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.
Understanding global issues such as technology, competition, social and political changes, and environmental issues is critical for businesses to navigate and succeed. These elements can have a significant impact on many aspects of an organization, including projects. Here’s an overview of how each of these global issues may affect my organization and the projects we are working on:
Technology:
Opportunities: Rapid technological advancements provide opportunities for project innovation and efficiency gains. Adoption of new technologies boosts productivity and competitiveness.
Challenges: The rapid pace of technological change presents challenges, particularly if an organization is unable to keep up. Existing system obsolescence or the need for ongoing employee training may have an impact on project timelines and budgets.
Competition:
Opportunities: Healthy competition can spur innovation and improvement. Being aware of competitor activities allows businesses to remain agile and responsive to market demands.
Challenges: Intense competition reduces profit margins, necessitating strategic changes in project planning. To maintain a competitive edge, it is also necessary to focus on differentiation.
Social and Political Changes:
Opportunities: Positive social and political changes create an environment that is conducive to business operations. Changes in regulations, for example, may open up new markets or streamline existing processes.
Political insecurity or social unrest creates uncertainty and has an impact on project planning. Regulation changes necessitate modifications to project compliance and governance.
Environmental Problems:
Opportunities: Raising environmental awareness creates opportunities for sustainable projects and practices.
Environmental issues, such as climate change or resource scarcity, have an impact on supply chains and project logistics. Compliance with environmental regulations may complicate projects.
In light of these global issues, consider the following general strategies for mitigating their impact on organizations and projects:
Continuous Monitoring: Monitor global technology trends, competition, social and political changes, and environmental issues on a regular basis to anticipate potential impacts on organizations and projects.
Adaptability: Promote an adaptable culture within the organization. Prepare to modify project plans and strategies in response to shifting global dynamics.
Strategic Planning: Create solid strategic plans that take into account potential challenges and opportunities posed by global issues. This includes scenario planning for different possible future scenarios.
Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate with stakeholders such as employees, customers, and the community to stay informed about changing expectations and concerns about global issues.
By remaining informed and proactive, our organization navigates the complexities of these global issues and positions itself for long-term success in an ever-changing environment.
DARAMOLA AKEEM (COHORT 12 GROUP 2)
THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN MANAGING PROJECTS CAN NOT BE OVERLOOKED, AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS BECOMING A COMMON PLACE.THAT IS, IT IS TAKING OVER THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF ENGINEERING, COMPUTER ENGEERING, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING , ROBOTICS AND MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING, AND THE ALL MIGHTY SOFTWARE ENGINEERING WITH AN OPTION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
FROM THE POST COVID ERA WE CAN SEE THAT THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY AFFECTED A WHOLE LOT OF JOBS, THERE HAS BEEN NEW TRENDS AND DISCOVERIES ON THE WAY WE CARRY OUT OUR DAY TO DAY JOBS. FROM SCHOOLING, TO HANDLING OF PROJECTS. IT IS NO NEW THING NOW THAT WE NOW HAVE 3 D PRINTED HOUSES THAT CAN BE COMPLETED WITHIN A SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME ALL THESE WILL DEFINITELY AFFECT THE NUMBER OF WORKERS NEEDED TO CARRY OUT TASKS . I MEAN, WHO NEEDS 10 WORKERS WHEN A ROBOT CAN CARRY OPUT THE TASKS WITHIN MINUTES?.IN A NUTSHELL, THE ADVENT OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY HAS COME TO STAY IN MOST WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WILL DEFINITELY AFFECT THE LABOUR FORCE AS A WHOLE.
REGULATIONS ARE NOT FAR FETCHED ALSO. THEY HAVE TO DEFINITELY WORK HAND IN HAND. I MEAN , MOST OF THESE NEWLY INTRODUCED TECHNOLOGIES MUST AT ONE POINT OR THE OTHER , GO THROUGH GOVERNMENT SCRUTINY AND APPROVAL. THAT IS , THEY HAVE TO BE TESTED AND TRUSTED FOR IT TO BE USED .A TYPICAL EXAMPLE IS OUR ELECTRONIC CARS (TESLA AND OTHERS) YES, THEY MAY SEEM NEW, BUT TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT, THEY WILL GRADUALLY TAKE OVER THE WORLD OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE BUT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO GOVERNMENT POLITIES ALONG SIDE THE SOCIO POLITICAL CHANGES OF THE EMMIDIATE ENVIRONMENT IT NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED. IS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DEPLOYED, IF YES, CAN IT BE SUSTAIMNABLE?THESE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED THERE BY AFFECTING THE SOCIO POLITICAL CHANGES
ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS IS ANOTHER ISSUE HERE .THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACCEPTABILITY OF THESE COMMON ISSUES MUST AT ALL COST NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO FOR IT TO BE SUCCESPULLY IMPLEMENTED. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITIZENS WHO ARE THE DIRECT OR END COMSUMERS OF ALL THESE IDEAS .
COMPETIOTION AS A MAJOR CATALYST OF ANY AREA OF EXPERTISE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.ALL ORGANISATIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MORE INOVATIVE IN TERMS OF THEIR PRODUCTS AND WHAT IT TENDS TO SOLVE I THE SOCIETY. I MEAN , EEVRY PRODUCT NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT IS , HAS A PURPOSE. TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. IT NOW DEPENDS ON WHAT SOLUTION THE CONSUMERS ADOPTS TO SOLVE THAT SOCIETAL PROBLEM
1. Simultaneous Impacts from Technology. The technological advances of today are affecting the future of work in three key ways: by scaling and speeding up human capabilities, by substituting labor with machines, and by enabling new ways to access and supply labor. Scaling and speeding up human capability.
2. Global competition becomes a form of international competition in which the position of an enterprise in one country affects its competitive position in other countries. As a result, companies are competing among themselves for international leadership. As a result of such a struggle, the economy is globalizing.
3. Population growth and increasing population density represent demographic forms of social change. Population growth may lead to geographic expansion of a society, military conflicts, and the intermingling of cultures. while Political factors include areas such as tax policy, labor law, environmental law, trade restrictions, tariffs, and political stability. Political factors may also include the type of goods and services which the government does not want to be provided by the project.
4. Environmental health-related risks are becoming a primary concern in Nigeria, with diverse environmental problems such as air pollution, water pollution, oil spillage, deforestation, desertification, erosion, and flooding (due to inadequate drainage systems) caused mostly by anthropogenic activities.
With all of these in mind as a project manager, you are aware of the threat and way out o it
COHORT 12, GROUP 4
Technology has a substantial
impact on organization’s environment. It advances how people operate computes, makes work easier with tools like Asana, trello etc.. The use of data analytics empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions and improve customer experience.
Political impact, includes trade regulations, government, all these have direct impact on organization’s operations and their growth. Political shift s can cause uncertainty, leadership to economic crisis that will affect organizational growth.
Competition, the more competition there is the more a business will want to improve on its products/ services. It keeps business’s on their feet
Social disturbances is a common incident that can disrupt business operations and put the organization at risk. Social unrest, is usually accompanied by a demand for better societal change
Fatmata Wurie Bah
The heightened use of technology has brought a wider use of my specialty, law, as there are so many encroachments on intellectual property rights.
However, as an organisation we are expected to be up to date with the evolution that come with technology.
Competition (which should an healthy one) helps us to revaluate and mirror our activities, mistakes and achievements.
Social and community evolution
comes with new rule enactments which sometimes broaden or limit the organisation’s opportunities.
Environmental changes are subjected to what the environment is in essential need of, at that particular time, so there must be an a current knowledge of the environment’s status
The environmental changes have led to my organization developing innovative solutions to tackle climate change issues.
The development in technology has rapidly brought about greater changes in the operating system nature of my job. I.e Surveying. Due to the environmental factors and individual trait there had been a drastic change of system in the surveying firm.
The world is changing… thus, the complexity. And as a good project manager you must able to adapt to changes . Be prepared for any thing that may happen on a long run of the project . Be able to profer solutions to any changes.
Technology, Competition, Social, political, and environmental factors all affect projects and organizations. They affect the budget, quality, and timeline of a project, and also determine if a project is valuable and acceptable to the consumer. They can either create opportunities or threats for an organization.
A project manager needs to follow the trends and innovations and not remain static in an ever-changing world. A PM is expected to be up to date on government policies, global warming and technological advancement as these may adversely affect the project negatively or positively, therefore the need to upskill/upgrade to deliver a world-class project.
Threats or benefits are a result of the globalization and emergence of social and technological advancements.
In today’s thriving world of technology, social and political disturbance, there are varying aspects of evolution which we are subconsciously adapting to in our different fields and niches. With the invention of artificial intelligence (AI), there has been a heightened expectation in method and approach to the delivery of various projects. As a public safety official, there has been a series of change in our mode of operation. For example, the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system has become more intelligent as it can almost take the position of a customer service representative. This can pose as a threat to projects especially in situations where the automated AI voice response system is unable to give proper judgement to the complaint.
Considering global issue, I will suggest one have other plan options that are realistic, not relying on a single one.
Able to predict and foresee
Changes in power and economy instability too will have a great influence in the success of project