Virtual: The Tay Bridge Disaster - A Study in Ethical Failure

The Tay Bridge opened to great fanfare on 1st of June 1878. The longest iron bridge in the world. It was a key link in the Scottish east coast railway line. For the main players it brought honors and business success. But that success was short lived. On the night of 28th of December 1879, in one of the worst storms in living memory, the bridge collapsed, taking with it the Edinburgh train and 59 passengers.

The subsequent public inquiry and later analysis identified several technical failures.
But this is a tale of an inspirational project, a pinnacle of Victorian engineering, that was undermined by greed and lack of leadership.

Learning Objectives

1. A project manager’s responsibility to ensure public safety above that of financial gain.
2. The importance of the selection and supervision of a competent workforce.
3. “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.” (Richard Feynman)

Guest Speaker: Jim Benvie, PMP

Jim, the History PM, is a project manager and speaker with TyauvinOn Solutions. His blog and presentations, combine a lifelong passion for history with four decades of project and operational management experience, to provide inspiration from history for project managers and leaders.

The concept is not simply to copy historical precedents, but to use them to expand your awareness, develop your thinking and stimulate your curiosity.

Do not expect, “Five simple steps to becoming a stellar project manager”, instead expect “Some assembly required”. However, he believes that like Aesop’s Fables you will find the content both entertaining and informative.

PDU Value: 1.0  Power Skills

Agenda

7:30 AM MST:  Virtual room open, networking

7:50 AM MST: Chapter announcements/ Introductions

8:00 AM MST Presentation Starts

9:00 AM MST : Presentation Ends