Page 28 - Global Project Management Handbook

1-10 STATE OF THE ART OF GLOBAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Wu Dynasty. It was extended during the Qi Dynasty and later by Emperor Yangdi dur-
ing the Sui Dynasty. The canal is 1114 miles long with 24 locks and some 60 bridges.
A project is currently underway to extend the Grand Canal to Ningbo—or more than
twice it present length to 3100 miles.
This canal has served China for nearly 2500 years and continues to be used as a means
of commerce through waterborne transport of goods. The project to construct the canal and
its supporting bridges and locks could have been accomplished only through dedicated
planning and work effort to achieve its objectives.

Noah’s Ark
The designer of the Ark was God Himself. The shape of the ark was that of a rectangular
barge with a low draft. Some other specifications include

● Make a roof and finish it to within 18 inches at the top.
● Coat inside and out with pitch.
● The Ark was to be about 437 to 512 feet in length, with a beam of 75 feet.
● The Ark would have an internal volume of 1,515,750 cubic feet.
● There would be only one door to enter and exit.
Historians have speculated that it took 120 years to build the Ark. The size of the proj-
ect and its end product—the Ark—leave much to the imagination as to how the “project
team” acquired the materials and the technology needed to shape and assemble the parts.

St. Petersburg, Russia (1703–1713)

In 1703, Emperor Peter began construction of a new city in the north of Russia, where the
Neva River drains Lake Ladoga. The city was built on a myriad of islands, canals, and
swamps. Construction conditions were brutal. Nearly 100,000 workers perished in the
first year. Within 10 years, St. Petersburg was a city of 35,000 buildings of granite and
stone and the capital of the Russian Empire. Today, the city is valued for its historic
buildings and contribution to Russian history. Although no longer capital of Russia, it
plays an important role in industrial and cultural activities of the people.

Tower of Babel

According to Genesis 11:1-9, a structure was erected in the plain or valley of Shinar. The
builders presumed to build an edifice that reached the heavens—symbolizing human self-
sufficiency and pride. Historians believe that the myth on which the building of the tower
rests may have developed as an attempt to account for the diversity of human language—
in the modern thought, an inability to communicate or to fail to understand one another’s
communication. One might ask if there have been any modern construction projects
where a lack of communication among the project stakeholders was a cause for delay or
cancellation of the project.

Signing of the Magna Carta (1215)
The Magna Carta is a document that states the basic liberties guaranteed to the English
people. The Magna Carta proclaims rights that have become a part of English law and are