing on a person who could be seen to have taken a project manager, project sponsor, or champion role. This paper seeks to answer three questions: (1) Have the best project management practices for initiating, funding, and implementing infrastructure projects changed fundamentally over the past 2,000 years? (2) If so, in what ways? and (3) What implications may this have for current project management practices? We suggest that some project management approaches used in Roman times are routinely used today; however, changes in the culture and technology have transformed possibilities for project management techniques, and so changed approaches are inevitable. The paper provides useful insights about the nature of changes to project management practice that may be expected during this century. The implications for project management practice have been provided. A main implication is that followers choose to be led these days so that leadership style and the design of procurement systems to maximize and facilitate commitment at the affective "want to" level are essential.

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