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.
In the company I work in, complexity is something we deal with usually because we need to always satisfy the customers and their needs. We deal with complexity in technology by always developing when the need arises. We’re living in a world where technology is always evolving and If companies cannot evolve too,then they’ll be left out and other companies that evolved would take over the market, which brungs us to “Competition”.
There are so many other ways,my company can deal with complexity,it is a very broad topic
Technology as an external factor can have a huge impact which could either be direct or indirect as it affects the lifecycle and cost of delivering a project. There would be reduction in cost as human resources might not be needed large number. Competition could also affect a project positively as it usually neccesitate giving a considerable attention to quality to enhance product consumption of goods and services. Environmental factors could also be positive or negative depending on the effect it holds at a time.
As someone new to the product management space, I will say that while working on a product two things might likely impact either positively or negatively on the success of launching a new product namely;
1. Technology: You need to keep up with trending tools and initiatives because you can only stay updated through education. Customers are becoming more technical and demand the newest technology on offer. This means that if a product or service provider fails to meet the expectations of his/her consumers, they can easily switch to other providers who do so. This means creating a more user-friendly web app that your users can be proud of using. Technological development brings along development in security threats in equal measure, so the security of the web app should come with the most recent to safeguard user’s data and privacy to make them stay on.
2. Competition: This is one issue that managers always put effort into while building a product in the sense that the success of a product comes with its unique feature that can make users want to stay on your web app to enjoy new things, so making that you have a competitive advantage is a thing to sell your solution.
These two in a product creation are most likely to take more time in bringing up because it will be the selling point of the product.
In any project, change is constant. A project manager must be able to manage changes in a project, ensure that the decision is accepted by the stakeholders, recorded for future reference and ensure that there is a baseline management with TIME, COST AND SCOPE
LYDIA EHEBHO
Dealing With Complexity As A Female Cobbler
-Globalization of trade and competition:
Increased competition from international shoe manufacturers and online retailers
Fluctuating material costs due to global market changes
Opportunities for international collaborations or exports, but also potential risks from global economic downturns
-Social and political upheavals:
Changing consumer behaviors and preferences due to social movements.
Potential disruptions to supply chains or operations due to political instability or protests
Opportunities to tap into social movements and create socially conscious products
Environmental crises:
Sourcing sustainable materials and reducing waste in your workshop Adapting to regulations or consumer demands for eco-friendly products
Potential supply chain disruptions due to environmental disasters
Additionally, as a female cobbler, you may face gender-specific challenges such as: Stereotyping or bias in a traditionally male-dominated industry
Balancing family or caregiving responsibilities with project demand
Leveraging your unique perspective and skills to innovate and differentiate your products.
The way these factors has affected my project can change, if I make the right decisions, having these factors in mind.
Change is inevitable, so in my organisation, we’ve established a research team to ensure we are updated with information that boosts our growth and client success, all while maintaining our organisation’s core values.
Technology as an external factor can have a huge impact which could either be direct or indirect as it affects the lifecycle and cost of delivering a project. There would be reduction in cost as human resources might not be needed large number. Competition could also affect a project positively as it usually neccesitate giving a considerable attention to quality to enhance product consumption of goods and services. Environmental factors could also be positive or negative depending on the effect it holds at a time.
Technology has come a long way and adapting to these current changes and improvements is very important.
Competition, social, political changes and environmental problems also impacts the running of organizations.
I work with an NGO in which government policies has brought about change/adjustments in sourcing funds.
These complexities has proven that project managers needs to be fully trained and equipped to standout in the face of changes.
John Enemona Okeh
Cohort 17
Team 6
The effects of global issues in our today’s world cannot be over emphasis most especially in the case of managing a project in a complex world today. This means that some of the global issues resulting to technology, social and political changes, environmental crisis and competition plays both positive and negative roles in the aspect of managing a project.
The effect of technology helps to improve, make a proposed project work or run fast and smoothly in other words it may also serve as a negative effect as it creates ways for fraud through internet hijacking.
The effect of political change can help improve an ongoing or a proposed project due to change in government (power). While environmental crisis is prone to delay a project work in progress as a result of the condition of the situation be it positive or negatively.
Lastly choose a good environment to run a project work or manage a project is a very important factor to consider as it plays a vital role for conducive environment for good production output.
Big global issues such as technology, competition, social and political change, and environmental crisis are external factors that might impact a project or an organization positively or negatively. This factors must be taken into consideration when undertaking any form of project or even in an organization and it shape the decisions made during the course of it entirety. A lot of organizations today have leverage on technology today and it has fully maximize the functionality of every organization or even a project and one of the threat technology might possess can be redundancy as new innovations are being created everyday and even with the emergence of AI this has even make make some works not useful in the organization but since AI is still in it earliest stage people are getting to acclimatize with it and more people are making shift into the Tech space like what Dexa is doing for everyone.