International
Business transformation is a much-used term but faced with new challenges it became an imperative for Qatar’s Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’. The Authority realised that to contribute to Qatar’s National Vision 2030 plan and deliver top tier asset management support for the 2022 FIFA World Cup it would need a fundamental transformation in people practices, processes and systems. In 2012 Ashghal appointed World-class management consultancy Stantec to support the transformation of its drainage operations and maintenance (O&M) business. The collaboration between Ashghal and Stantec delivered significant service and performance improvements, ably supported the delivery of the World Cup and resulted in Stantec being awarded a five-year extension to support Ashghal’s Assets Affairs Division and the Road O&M Department.
To successfully deliver its transformation programme, Ashghal required outstanding management consultancy support to meet its strategic objectives. Ashghal recognised it would need to build capacity to accommodate the anticipated rapid and significant asset base growth, develop O&M capability internally and within the supply chain and deliver reliable drainage and transport services for Qatar. Stantec’s extensive experience of designing, delivering, and managing the infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy, and prosperous communities across the world made it a compelling choice to provide the consultancy support and the Company was appointed in 2012. Stantec’s mission was to support the organisational transformation, embedding sustainable policies and procedures through robust training, mentoring and change management.
A shared vision, leveraging knowledge and developing skills were key to the successful collaboration between Ashghal and Stantec, delivering significant service and performance enhancements. Stantec’s accountability to the client was critical. Annual Delivery Plans established objectives, identified priorities, and shaped the scope of works. These Plans acknowledged the complexity of the programme and the importance of re-prioritising investments based on improving data quality.
Ashghal and Stantec formed a valuable partnership through the establishment of a ‘One Team’ approach and developed a common culture by embedding and co-locating Stantec’s people within the organisation. Stantec mobilised international staff to bring innovative expertise to Ashghal’s operations. The Company delivered a centralised Drainage Networks Management Centre (DNMC) for monitoring, predicting, and detecting problems in the drainage systems and coordinating responses. This facilitated multiple channels of communication, integrated teams delivering effective on-the-job knowledge transfer, and enabled quick decision making.
Stantec strove to understand the network challenges, culture and work practices in Qatar to ensure a smooth, collaborative working environment. The success of the DNMC, Ashghal’s system-wide changes and support for staging the World Cup were subsequently acknowledged by Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Legacy and Delivery. In 2018, Stantec were awarded a five-year extension to support Ashghal’s Assets Affairs Division and Road O&M Department. A further extension was given for additional works to be completed by early 2024.
Through collaborative working, knowledge sharing and a wide range of consulting techniques, Stantec were able to work with Ashghal to transform capabilities and enable future infrastructure changes, benefitting everyone in Qatar.
View the Stantec profile in the MCA Members Directory.