The Core of It

By Grant Axman-Friend

A podcast packed with practical project management tips, tools, and real-world lessons you can apply right away.... more

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FAQs about The Core of It:

How many episodes does The Core of It have?

The podcast currently has 5 episodes available.

The Core of It episodes:

July 08, 2026Decoding Project Jargon: Document Hierarchies & Industry Acronyms | The Core of It Podcast Ep. 5
Industry jargon and complex documentation structures can often be a barrier to efficient project delivery. In Episode 5 of The Core of It, Ami Griffiths and Sonya Hargreaves break down the ‘alphabet soup’ of project management.
From understanding the hierarchy of high-level policies down to specific work instructions, to decoding common acronyms like RFI, NCR, and VAR, this episode provides a roadmap for navigating project documentation. They also discuss the move toward integrated EDMS form builders and the importance of maintaining consistency to prevent ‘brain drain’ when project resources change.
Key Takeaways
The Documentation Pyramid: Understanding the flow from Mission Statements and Policies down to Procedures and Work Instructions.
Decoding Acronyms: A guide to common industry terms: RFI (Request for Information), NCR (Non-Conformance Report), and VAR (Variation).
Digital Transformation: How modern EDMS tools replace physical Word/Excel templates with integrated, reportable form builders.
Resource Continuity: Managing the risk of ‘knowledge loss’ during team transitions through consistent documentation.
The ‘Reinventing the Wheel’ Trap: Why engineers love new systems and how to maintain consistency across multiple project umbrellas.

Chapters
0:00 – Intro: Navigating the Documentation "Alphabet Soup"
0:37 – Understanding Document Hierarchy: Policies to Work Instructions
2:35 – Customising the Framework for New Clients & Projects
4:30 – Form Builders: Moving Beyond Word and Excel Templates
5:50 – RFI, NCR, & VAR: Common Acronyms Explained
7:30 – Transmittals (TRN): Managing Responses and Accountability
9:40 – The Challenge of Resource Changes and Knowledge Transfer
12:15 – Reinventing the Wheel: Consistency vs. Innovation
14:30 – Summary: Making Processes Work for the Project
#ProjectJargon #IndustryAcronyms #ConstructionIndustry
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ABOUT US
Core Project Advisory provides high-level expertise in project management, document control, and advisory services for the Australian infrastructure and construction sectors. We help our clients find the "core" of their project challenges and deliver solutions that stick.
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CONNECT WITH US
Website: https://coreprojectadvisory.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-project-advisory/
#TheCoreOfIt #CoreProjectAdvisory #ProjectDelivery #DocumentControl #InfrastructureAustralia #ProjectManagement
...more
20min
June 24, 2026Managing Complex Geographically Dispersed Assets & Projects | The Core of It Podcast Ep 4
How do you manage a project that spans 1,000 kilometres or a business that owns assets in both the Sunshine Coast, Australia and Dubai? Episode 4 of The Core of It explores the unique complexities of Geographically Dispersed Assets.
Ami Griffiths and Sonya Hargreaves share their experiences in managing massive infrastructure projects, including remote pipelines and large-scale upgrades. They discuss why site-specific coding is critical, the logistical nightmare of ‘manual entry’ without a team, and why accurate documentation is the most important safety tool an operator has during a midnight emergency.
Key Takeaways
The Logistical Challenge: Moving staff, materials, and data across remote Australian sites and international borders.
Site-Specific Coding: Why numbering documents by location (Area, Plant, or Pipeline Segment) is essential for retrieval.
Risk Management in the Field: The dangers of working on brownfield upgrades without verified ‘as-built’ documentation.
A Real-World Nightmare: Ami shares a story of being handed 30,000 documents on a hard drive with no indexing.
Safety & Operations: Why an operator in a trench at midnight needs instant access to the correct drawing to avoid catastrophic errors.

Chapters
0:00 – Intro: The Scope of Dispersed Asset Management
0:45 – Logistics: Moving Resources Across Great Distances
2:10 – Brownfield vs. Greenfield: Managing Legacy Site Data
3:45 – The Importance of Accurate Site-Based Coding
5:30 – Risk Mitigation: Planning for Site Isolations & Shutdowns
7:20 – Case Study: Sorting Through 30,000 Un-Indexed Documents
10:05 – The "Midnight Trench" Scenario: Why Accuracy Saves Lives
12:15 – Future-Proofing: Ensuring Handover Data Actually Works for Operators
14:40 – Conclusion: Planning for Complexity
#AssetManagement #RemoteProjects #Infrastructure
-------------------
ABOUT US
Core Project Advisory provides high-level expertise in project management, document control, and advisory services for the Australian infrastructure and construction sectors. We help our clients find the "core" of their project challenges and deliver solutions that stick.
-------------------
CONNECT WITH US
Website: https://coreprojectadvisory.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-project-advisory/
#TheCoreOfIt #CoreProjectAdvisory #ProjectDelivery #DocumentControl #InfrastructureAustralia #ProjectManagement
...more
21min
June 10, 2026Effective Training for Document Control & Project Teams | The Core of It Podcast Ep 3
In Episode 3 of The Core of It, Senior Document Controller Ami Griffiths and Project Manager Sonya Hargreaves discuss the critical role of training in project delivery. Whether it’s onboarding junior staff or aligning external contractors with client-specific procedures, a robust training strategy is essential for maintaining a "source of truth."
The team explores the shift from traditional ‘pointer-stick’ training to modern digital platforms, the controversial rise of AI in technical learning, and why the human element of ‘camera-on’ collaboration remains irreplaceable in a remote-working world.
Key Takeaways:
Onboarding Fundamentals: Why training juniors starts with basic conventions like revision control and naming standards.
Bridging the Gap: How Core Project Advisory delivers specialised training to client teams and contractors to ensure system alignment.
The Learning Curve: The value of ‘breaking the system’—why hands-on interaction is often more effective than reading a manual.
AI & Training: A look at how AI is changing how we find answers, and the risks of losing deep technical knowledge.
Remote Collaboration: Navigating the challenges of ‘black screen’ meetings and the importance of engagement in virtual training sessions.

Chapters
0:00 – Intro: Why Training is the Foundation of Project Control
0:33 – Training New Starters: Fundamental Procedures & Protocols
1:45 – Client-Side Training: Delivering Customised Procedures
2:50 – Evolution of Training: From Projectors to Video Conferencing
4:55 – Interactive Learning: Why "Breaking" the System Helps
6:20 – Personal Learning Styles: Auditory, Visual, and Kinaesthetic
8:10 – The Impact of AI on Technical Training & Problem Solving
11:15 – Engagement Challenges: The Importance of "Cameras On"
13:30 – Outro: Staying Flexible in a Remote World
#ProjectTraining #Upskilling
-------------------
ABOUT US
Core Project Advisory provides high-level expertise in project management, document control, and advisory services for the Australian infrastructure and construction sectors. We help our clients find the "core" of their project challenges and deliver solutions that stick.
-------------------
CONNECT WITH US
Website: https://coreprojectadvisory.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-project-advisory/
#TheCoreOfIt #CoreProjectAdvisory #ProjectDelivery #DocumentControl #InfrastructureAustralia #ProjectManagement
...more
23min
May 27, 2026Optimising Project Efficiency with Integrated Document Management Systems (IDMS)
As projects grow in scale and complexity, the need for data to flow seamlessly between organisations becomes paramount. In Episode 2 of The Core of It, Senior Document Controller Ami Griffiths and Project Manager Sonya Hargreaves take a deep dive into Integrated Document Management Systems (IDMS).
They discuss the common challenges of transitioning between systems mid-project, the vital importance of maintaining a "Source of Truth," and the logistical hurdles of mapping metadata across different organisational platforms. This episode is a must-watch for asset owners and contractors looking to future-proof their digital records.
Key Takeaways:
System Transitions: Why mid-project system changes are a "nightmare" and how careful planning can mitigate data loss.
Metadata Mapping: Understanding the technical exercise of aligning document numbering and coding between clients and contractors.
The API Revolution: How modern software integrations (like InEight and TeamBinder) are replacing manual uploads and downloads.
Data Sovereignty: Managing who has access to draft documents versus official records in a shared collaborative space.

Archival Compliance: Ensuring that final handovers meet Australian ISO standards and are searchable years after the project concludes.
Chapters
0:00 – Introduction: The Challenge of Changing Systems Mid-Project
0:45 – Working Across Multiple Client & Contractor Platforms
1:55 – Transitioning Systems: Planning for the "Source of Truth"
3:10 – Metadata Mapping: Making Systems Speak the Same Language
4:30 – Workflows and Form Builders: Moving Beyond Manual Entry
6:15 – The Risky Side of "Offline" Communication (Teams, Email & Chat)
8:30 – Data Warehousing: Where Does Your Information Live?
10:15 – Designing the "Line in the Sand" for System Transitions
12:45 – Summary: Why Integrated Planning Starts at Kick-off
-------------------
ABOUT US Core Project Advisory provides high-level expertise in project management, document control, and advisory services for the Australian infrastructure and construction sectors. We help our clients find the "core" of their project challenges and deliver solutions that stick.
-------------------
CONNECT WITH US
Website: https://coreprojectadvisory.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-project-advisory/
#TheCoreOfIt #CoreProjectAdvisory #ProjectDelivery #DocumentControl #InfrastructureAustralia #ProjectManagement
...more
22min
May 13, 2026Document Control in Project Management Delivery: Why It’s Your Source of Truth
Welcome to the debut episode of The Core of It, a podcast by Core Project Advisory dedicated to the tools, approaches, and insights that drive successful project delivery.
In this episode, Senior Document Controller Ami Griffiths and Project Manager Sonya Hargreaves demystify the often-misunderstood world of Document Control. Far from being a simple administrative task, Document Control is the "quality bucket" of a project—ensuring that every stakeholder, from designers to site constructors, is working from the most current and accurate information.
We explore the evolution of the industry from physical paper trails on brownfield sites to modern electronic systems, highlighting how a robust document control process acts as the ultimate gatekeeper against costly site errors and legal risks.
Key Takeaways
The Source of Truth: Understand why having a single, verified version of every drawing and document is critical for avoiding expensive site accidents.
Doc Control vs. Project Admin: Learn the distinct differences between general administration and the quality-focussed, technical nature of document control.
The Life Cycle of a Drawing: A look at the "A to B" revision process and how "Redlining" ensures existing structures are accurately captured.
System Sovereignty: The importance of "Super Users" in Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS) and managing user permissions to protect project integrity.
Risk Mitigation: How professional document controllers act as middlemen between contractors and clients to ensure compliance and safety.

Chapters
0:00 – Welcome to The Core of It: Tools for Project Success
0:15 – Meet the Experts: Ami Griffiths and Sonya Hargreaves
0:33 – Defining Document Control: More Than Just "Admin"
1:33 – The Difference Between Project Administration and Document Control
2:44 – Working in the "Quality Bucket": Interacting with Designers and Constructors
3:30 – The Drawing Life Cycle: From Idea to Approved Construction
4:56 – Greenfield vs. Brownfield Projects: The High Stakes of Accuracy
6:03 – Version Control and Identifying the "Source of Truth"
7:15 – The Evolution: From 5km Site Walks to Electronic Systems
8:55 – Managing Stakeholders and Training Teams for Compliance
10:05 – Access Control: The Role of the EDMS Super User
11:15 – Final Wrap-up: Why Success Starts with Control
#AustralianConstruction
-------------------
ABOUT US Core Project Advisory provides high-level expertise in project management, document control, and advisory services for the Australian infrastructure and construction sectors. We help our clients find the "core" of their project challenges and deliver solutions that stick.
-------------------
CONNECT WITH US
Website: https://coreprojectadvisory.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-project-advisory/
#TheCoreOfIt #CoreProjectAdvisory #ProjectDelivery #DocumentControl #InfrastructureAustralia #ProjectManagement
...more
20min

FAQs about The Core of It:

How many episodes does The Core of It have?

The podcast currently has 5 episodes available.