After just eight months at BraCom, recently graduated engineer Nora Idsøe Bringaker has taken on responsibility for her first projects as a project manager. She is now leading fiber network expansion projects for Telia in Sarpsborg, where more than 1,000 homes will have the opportunity to connect to fiber broadband. Work is already well underway on Hafslundsøy, following several months of planning and preparation.
Nora joined BraCom as a consultant, focusing on systems development and process improvement. After around six months, she was offered the opportunity to move into project management, a role she had not expected to take on quite so soon.
The transition was quite sudden, but also very exciting. I actually mentioned during my job interview that project management was something I could see myself doing. There is much more responsibility and more deadlines to manage, but it is also very rewarding to be involved in a project from start to finish, Nora explains.
Her experience in systems development has proved valuable in her new role. She remains focused on improving workflows and finding better ways to share knowledge between colleagues.
In many ways, I still think like a systems developer. How can we simplify processes, make sure everyone has the right information and use our experience to work more efficiently? This is especially important when you are new to the role.
A Lot of Work Before Construction Begins
The fiber expansion in Sarpsborg consists of several smaller projects covering large parts of Hafslundsøy. The work involves installing new fiber infrastructure, both underground and through overhead cables, before customers are gradually migrated from the existing HFC network.
Work is currently taking place on Hafslundsøy, where most of the excavation has already been completed. With winter approaching, work on the overhead network will become an important part of the next phase.
Before construction could begin, extensive planning and coordination were required. Permits, locating existing underground utilities and clarifying the use of existing utility poles all had to be addressed. Nora has already started looking at how these processes could be better organised in future projects. The experience she is gaining now could help make planning easier for both herself and her colleagues.
There is a huge amount of information to take in, and as a new project manager, you do not necessarily always know what the next step will be. I have learned how important it is to ask questions and reach out to people when something needs clarification. Good communication is absolutely essential, she says.
Building Confidence Through Experience and Collaboration
Although Nora has overall responsibility for the projects, she has received close support from experienced colleagues. Among them is Fredrik Haugen Petersen, who previously managed BraCom’s first Telia project in Sinsen.
The lessons learned in Sinsen have proved useful in Sarpsborg, particularly when it comes to Telia’s technical specifications, systems and documentation requirements.
Being a project manager involves much more than following a checklist. Even though many of the milestones are similar, every project comes with its own challenges. That is why clear communication is so important, making sure everyone involved has the same understanding of what needs to be done, Fredrik explains.
Nora also highlights the cooperation with Telia as an important source of support. Regular contact with Telia’s project manager makes it possible to resolve questions quickly and find solutions when changes arise during the project.
We have had a very good working relationship with Telia. It is easy to reach the right people when something needs clarification, which helps us keep the work moving. It is also motivating to see that both Telia and the contractors we work with are happy with the work we are doing, Nora says.
Experience to Build On
For Nora, project management is not just about completing the fiber rollout, but also about learning from the process. She wants to use her experience to develop better procedures and guidelines, helping both herself and others become better prepared to take responsibility for new projects.
When the projects are completed, I hope to have gained the experience and confidence to work more independently as a project manager. At the same time, I want to help make things easier for the next person who is new to the role. If we can document what we learn and share that knowledge, BraCom will be even better prepared for future projects with Telia.
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