Hello, this module focuses on how to manage projects in a complicated world. The world is changing rapidly and in unpredictable ways. Just consider the changes caused by new technology, worldwide trade and competition, social and political disturbances, and the environmental emergency.
You might think that project management has little to do with these major global matters. However, all kinds of organizations, whether large or small, are impacted by the world they operate in. How a company understands and responds to this complexity influences the projects it chooses to undertake and how it handles them.
This week, we begin by examining frameworks that help us grasp this intricate world. These frameworks guide our actions, responses, and decision-making in the face of complexity.
Next, we delve deeply into various methods and practices for managing projects when faced with uncertainty, instability, and change. These methods include linear approaches and life cycles, often known as the waterfall method, as well as iterative or agile approaches. You will explore the pros and cons of these methods, as well as the ongoing debates about them.
By the end, you’ll grasp how to use and blend these methods effectively to achieve successful project outcomes.
To start off this week, we’re interested in hearing about your experiences. Considering those major global issues like technology, competition, social and political changes, and environmental problems, think about how they impact your organization and the projects you’re involved in.
Feel free to share your experiences with fellow learners in the discussion.
Thinking about global issues such as technology, competition, political change and environmental crisis boggles the mind at times when it comes to managing of projects, because most of these issues don’t arise when laying down the prerequisite of a project. At the moment, the major global issue affecting my companys project has to do with environmental crisis, with the season we are currently in, it’s difficult to work when you keep making changes to timeline because the weather might cloud at any given time. This is also dependent on political changes as well, with change in government come a change in plans, change in timeline, and also the almighty change in scale of preference 😀. One government might want one project and the other will want a different one, so it’s a constant rumble.
Project manager in an engineering consultancy firm faces a lot of setback sometimes from Client, Stakeholders due to climatic changes, social interaction, political influences. Advancement in technology is providing different tools to achieve & gain time in designing but the actual installation is still far behind. No new Artisans to carry while the old Artisans refuse to move with technology changes.
Technology has really influenced a lot of people mindset with a lot of informations..technology has provided different tools to achieve and gain time and designs
My name is Efe Tony, and one of the major issue I’m currently facing as a sociologist is human unscrupulous dependence on AI (Artificial Intelligence). Men with great reasoning facilities are no longer ready to use their brain and they feel like they can rely on AI for everything. And it’s worrisome.
If not for my professionalism and expertise, I would have lost some projects I undertook to amateurs who solely relies on AI to get things done. I remember one client who later called me to handle a particular project almost destroyed by some of these amateurs who relied on AI. You can trust I charged him twice what I should have charged initially😂.
Some others are unpalatable political and economic issues in Tropical African Regions that I happened to hail from. There are emergencies in these regions always that might not be foreseen when laying outs plan for one’s project in TeamGantt.
Advancement in technology, social/political change, competition and environmental crisis can affect how projects are run and delivery of project outcomes. These global issues often alter the sope, budget, deadline, risks and feasibility of organisation’s project in an unpreditable way.
Certainly, those big global issues can have significant impacts on organizations and projects. Some of the areas that makes project management challenging are;
1. **Technology**: Rapid technological advancements can create opportunities for innovation and efficiency but also pose challenges in terms of keeping up with the pace of change. Organizations need to adapt to new technologies, and projects may require adjustments to incorporate the latest tools and trends.
2. **Competition**: Increased global competition can pressure organizations to improve their products and services continually. Projects must be designed to address market demands and stand out in competitive landscapes to ensure success.
3. **Social and Political Change**: Shifts in societal values and political landscapes can influence an organization’s reputation, customer preferences, and regulatory environment. Projects may need to align with evolving social and political expectations or adapt to new regulations.
4. **Environmental Crisis**: Environmental concerns, such as climate change and resource depletion, are shaping consumer behavior and influencing government policies. Organizations are expected to adopt sustainable practices, and projects may need to incorporate eco-friendly approaches to meet these expectations.
To assess how these issues affect specific organization and projects, there is a need to consider conducting a thorough analysis. Evaluate industry, target audience, and geographic reach to understand the unique challenges and opportunities these global issues present. Adaptation and strategic planning are key to navigating these complex dynamics successfully.
Global issues have significant impacts on organizations and projects and it plays a vital role. Some of the areas that makes project management challenging are as follows.
1. Rate at which technology changes.
2. Level of competition
3. Environmental changes
4. Political changes that occurs
5. Risks in operations
6. Social behaviors
How agile affects project management; it a good method where by best ideas can used collectively while the linear or water fall it’s a one man affair of which the best can not come out for the management.
In 2020, I was on a project and soon before you know it the pandemic came in and everywhere was shut down, no physical meetings, movements were restricted, social distancing and the rest. Thanks to technology we were able to continue communication with stakeholders , sponsors and team members via Teams, Zoom etc Though we had to suspend some activities but most of the background work was done during the lockdown. We used checklist to carry out facility check, used mails to get consent from stakeholders, do phone call interviews, photo voice to collect data and so on. Much later we could go on with physical meetings adhering strictly to Covid 19 preventive guidelines. Much later in project herdsman issues and abduction made us to carry out qualitative and quantitative data collection electronically in study location along the dangerous terrains.
Conclusively,in the wake of this global crisis, project management must be flexible and quickly adapt to changes and different context, a PM must be creative and look at ways of forging ahead despite all the challenging situations keeping ethical practices in mind in all they do.
Competition makes one to be better at what he/she does, so it’s a challenge to make sure we deliver better, making client comfortable, build influence to gain more projects. Dynamic Economic efficiency rallies so much on technological innovations to enable a firm realizes long run average Cost. This explains why investing in long term projects through technology yields low production cost and high outputs.
The best approach as a P.M is constantly keeping in touch with your stakeholders and it’s necessary you put down your communication plans as to pass out necessary information.
solving problems becomes more less tasking with the recent advancement in technology. solutions can be easily fetched from diverse angles, and hence our modern environment has a vital role to play in effective project management.
There various factors responsible for a change in project design and implementation with taking cognisance of consideration of ethical practices as many people do not see anything bad in shortchanging a heavy financially committed project to their selfish favor
The mindsets of people are changing due to technological advancements and environmental changes. These can create completely new problems to solve/projects to take on, the aproaches used to solve the problems can also be affected.
Technology is driving so much change in our world today. Global warming is creating many issues affecting how things are being done nowadays. Organizations are not immune to the effects of these changes, so all projects being embarked on are impacted positively or negatively. Every Project Manager needs to up-skill to remain relevant and deliver
world-class projects using the latest technology, in good time and within a reasonable budget.
The world currently is experiencing information overload, through Technology, Social Media , strong competition, environmental interference s etc. Thereby, eaving organisation to carve their niche by thinking outside the box and developing a Unique Selling Point to stand out. However, organizations should develop problem solving ideas as well as maintaining creativity and Innovation to withstand waterfalls amidst competition .This sustains organisational relevance and preference.
Technology has taken over, as the world changes, so has been a great change and newer technology, which help shape and make, things easy .
Political Issue and policy has a great effect on the project delivery and actualization. Some policy might might affect the project either positi Ely or negatively
As a baker competition has really helped me in a positive way because I was able to push and still be in my business and come up with new ideas due to competitors whom are into my type of business one has to think and brain storm to bring new things so as to standout among individuals doing same type of business.
Technology is very important because tech makes one to have so many ideas due to media where one can get a lot of information and also a lot of problems are being solved due to advancement of technology.
Every organisation are affected but what happens around it. These factors can either be Environmental, political,social and even technological
Technology has impacted the world globally, it has greatly improved the productivity of everyone especially when you are in a remote site you can easily seat at home work with your team and at the end come out with something reasonable