Complex project management involves analyzing complex profiles of a project, determining the complexity, and examining management approaches that can be used to manage the complexity. Throughout the module, we have learned different topics involving project management. This report covers the importance of readings assigned in complex project management, the relationships of the readings to particular components of project complexity and the best practices in managing it, the relationships of each reading to personal experience, interesting project management approaches, and how they increase my capability and lessons learned about project management.
Some of the readings that have been assigned include disaster aversion, elements of change, at the ready, securing support, sustained momentum and tech trek, merging with caution, in times of change, and keeping scores. All these readings play a major role in handling and performing complex project management. Disaster aversion involves the ability of the project practitioners to understand how they might fail and ways they can use to help them prevent the failure (Mostajabdaveh et al., 2019). If the people involved in the project can be able to determine some of the factors that can lead them to not achieving their goals and have a way to avert them, then the probability of failure will be close to zero. One of the components of project complexity includes technological knowledge requirements. In every project, there must be a person who is very efficient when it comes to technology. In case a team does not have such a person it means the risk of the project failing is high hence they should look for someone to fill in the position or look for an alternative method other than technology.
Element of change involves the process of preparing, implementing, and measuring an effective strategic initiative and driving change in an organization. This includes foreplay before the beginning of working out the initial project. At this point, the practitioners are expected to gather all the information required to ensure they do not leave any requirements (Lock, 2017). Foreplay ensures proper preparations that will help determine the risk and the complexity of a project. Element of change can be related to the level of scientific required and timeline plans. It is a requirement to have a plan before the beginning of the final work. It gives one an overview of what challenges to expect and what can be done to prevent or overcome the challenges.
At the ready is the navigation of the business environment which involves cultivating a culture that embraces change. Change is very important to an organization, especially to the growth of an organization. Concerning the environment, the employees and the organization at large should be able to adopt the changes that the project is expected to bring (Meredith, et al, 2017). Change is gradual but the people involved in the change should be willing to adapt to it. Securing support has a relationship with navigation. It involves getting stakeholders to stop resisting change and start embracing it. This is a process that will involve meetings to ensure that every shareholder is comfortable with the decisions made.
Sustained momentum is the ability to deliver benefits after the initial motivation has worn off. It requires planning and changes of gear where necessary. At the beginning of a project, people have the morale to complete but as days pass by the morale reduces, and at this point, it is a requirement to change the way things are being done to improve the morale (Project Management, 2014). Tech trek involves being prepared in case the technology fails. Disruptive technology can be a catalyst for positive change and it takes managers to set the right course. Technology is not a must use and at some point and in this stage managers can be able to identify some hidden skills from their employees and help them to grow their careers. Merge with caution allows time to weigh options on whether it is necessary to merge or not. When the ink of merging is over the real work begins for merging disparate projects and teams across the project (Kerzner, 2018). Merging has so many advantages which include a pool of resources which is a component of project management and at the same time it can lead to losses when the merging is over.
I have had an opportunity to manage a project which involved event planning and the readings have a relationship with planning. For example, the element of change and merge in caution are one of the major articles that have a relationship while I was planning the event. Knowing how to make preparation and have an effective strategy acts as a drive to accomplish a certain goal (Kerzner, 2019). Without a plan, it might be difficult to achieve something within the expected period. Preparation gives one a clear vision of what needs to be accomplished and at what time. Merging is very good until the people involved do not want to cooperate and it is just your organization that is handling everything (Martens & Carvalho, 2017). I was in the same situation and financially I was drained and it was a must to work within a budget. When considering merging, always do a background check to ensure success.
Different approaches are used in project management. The waterfall approach and system approaches to project management are the most interesting approaches to me. The waterfall approach does not allow changes to be easily made project process instead set out everything before the beginning (Ajam, 2018). In the system approach, the project manager can evaluate the needs of the client continuously for which the project is being carried out and thereafter achieve the best results (Harrison & Lock, 2017). The reason why these approaches are interesting is that the waterfall approach gives time for enough research to be done and ensures that everything has been looked into and all the necessary resources are provided. The system approach helps in knowing the aims of the clients which enables one to achieve goals according to the clients.
Some of the lessons that I have learned from project management are that you need to have a goal and do good research that will help you gather the necessary information. Goals determine what you are going to work on and how you are going to work to achieve that goal. Research helps in gathering the required information to achieve the intended purpose. What I would do differently from now is how I do my research. It has never crossed my mind that research is that important but going through the articles and seeing the good purpose of doing good research has shed some light on me that information is necessary. In case I have a project to do in a feature I will apply the knowledge attained during my lessons in project management. That includes merging, researching, and setting goals to ensure have something to guide me towards my success. Managing a project is not easy but can be done with the right information and the right people to guide you.
References
Ajam, M. A. (2018). Project management beyond waterfall and agile. Auerbach Publications.
Harrison, F., & Lock, D. (2017). Advanced project management: A structured approach. Routledge.
Kerzner, H. (2018). Project management best practices: Achieving global excellence. John Wiley & Sons.
Kerzner, H. (2019). Using the project management maturity model: strategic planning for project management. John Wiley & Sons
Lock, D. (2017). The essentials of project management. Routledge.
Martens, M. L., & Carvalho, M. M. (2017). Key factors of sustainability in project management context: A survey exploring the project managers’ perspective. International Journal of Project Management, 35(6), 1084-1102.
Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., & Mantel Jr, S. J. (2017). Project management: A strategic managerial approach.
Mostajabdaveh, M., Gutjahr, W. J., & Sibel Salman, F. (2019). Inequity-averse shelter location for disaster preparedness. IISE Transactions, 51(8), 809-829.
Project Management Institute. (2014, May). Making Project Management Indispensable for Business Results. New Zealand.