Chapter 15 - Sub-Project Manager and Work Package Owner¶

Part 1¶

Story¶

After a long day at the office, Carl Rogers is looking forward to spending a quiet evening with his wife Sabina. He is just settling down in his armchair when Sabina switches the TV channel to "Who wants to be a millionaire?" The asked question is: "What was the name of Moses' father-in-law?" "Tough question! He hasn't got any jokers left and he's under intense pressure. He may be in with a chance of winning the million, but I wouldn't want to swap places with him", says Carl, very impressed. The end-of-programme gong sounded before the four possible answers could be shown on screen.

"Want to know who it was?" asks Sabina, reaching up to take the bible down from the bookshelf. "Second Book of Moses - Exodus", she says with a smile, impressing Carl with her general knowledge and scripture savvy. "Here it is." Pointing her finger to it, she passes the bible to Carl, who starts reading out loud. "Second Book of Moses, Chapter 18, Verses 13 to 27 …":

18:13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
18:14 And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, "What is this thing that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou thyself alone and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?"
18:15 And Moses said unto his father-in-law, "Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:
18:16 when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another and I do make them know the statutes of God and his laws."
18:17 And Moses' father-in-law said unto him, "The thing that thou doest is not good.
18:18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone."
18:19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel and God shall be with thee: be thou for the people to Godward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
18:20 and thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk and the work that they must do.
18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties and rulers of tens:
18:22 and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself and they shall bear the burden with thee.
18:23 If thou shalt do this thing and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
18:24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
18:25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties and rulers of tens.
18:26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
18:27 And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

Dr. Rogers is exuberant: "Jethro's good advice. It's unbelievable. It's mind blowing!" "What's the matter Carl? What are you getting so excited about? You sound like you've won the million", says his wife, looking a bit bemused. Carl read the chapter of the bible again. He read it out loud and writes something down that had suddenly become crystal clear to him. "The man was a genius. He told Moses all the things that are important for project organisation. It's unbelievable!"