by Mike Ososki, PMP, Communications Committee
One single person can make a huge difference. We know it’s true, and it could have been the title of John Salguero’s informative presentation at our Dunwoody Dinner last Monday evening. (Though Project Managers and Pyramids sounds more intriguing, right?)
The story traces the roots of Project Management all the way back to the awesome Pyramids of ancient Egypt, constructed nearly 5000 years ago. Mr. Salguero suggested that maybe this makes the Project Manager the world’s oldest profession, and then asked us to close our eyes. What we then imagined was the Egyptian desert: up to 120 degrees, where rain water evaporates before hitting the ground, and you’d better have a blanket at night. Less than 10% of the population was literate, the average life expectancy was 35 years, and the infant mortality rate was 20-50%. This is the grueling context.
Mr. Salguero advanced three hypotheses ...
1. Slaves did not build the Pyramids.
2. Slaves were treated very well.
3. The Pyramid builders were skilled tradesmen and paid laborers.
According to traditional archeology, a workforce of 100,000 labored 40+ years to build these wonders of the world. Working under the Pharaoh, the leader of this monumental undertaking was named Imhotep. This “First Architect” may also be thought of as the first Project Manager, and his task would have been impossible without having exceptional abilities to plan, organize, and manage projects.
Q. How did you become interested in the project management profession?