The sewa project management model
📘 Summary of the Book
The SEWA Project Management Model documents the transformation of the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) under the leadership of Dr. Rashid Alleem. The book blends real-world leadership experience with a structured project management approach to show how SEWA was revitalized into a high-performing, sustainable, and customer-focused organization.
🔧 Core Structure of the Book
Part 1: The Turnaround Journey
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Describes SEWA’s early struggles: poor performance, employee disengagement, and customer dissatisfaction.
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Introduces Dr. Alleem’s leadership principles focused on transparency, trust, empowerment, and accountability.
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Emphasizes changing the mindset and culture of the organization before changing processes.
Part 2: The SEWA Project Management Model
A 5-stage model for managing any project or organizational transformation:
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Imagineering
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Fusion of imagination and engineering.
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Encourages visionary thinking and bold ideas to solve challenges.
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Ecomagination
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Focuses on integrating sustainability and eco-efficiency in all initiatives.
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Aligns projects with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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CRItRAL Thinking
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Combines Critical Thinking and Lateral Thinking.
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Promotes innovative and practical problem-solving across departments.
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Execution
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Clear KPIs, responsibilities, timelines, and communication channels.
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Execution is driven by performance, customer feedback, and agility.
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Knowledge Capture and Storage
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Captures lessons learned.
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Builds an organizational memory to improve future project planning.
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🧠Key Themes & Insights
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Leadership Matters: Success begins with bold leadership willing to break outdated systems and habits.
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People First: Employees are central to transformation. SEWA promoted internal talent, flattened hierarchies, and built a culture of ownership.
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Sustainability is Non-Negotiable: Environmental goals must be embedded in core operations.
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Customer-Centricity: The customer is at the center of every decision. Feedback loops are built into the system.
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Go/No-Go Decisions: Decisiveness in project selection and continuation ensures quality and impact.
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Branding Through Culture: SEWA became a brand not just by marketing, but by how it performed and served the public.
📌 Final Message
The SEWA Brand Book is not just about utilities; it’s a leadership guide for any organization aiming to:
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Transform culture,
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Improve customer focus,
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Promote sustainability,
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Deliver projects with clarity and purpose.