Conference props project management skills

NEO SENOKO

MASERU – Players in the field of project management in Lesotho are normally faced with challenges and complex issues that stalls progress in some instances.

This why the industry’s players yesterday convened for the 2019 edition of the annual Project Management Conference that aims to address some of the challenges.

On its fourth edition, the conference once lived up to expectations with project management officials from different organisations in the country taking part.

The two-day conference was organized on the understanding that attainment of the desired efficiency and effectiveness levels in reaching organisational strategic objectives and other operational initiatives is dependent on strong appreciation of project management techniques.

These complexities and challenges faced by organisations require solutions and strategies that can drive an organisation’s competitive advantage.

This year participants includes Metropolitan Lesotho, Water and Sewage Company (WASCO), Vodacom Lesotho, Standard Lesotho Bank and First National Bank.

The Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) has been spearheading the event for the past four years of its existence.

CBL’s Head Project Management, Itumeleng Lets’olo, said in an interview with Public Eye yesterday that the conference has been very useful for all stakeholders and it should now be easier to deal with some of the challenges which were common within the fraternity before.

“The conference has been nothing but a blessing for all of us because we are now able to help each other in overcoming some of the challenges. Another thing is that we have noticed that it is becoming increasingly expensive for organisations to be sending individuals to undergo refresher courses elsewhere.

“That is one of the reasons we are having this conference,” Lets’olo said in an interview with Public Eye yesterday.

Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) has been one of the greatest beneficiaries since the beginning of the conference in 2016.

According to Lehlohonolo Ncheke from WASCO, the organisation has learnt a lot and has been able to rectify some of their mistakes in recent years.

“We have been part of the conference since the beginning and we have learned so much already. In 2016, one of our members came to this conference and after that she was able to implement some of the things she learned here. That was motivation enough for us to also commit ourselves to joining the session.

“For instance, we have learned that we should be able to identify a clear methodology and framework to rely on if we are to run projects properly with limited challenges. Now I am proud to say we are more committed and have clear structures in our organisation,” Ncheke said.

Worldwide, project management continues to gain acceptance in many industry sectors as one of the most important strategic competences. The CBL, like most of the organisations, espouses project management as a core organisational competence.

The conference provides a platform for project management practitioners and other stakeholders across industries to exchange ideas on the best project management practices, challenges and opportunities.