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.
PEDRO O AKHIMIEN. COHORT 12, TEAM 9
Managers and other professionals are now aware of the connections and significance between problem-solving and decision-making abilities as a result of recent political and economic events as well as changes in the practice and delivery of health and social care. Specifically, evaluating how healthcare policies, plans, and organizational programs are affected by political, economic, sociocultural, environmental, and other external influences is starting to be recognized as a critical step in the strategic development and planning processes for health services. Therefore, the goal of doing this type of strategic analysis is to identify the main problems that the organization needs to solve.
This form of analysis can be undertaken by reviewing the organizational (external) environment using the PESTLE analysis.
Political factors – political forces and influences, both large and minor, that could have an impact on the organization’s performance or available options.
Economic Influences – the nature of the competition faced by the organization or its services, and financial resources available within the economy.
Sociological Trends – demographic changes, trends in the way people live, work, and think.
Technological Innovations – innovative methods for doing both new and old tasks, as well as solving both old and new problems; these methods don’t always require technical tools; they can also be creative ways of organizing or thinking.
Legislative requirements – originally included under ‘political’, relevant legislation now requires a heading of its own.
Ecological factors – definition of the wider ecological system of which the organization is a part and consideration of how the organization interacts with it.
To be effective, a PESTLE analysis needs to be undertaken regularly. Organizations that do analysis regularly and systematically often spot trends before others thus providing a competitive advantage.
Honestly, some of the major problems we face in my current organization is high exchange rate, coupled with the fact that most of our raw materials are not locally available and thus have to be imported from overseas.
These lead to high cost of production for optimum quality to be maintained for our cosumers. And of course high cost of production equals higher price, which poses the problem of affordability to our consumers.
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.
Looking at present day Nigeria, lot of external factors tends to affect projects ongoing presently. These include.
1.Devaluation of the Naira
This action has brought about the naira losing value against the dollar. This has negatively affected the cost of running projects as machineries, equipment imported into the country and other logistics for projects have skyrocketed beyond the initial budget for the projects.
This has resulted in projects being reviewed or suspended entirely.
2.Social and Political Changes
Runing projects in some parts of the country has become difficult due to the security situations in some parts of the country. Logistic and other areas of the projects are hampered due to the threats of attacks and kidnapping.
3.Technology advancement is another area of concerns when it comes to projects as technology is evolving and everyone craves for the latest technological trends which comes at a cost. A project done today could become obsolete due to technological advancement. This might require upgrading to meet up with the latest technology.
From my past experience in evaluation of projects when dealing with complexity in projects it essential to use the complexity assessment tool aims to help those in delivery roles understand how complex a project or product is to deliver based on key indicators. It can be used during the planning stage or for in-flight initiatives and offers a structured, best practice method of highlighting potential risks and complexities, or to validate current thinking.
Sunday Nathaniel Ngwamah, Cohort 12, Team 10.
The World has become complex as globalisation has hit the ground and still running, affecting day-to-day life and every organisation. This has caused radical and seismic change to traditional way of handling projects to force project owners to think out of the box or be overtaken by change. While it is true that projects owner and handlers know that they operate in a changing world and business environment, the globalised change especially of recent is drastic and sweeping, making the project climate hyper complex.
The dimensions of change this complexity has brought is technological advancements, competition, social and political changes, environmental problems and crisis. These have greatly impacted businesses and projects and requires urgent attention for successes to be consolidated.
1. Technology: with advancements in technology in business and use of AIs, projects have come to a threshold of a need for adaptation and investment in technology. This will require purchase of technological equipments and trainings, which are quite capital intensive though it will pay off. My organisation is quite behind in this, and would definitely need to make adjustments. Negligence to this leaves the organisation behind and it will take a toll on business influx and profit.
2. Competition: in a globalised world, completion is the other of the day. There are mobility of clients and customers usually for variety of reasons ranging from quality job delivery, cost, timelines etc. The headway my organisation has by considering lately is to create a niche and make it a selling point for all our projects, which will give us a competitive advantage.
3. Social/political changes: in recent years, my organisation (we are realtors) have suffered much from dwindling government policies and body language, religious crisis and heated environment that projects have been few, timelines mostly affected, cost increasing etc. Our approach to meeting this challenge has been to expand our participation in the valuechain in real estate industry and it has started working.
4. Environmental problems/crisis: in our business and project environment, environmental issues (which will not stop) has been on the increase. Kidnapping, poverty, polarised town etc. This affecting our projects, have pushed the organisation to think out of the box to accepting the reality of the challenge and proffering solutions
A lot is changing, especially in the angle of technology.
I believe PM should develop tools to make projects and organizational goals appealing
The world is changing, thus the complexity. So in order to fit into the complex one as a good project manager, you must the changes into consideration…like the new technology, globalization of trade, competition and environmental challenges
And again, due to the constant change in our world there’s need for continual to updates to blend easily
Project managers and organizations must stay vigilant, embrace adaptability, and incorporate strategic foresight to navigate and thrive amid the dynamic challenges presented by these major global issues.
Cohort 12-Team 2
The big global issues, such as technology, competition, social and political change, and the environmental crisis, these affect my organization and my projects in the sense that with the rise in technological advancement we need to change with current reality to stay in business, other factors include both social and political crises can affect business in the long run due to uncertainty.
The world is changing… thus, the complexity. And as a good project manager you must put those things in mind in order to fit in.
And again, beca