Put yourself in the role of a project manager collaborating with MTD, an events company.
Considering the difficulties and problems that MTD encounters in their projects, what insights have you gained this week that could offer assistance?
If an iterative approach were employed in organizing an event as a project, what would be the consequences? Similarly, what are the implications of adopting an agile approach? If the company sought your advice, what would you recommend?
Contribute your thoughts and ideas to the discussion.
I will advise the company to break the project into smaller units, form teams that specialise or fit in well with these small groups, and then set out the plan and expected outcomes for each.
The small unit or group will iterate their task until the expected outcomes are met. Then connect each unit linearly to create the desired workflow.
During the iteration of each group, stakeholders will be engaged to check whether the project is progressing correctly.
This week, I’ve learned the importance of flexibility and adaptability in project management, especially in the events industry where last-minute changes are common. Taking an iterative approach to setting up an event would allow for frequent feedback and adjustments, ensuring that the final outcome meets the client’s expectations.
On the other hand, adopting an agile approach would enable the team to respond quickly to changes and prioritize tasks based on their importance, potentially reducing the risk of delays and cost overruns.
If I were to advise MTD, I would recommend incorporating elements of both iterative and agile methodologies into their project management process. This would involve regularly reviewing progress with stakeholders, breaking down the event setup into smaller tasks, and empowering team members to make decisions autonomously within their areas of expertise. Additionally, investing in tools and technologies that facilitate collaboration and communication would further enhance efficiency and effectiveness in project delivery.
After gaining insights from this week’s learning, collaborating with MTD as a project manager presents opportunities to address their project difficulties. Introducing an iterative approach to organizing events would allow for frequent feedback, enabling adjustments to be made throughout the planning and execution phases. This iterative process would enhance adaptability, and responsiveness to stakeholder needs, and improve overall event quality. Additionally, adopting an agile approach would further enhance flexibility, collaboration, and efficiency in event management. I would recommend implementing agile practices such as regular stand-up meetings, prioritizing tasks, and continuous improvement to optimize project outcomes and adapt to evolving requirements effectively.
I would recommend adopting both an iterative and agile approach to event project management. This would involve setting clear project goals and objectives, breaking down the project into smaller phases, and regularly reviewing and adjusting plans based on feedback and changing circumstances. The combination of linear & iterative approach which increase the stakeholder involvement will help the project execution within specific time .
A key fact I have learned in management is that there is no one best to manage. As a member of the teaching profession, I have also learned that a teacher can explore different teaching methods to effectively impart knowledge. If we take cognizant of the multidimensional approach in education and apply it to the issue at hand, I will say without mincing words that both methods should be applied for a more effective result. My take is that the water project at the sports complex seems relatively stable and unlikely to change and MTD has the capacity and the skilled personnel to carry out the task. This scenario requires a linear approach. It was mentioned in the video that there was real-time monitoring and testing of the water supplied to ensure quality control and quality assurance. Given this scenario, an iterative approach seems more plausible. I was privileged to experience real-time and batch-testing as a quality control officer at a drug factory before moving to the school system and I know that things could go wrong at any phase of production. I recall a particular instance, I was assigned to test a sample of raw material to be used for the production of pain relief. The raw material failed the standardized test but a colleague who carried the same test for verification Okayed it. At a stage in the production, I took another sample and recommended that the production be discontinued but a colleague gave a nod for the production to continue and of course, the result was disastrous. This was my personal experience. We had cases where raw materials met the prescribed standard but failed the post-production standard. So many factors could be responsible. A cursory look at the water processing system shows close similarity to the drug production process. Something could go wrong, the chlorine and other purifying additives may be added in the wrong proportion thus making the water unsafe for drinking. This is where the iterative approach avails. I will recommend a hybrid of both Linear and Iterative approaches.
From the lessons, I have learnt about the linear and iterative approach to project management while considering their strengths and weaknesses.
For MTD, I will advice that the hybrid approach be used.This will allow for leveraging on the strengths of both approaches in an unstable working environment for the success of the project.This is because,while the linear approach helps them plan ahead for every possibility before embarking on the project,the iterative approach will help them get frequent feedbacks from users,faster ROI,better involvement of stakeholders and help to address any eventuality that wasn’t planned or prepared for.
And finally,the agile approach will help them respond to the VUCA of the work environment.
I will go with the linear approach for the MTD design company because Linear project management life cycle models provide better results compared to other models such as iterative or adaptive models. One of the significant advantages of this model compared to others is the provision of clearly defined goals, solutions, and requirements of the project before its onset. This factor allows project managers to have a clear direction and project provisions before the project’s conception. Another significant advantage of this model is the effective management of costs and work volume.
Linear life cycle models provide fixed requirements for the project. The entire cost of the project and work volume are predetermined and are not supposed to change at any phase of the project. Therefore it eliminates the need for emergency costs or unexpected work coming up in the middle of the project. Lastly, the linear life cycle model allows sequential delivery of phases which is a significant advantage due to eliminating uncertainty as the project progresses.
A hybrid (linear and agile) approach suit best in managing projects, as a project manager you need the two approach to help plan and executes projects successfully.
For an event programme MTD using linear is good but agile would have been more better but using the two approach will work out best as it needs two week feedback from end users and all, the event world is a massive and evolving world so combining the two approach will work out fine.
We are living in a VUCA world, a company like MTD should be able to apply Mixed/Hybrid lifecycle in their projects. Combining both linear and iterative lifecycle gives no room to unproductiveness and misinformation.
Applying only iterative or adopting only agile approach may look complex for a company like MTD but using only linear approach may not get rid of risks and uncertainties in the project.
I have learnt that as project manager, having deep understanding of the projects and knowledge of linear, iterative, hybrid approach and agile team will help in decision making,
A hybrid approach should be adopted. The combination of linear & iterative approach which increase the stakeholder involvement will help the project execution within stipulated time.
Projects today, MTD inclusive are very dynamic and challenging at the same time. Looking at the nature of MTD, agile approach would help draw feedback from customers and at the same time grow innovation to better suit prevailing market trends in the events world. Events are evolving every day and therefore the agile approach would be very appropriate than linear that allows feedback after a relative longer period and there is no room to adjust budgets or plans to better suit prevailing customer demands.