How COVID changed Project Management by Aida Elsabban

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How COVID-19 Has Transformed Project Management: An Insightful Exploration

Hello, everyone. I'm Ida Sagon, an experienced engineer with a PhD degree in electronics and communication from Egypt and currently serve as the minister advisor for military production. With over 30 years in the industry, I'm thrilled to share my insights and experiences in a session entitled "How COVID-19 Changed Project Management".

The Fundamentals of Project Management

Project Life Cycle

I'd like to start with a brief introduction to the project lifecycle. In a nutshell, it usually consists of the following four main phases:

  1. Identification
  2. Planning
  3. Execution
  4. Closure

Understanding Scope in Project Management

The first phase, identification, primarily involves defining the scope of the project. The scope ideally acts as a contract between the customer and the project manager, explicitly stating the aims, outcomes, technical specifications, and deliverables of the project.

However, a poorly defined scope can trigger what is known as scope creep - the phenomenon of the project's requirements changing or growing beyond its original goals, causing the project to prolong unnecessarily.

Project Priority Matrix

Following identification, the next important thing is establishing the project priority matrix, which involves time, performance, and cost considerations. These three parameters need to be conscientiously manipulated according to project goals, identifying which aspects can be constrained, enhanced, or tolerated.

Work Breakdown Structure and Responsibility Matrix

An essential part of the identification phase includes employing a work breakdown structure or a responsibility matrix in case of small or medium projects to divide the project into smaller, manageable tasks.

Planning Phase: The Creator of Project Roadmap

The planning phase is where comprehensive, time-bound strategies are put in place to ensure the project runs smoothly. It involves implementing project networks, creating Gantt charts for a holistic view of the project, devising a communication plan, and preparing a time-phased budget.

Another significant factor is actively identifying and managing potential risks that might disrupt the project's progress. Possible treatment of risks includes mitigation, avoiding the risk, acceptance, or transferring the risk to a third party.

Execution and Closure Phase

The execution phase is usually unique to the project type and relies heavily on the reports generated from each stage of the project implementation. Post-execution, the project moves into the closure phase, which involves several crucial tasks. These tasks include team and individual evaluation, auditing, learning from the project, closing activities, and archiving the project for future reference.

The Changing Face of Project Management: COVID-19 Impact

With all the technical aspects addressed, it is crucial to understand that project management has evolved into more than a science; it is also an art. It involves negotiations, politics, empathy, and understanding each stakeholder's unique perspectives.

COVID-19: A Catalyst for Change

The main focus of this session is to highlight the significant changes COVID-19 brought upon project management. It had both positive and negative effects; however, in my opinion, the positive implications outweigh the negative.

Positive impacts include increased productivity, possibility to hire top talents from across the globe, reduced turnover rates, decreased stress levels, and an improved work-life balance.

However, some challenges we should swiftly address include working with remote contractors, anticipating supply chain issues, managing risks, and controlling the cost implications brought about by the pandemic.

Making Sense of the COVID-19 Impact

So, whether it's raising awareness of the human factor, as shared by Claudia in the chat, or dealing with the logistical challenges of managing remote teams and broken supply chains - project management has indeed been reshaped by COVID-19, in ways that will likely impact our industry for years to come.

Certifications in Project Management

For those interested in deepening their understanding of project management, several prestigious certifications are available, such as Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), among others.

With more than a million certified individuals worldwide, the PMP certification offered by the Project Management Institute is the top-ranked certification globally.

Conclusion

Thank you for your time and attention. You're welcome to share your thoughts on how COVID-19 influenced project management in the comments area, or reach out to me personally on LinkedIn. Together, let’s navigate these challenging times and adapt to the new face of project management.


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