The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world resulting in leaders around the world struggling with the well-being of their people and businesses. The uncertainties, volatility and ambiguity has challenged even the best of leaders. However, despite the trials and insecurities, we have seen the pandemic bring about opportunities in its wake. The way the world has responded to the crisis has shown a test of resilience and strength that managers and leaders would not have thought existed.
- Companies and individual having minimal exposure to technology have adapted to an almost fully digital environment in a matter of months.
- Businesses are increasingly adapting to an online platform for the sales of goods due to the closure of physical outlets.
- Educational institutions have continued their courses through an online medium of instruction.
These are just a few examples of the way organizations and individuals have adapted to the current situation.
The domain of project management has also seen a dynamic shift. The implementation of technological advancement, upgrading of systems and refocusing of the business infrastructure have brought about opportunities for project managers to rethink their strategies going into the future. The world and the way we conduct business will not remain the same. Some of the changes brought about by the pandemic are here to stay.
The question arises as to how well we will adapt to the new environment after the effects of the pandemic have reduced. Will our businesses be able to survive in the post COVID era? Are we ready to change our thinking and business framework as per the changes that are inevitable to be able to capture and capitalize on the opportunities that have presented themselves due to the pandemic?
Some of the changes that we are bound to see in the future are discussed in this blog and how we can capitalize on the opportunities presented.
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Remote Working is Here
Remote work has been the topic of discussion and research for many years. However, despite many benefits that were synonymous to remote work, it was not readily implemented within the work force. Some reasons for the reluctance to set up a remote work set-up included:
⇒ The perceived lack of control over employees working from multiple locations.
⇒ The lack of technological know-how to manage multiple employees from remote areas.
⇒ Uncertainty or ambiguity in leading people on a virtual setting.
One lesson that the covid-19 pandemic has shown us is that a virtual set up is not impossible. With increased benefits of added flexibility and productivity, the flexible work setup to some extent is here to stay.
Despite its benefits, remote work has some challenges. It changes the dynamics of the workplace and certain work-based processes are difficult to manage in such a setup. Team building and spontaneous collaboration work better when members are present in one place. Therefore, to capitalize on this opportunity, managers will need to find improved ways in which workers can effectively collaborate if they are not present in the same room.
Communication will be a Defining Factor
Clear communication will be key in identifying problems and solving issues during this turbulent time and the post COVID era. A 2019 study showed that 96% of people believes that businesses can improve on communication and project management. Communication will be the driving factor that will enable managers to take advantage of the opportunities that are presenting themselves in the workplace.
Setting up virtual communication tools in place will enable you coordinate your employees both at work and remote. It will not only motivate employees during the pandemic but will enable you to have effective communication channels in place that will be imperative now and in the future. Not only can you look at the potential of video conferencing tools like zoom, but you can experiment with other communication initiatives such as informal meetups and virtual teams that enable employees to feel connected and stay in touch regularly.
Hybrid Project Management Will Reign Supreme
Single project management-based methodology is outdated. Needs and processes are changing, and the same methodology will no longer be effective for each and every project. The current situation requires project managers to be more adaptable and create hybrid approaches to meet specific needs of different projects. The success of hybrid approaches is a likely reason that this trend will continue in the future. As project managers, you need to familiarize yourself with a multitude of different methodologies. By subscribing to our blog, you can get access to constant updates on the various project management methodologies and their impact and success on the organization.
Technology will Play a Crucial Role
Technology has revolutionized the workplace over the year. However, the dependence on technology will play an even greater role in the post COVID era. Artificial intelligence is likely to have a huge impact on admin-based processes and the use of cloud-based systems is likely to become more popular in project management. Processes such as data storage, server access, management systems and many HR tasks will become much more streamlined changing the internal setup of many companies. How effectively and quickly, your company is able to incorporate IT into its internal processes and working, will determine its ability to stay strong and robust during these turbulent times.
Data Centralization will be Pivotal
With the popularity of remote work, data centralization will no longer be optional. It will become a necessity. Without a centralized information system, proper project management will not be possible. Centralization of data will enable effective monitoring of project deadlines. During these economically unstable times, companies can’t afford extra costs, delays and missing resources. These could result in huge ROI losses.
With the help of a good data centralization tool, efficient monitoring in real time can be achieved. This allows managers to take corrective measure immediately. Having defined KPIs and monitoring dashboards in place will allow managers to not only weather the company through these uncertain times effectively but will also help drive PPM improvement in the organization.
Have you been successful in managing things during the covid-19 pandemic? What worked and what didn’t? Please share your experience in the comment.
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