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.
Change is inevitable, change happens to everybody and everything on earth. So an organization should adapt to progress or evolution. COVID changed the working ethics of most organizations across the world from working on-site to working remotely and the world adjusted to it. Technology makes working remotely stress-free and easier.
Technology has made it difficult to want to stay traditional as there are lot of new ways to get things done, things are advancing and changing rapidly and the end users of every product are on a fast pace to catch up with the trend.
so as an organisation you can not stay rigid in such a world, if not you will be left behind. its okay to stay original but you have to keep innovating so as to stay relevant.
Technology
In my field as a Virtual Assistant, the typical tasks being performed include scheduling appointments, making phone calls, making travel arrangements, managing email accounts, and completing tasks that might require using some software and tools. Technology has helped us become more innovative, we look for tools or apps that can help us collaborate and deliver work or projects more efficiently.
competition
When it comes to competition, these days we have different types of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that can understand and respond to client problems as well, this is a big issue for my organization and that is why we stick to continuous learning and improving our skills to remain relevant and needed in the industry.
Social and political changes, environmental problems
These factors affect different organizations in different ways. As a project manager, it is important to understand the environment before even starting a project. Knowing government policies, political structure, and environmental conditions is essential to a successful project. Getting this information and communicating it to the right people could help cub whatever challenges that might arise.
In my organization, the rapid pace of technological advancement affects our projects by constantly evolving the tools and platforms we use, requiring us to adapt and stay updated to remain competitive. Globalization influences our projects by introducing diverse perspectives, markets, and potential collaborators, but also increasing competition and regulatory complexity. Social and political upheaval can disrupt supply chains, market dynamics, and stakeholder relationships, impacting project timelines and resource allocation. Lastly, the environmental crisis prompts us to consider sustainability and environmental impact in our projects, influencing decisions on resource usage, product design, and waste management. Overall, these global issues shape the context in which we operate, impacting project selection, planning, and execution strategies.
Technologies, competition, social and political changes.
Technology has to to a high extend improve the time project are delivered. Jobs that 10 people will take 3 days to get do e can be handled by an individual within hours.
Social and political crisis in the other hand affects projects due to change in government… And change in government policies.
Climate also can cause either delay or complete a complete change in approach of how a job should be delivered. An example is flood, destroying or causing delay.
Technological advancement in the globe is dynamic. With the rate of advancement in technology, the way projects can be delivered is different.
Social and political changes can mar or positively affect the delivery of a project through economic reforms, policies and regulations.
Environmental Issues such as social unrest, war, pollution, flooding and natural disasters can affect the execution of a project.
When talking about project management, there is the need to be able to adjust to trends and evolutions, and so a PM must be able to embrace technologies. These Technologies may have a positive effect wish may favor you, else, as a PM, you make strategies to make sure that it favors you.
Also, political crisis may affect too, in the sense that new laws and policies may have negative repercussions.
Environmental influences too, there may be a virtual meeting to make the project grow, but weather and climate may cause a low or poor connection in service thereby causing a lag in the progress
Changes in political stability and legislation can in many ways may affect the design, process and implementation of a project.
New laws may favor or derail a project, social instability may render projects unimplementable.
Natural disasters such as floods, fires and harsh climate patterns may affect communication, productivity or even lead to distruction of key facilities used in a project.
The list is long, includes a very recent coroner pandemic that altered how business is conducted in many ways.
When talking about technology, every PM or organization must embrace technology, in fact you can imagine a work to be done manually in three weeks with 30 man force, with help of technology it can be achieved in few days…
Social and politcal crisis: this can affect a Project or organization by government introducing new policy which may not be favorable to the organization but they must abide by the law or policy which government have enforced…
Environmental crisis: this can be in form of
climate change,depleting natural resources etc
which can as well lead to loss of employees,loss of resources,loss of product, profit
When talking about the global issues, they are like the macro environment that affects every organization..
Talking about technology,Change in technology affects how organizations will do business and how project will be done.Technology influences the method use to make research in a project and develop new products for an organization. When a PM or an organization focus on an old or low technology,it can make work not to get faster .
Social and politcal crisis: this can affect the organization or project in such a way that governments can decide to release a policy which the organization and project manager has no power over. In this case, any project that has started or yet to start must pend and this can even affect the successful of the project or organization.
Environmental crisis: this can be in form of
Pollution, climate change,depleting natural resources etc which can as well lead to loss of employees,loss of resources,loss of product, profit etc. which can affect a project in an organization.