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.
MTD could manage changing client needs and tight timelines better with iterative and agile approaches.
My 3 pieces of advice to MTD would be:
1. Use iterative planning to break events into manageable phases with regular feedback.
2. Apply agile practices like short cycles, stand-ups, and stakeholder check-ins.
3. Invest in clear communication tools to ensure real time updates across the team
4. Trainings on agile and interactive practices so the entire team can adopt them effectively should be encouraged.
I would advise the company to adopt the following strategic measures:
1. Implement a Scalable Supply Model Design for modular water systems that can be adjusted based on event size and duration, ensuring flexibility and efficiency.
2. Apply Agile Planning Principles Use agile methods to manage logistics, enabling rapid response to changes in event requirements, attendance, or site conditions.
3. Enhance Monitoring Capabilities Deploy real-time monitoring tools to track water usage, pressure, and system performance, allowing proactive maintenance and uninterrupted service.
4. Strengthen Stakeholder Collaboration: Maintain continuous communication with event organizers to align on water needs, site layout, and contingency plans.
5. Ensure Sustainability and Compliance Utilize eco-friendly equipment and water-saving technologies while adhering to health and safety regulations, especially for potable water and waste management.
6. Establish a Contingency Framework Prepare for disruptions with backup units, emergency protocols, and trained personnel to ensure service continuity.
7. Leverage digital logistics tools to manage scheduling, technician deployment, and inventory tracking for streamlined operations.
Working as a project manager with MTD, I have noticed event projects are influenced by unpredictable factors such as client demands, vendor issues, regulatory changes, or external events.
From this week’s learning, the key takeaway is that we need approaches that allow us to adapt quickly instead of locking everything down at the start.
Taking an iterative approach would mean breaking each event into phases (concept, venue, suppliers, marketing, execution) and reviewing progress after each phase. This reduces risk and incorporates stakeholder feedback but requires ongoing communication and coordination.
A more agile approach emphasizes collaboration, rapid feedback, and the ability to pivot if conditions change (like a sponsor dropping out). This would give MTD faster response to client needs and more innovative events, but leadership and clients need to be comfortable with change.
If I were advising MTD, I would recommend a hybrid approach: use traditional planning for fixed elements (budget, contracts, compliance) but apply iterative/agile practices for areas prone to change (marketing, technology integration, attendee experience).
This gives the company both stability and flexibility, improving the chances of successful events even in a volatile environment.
Working with MTD as a project manager, the first step is to look into the difficulties and problems encountered in their project. This is to enable devise a plan or strategy that can help resolve the problems.
Employing an iterative approach in an event planning helps to test and refine the various aspects in the event. It makes room for correction which aids in improvement in the event plan. It also helps to improve interactions between stakeholders, clients and the team to produce a better event. It’s quite slow as a plan can be changed because of environmental factors.
Adopting an agile approach which uses iteration as a tool makes room for quick adjustments in the event. This approach is quite similar to that of iterative approach.
I would recommend a hybrid approach in order to tackle VUCA challenges encountered in the long run of the event planning. Using a hybrid approach will help deliver a better event.
As a PM at MTD, one key insight I’ve gained is the value of breaking large deliverables into smaller, manageable tasks with continuous monitoring and feedback. This helps track progress more effectively and reduces last-minute issues.
Using an iterative approach in event planning would allow testing and refining elements in cycles, spotting risks early, and involving stakeholders throughout. An agile mindset adds flexibility, enabling quick responses to client changes or supplier challenges through frequent check-ins. My recommendation is a hybrid model: structured project management for control, blended with agile practices for adaptability.
Based on the knowledge I have gained this week, as a project manager at MTD, having observed the major difficulties and challenges the company faces when carrying out a project the insights that I a have gained that could be of assistance is the importance of breaking down large deliverables into smaller, manageable tasks, supported by continuous monitoring and feedback. This can help MTD track progress more effectively and reduce last-minute surprises.
If an iterative approach were employed in organizing an event, the consequences would include:
1. The ability to test and refine elements of the event (e.g., stage design, catering arrangements, guest experience) in smaller cycles before the final day.
2. Early identification of risks or gaps, allowing timely adjustments.
3. Increased stakeholder involvement, since clients and vendors could provide input after each iteration.
Adopting an agile approach would further enhance flexibility. Agile would allow MTD to adapt quickly to changes, such as last-minute client requests, supplier issues, or unexpected logistical challenges. The team could hold short, frequent check-ins (like daily stand-ups) to keep everyone aligned. However, it also requires a cultural shift: teams must embrace transparency, collaboration, and the acceptance that plans can evolve rather than remain fixed and if the company sought my advice, I would recommend a hybrid approach—combining structured project management (to keep budgets and timelines under control) with agile principles (to stay flexible and responsive).
From the knowledge I have acquired this week as a Product Manager at MTD, and through careful observation of the major challenges the company faces in project execution, I have identified actionable insights to enhance performance. One key strategy is breaking down large deliverables into smaller, manageable tasks, supported by ongoing monitoring and feedback. This would allow MTD to track progress more efficiently and minimize the likelihood of last-minute issues.
If an iterative approach were applied to organizing an event, the outcomes would include:
The opportunity to test and refine event elements (such as stage design, catering, and guest experience) in smaller cycles before the final day.
Early identification of risks or gaps, enabling timely adjustments.
Greater stakeholder involvement, as clients and vendors could provide feedback after each iteration.
Adopting an agile mindset would further strengthen flexibility. Agile practices would allow MTD to respond effectively to last-minute client requests, supplier issues, or unexpected logistical challenges. Short, frequent check-ins (such as daily stand-ups) could help maintain alignment across teams. However, this approach requires a cultural shift—one that embraces transparency, collaboration, and the acceptance that plans will evolve rather than remain fixed.
If asked for recommendations, I would propose a hybrid approach: combining structured project management methods to maintain control of budgets and timelines with agile principles to enhance adaptability and responsiveness. This balance would empower MTD to deliver projects more efficiently while sustaining stakeholder satisfaction.
Omah Eucharia Chinenye
If I were to be MTD event company project manager, from the insight I gained I will sort out the challenges first and examine their nature as this will help me strategies well for a good project delivery.
If an iterative approach is employed in organizing an event, it will allow continuous improvement of tasks but the scope will be moving slowly.
The implication of adopting an agile approach: The agile approach will bring a positive consequence as plans are looked into step by step thereby reducing mistakes because it will be spotted early and fixed. As agile approach has positive consequences so does it has negative consequences and the negative consequences is that the project will be slow because of the waiting-for-reviews from stakeholders and this may invariably increase expenditure.
I would recommend hybrid approach should the company sought for my advice.
Based on the insight i gained this week, as a project manager working with MTD EVENTS i will first sort out what the challenges are and examine them, its going to help strategies how to the projects delivered.
The consequences of using Agile approach in this event scenario has two opposite sides the positive and negative consequences
Positive Consequences; Plans are refined step by step, reducing the chance of big mistakes. Problem show up early and can be fixed before the final events, client or stakeholder feedback can be added at each cycle. Instead of finding out everything went wrong on event day, issues are caught and corrected in earlier iterations.
Negative Consequences; Because you plan → test → review → adjust in cycles, it may feel slower than just “plan once and execute. If stakeholders keep changing their minds each iteration, the project may drag on without reaching final decisions. Requires constant communication, meetings, and feedback sessions. Multiple revisions (designs, vendor changes, schedule reshuffles) may increase expenses if not controlled
Results; The event is more refined, tested, and aligned with client expectations, but it requires more discipline in managing changes.
An agile approach offers flexibility and faster adjustments but needs good coordination. I recommend using Hybrid, This way, MTD gets the discipline of Iterative planning + the flexibility of Agile.
An iterative approach allows continuous improvement but may cause scope creep. An agile approach offers flexibility and faster adjustments but needs good coordination. I recommend using a flexible, adaptive strategy tailored to the event’s complexity for best results
As MTD project (event) manager, I will firstly look it what challenges are and categorise them. This will help me strategize in other to get the project done and at the due time.
If my advice is sort, I will recommend Hybrid approach.
After the idea or concept, indepth research should be carried out on the project before commencement.
Room for feedbacks should be made available so that changes can be applied when and where necessary.
Well, if I am a project manager at MTD, and an iterative approach were to be employed in organizing an event, I would tactically persuade the sponsor and carefully state to the sponsor the consequence and implications which are;
1. time consuming because of changes in scope,
2. unavailability of necessary stakeholders for timely review,
3. lack of transparency and overspending beyond the budget.
I would suggest/advise to use an hybrid approach for the event
With this hybrid approach, it enables proper planning of each sprints or iterative by thinking through with the use of VUCA framework, problems that may ensure and how to mitigate or reduce them before executing the project.