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.
Working with MTD, I’ve realized that a rigid plan often struggles against the uncertainties of event projects, from client changes to shifting logistics. An iterative approach would allow the team to refine each stage like venue setup or promotion step by step, helping spot issues early, though it might slow delivery. An agile approach, on the other hand, would keep clients closely involved, enabling quick adjustments and ensuring the event matches their expectations, but it requires strong communication. I would recommend a blended method, using structured planning for fixed tasks and agile practices for areas that demand flexibility.
I completely agree with your assessment. As a project manager, I would emphasize the importance of balancing structure with flexibility. Here’s how I would approach it:
Using these:
1. Hybrid Methodology: Combine agile and iterative approaches to leverage their strengths. This allows for adaptability, early issue detection, and swift adjustments.
2. Clear Communication: Ensure constant communication with the team, stakeholders, and clients to guarantee everyone is aligned and informed.
3. Structured Planning: Establish a solid foundation with defined goals, timelines, and milestones to provide direction and focus.
4. Flexibility and Adaptability: Embed agile principles to accommodate changes, iterate, and refine the event plan as needed.
From learning about Linear and Agile approaches and the VUCA framework, I see value in tailoring methods. A linear approach works best for fixed, easy-to-predict tasks in a stable environment, while an Agile approach supports flexibility, quick testing, and rapid building.
If an iterative approach were employed in organizing an event, it would allow testing and refining different aspects such as programs, logistics, or marketing in cycles, improving quality but requiring more coordination. Similarly, adopting Agile would enable quick adaptation to client changes and uncertainties, though it demands strong communication and team engagement.
In the hypothetical scenario, as a Project Manager with MTD who recognizes challenges such as shifting client expectations, uncertainty, and tight deadlines, my advice will be to adopt a hybrid model, combining the structure that the linear approach offers with the flexibility and rapid response of Agile, to deliver events efficiently while maintaining client satisfaction. This will allow us to easily adapt to different situations that may come up during an event, while the structure will help in maintaining quality.
I learnt about the different approaches to a project, the one you’ll use will depend on the characteristics or type of project. It is possible to also combine approaches in order to meet the challenges of managing projects
As a PM,I have learnt to work with the VUCA principle which open the understanding of the complexity of the world of PM.
That learnt,I have learnt to be flexible and be prepared to use linear and interactive approaches depending on the environment.My candid advice for MTD is to continue to explore the linear and interactive approaches in their operations bearing in mind the VUCA principle
This week,I have been able to learn how selecting the right approach for a project saves more. Using the linear and iterative approach,understanding their key characteristics, the condition which they work best,the benefit of agile,the framework,experience and the role of managing each approach.
The iterative approach helps to get feedback on time by using sprint,this can best at detecting error early enough before spending cost on a project and quick changes are made and corrected where needed.
Oro-Oghene Sarah Oyibode
Team 8,cohort 27.
This week with MTD, I have learned that being flexible in your approach will enhance coordination and proper handling of the project. The iterative approach will help to carry out the event in short intervals(sprints), get feedback on time, make quick changes where required, and deliver on time. An agile approach will help the team to be more productive, work daily with the right information, and make quick decisions to deliver on time. My advice to MTD is to ensure flexibility and continuous dynamic planning, for a successful outcome.
Thank you.
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This week with MTD, I’ve learned that challenges like shifting client needs and coordination issues are best managed with flexibility. An iterative approach would let us test parts of the event in phases, catch problems early, and adjust quickly, though it requires constant communication. An agile approach would make us even more adaptive and collaborative, helping us respond to changes fast, but it also means less upfront certainty. My advice to MTD would be to blend agile flexibility with structured planning, so events run smoothly while still meeting client expectations.
Winifred Onyembi