How To Build A Project: Things They Don't Teach

Ted Bassett has worked for more than forty years in the global mining and metals industry with projects ranging from an open-pit operation in post-communist Kyrgyzstan to the scandal-racked Bre-X goldmine in Busang, Indonesia. He’s witnessed numerous instances of senseless risk-taking and reputation-ruining blunders from project managers who simply weren’t prepared enough for the job. Finally, prompted by his family and armed with dozens of case studies gleaned from his own personal experiences, Ted sat down with fellow engineer Jim Cooke and journalist Jennifer Parks to document these true stories—and provide a helpful resource that goes beyond a sterile textbook.

With chapters such as “On Being Principled,” “Dodging Bullets,” and “Safety and the Law,” How to Build a Project: Things They Don’t Teach chronicles Bassett and his family as they travel from the mountains of central Asia to the mines of South Australia. In these dramatic narratives, Bassett navigates sticky foreign politics, budget constraints, and executive temper tantrums in his demanding career…all while his daughter’s cancer battle unfolds.

Filled with practical advice and keen insights, this book is an essential reference tool for engineers and managers seeking to gain an edge in their profession.