Navigating Complex Projects: A Call for Quality Professionals to Steer the Ship.
In an era of rapid technological advancement and the integration of artificial intelligence applications like ChatGPT, organisations find themselves in a relentless race to outpace competitors and meet escalating customer demands for enhanced services and expedited delivery.
The resultant surge in project complexity, driven by a quest for efficiency and superior customer experiences through advanced technology, presents a challenge. As organisations strive to adapt, they often grapple with the scarcity of experienced project professionals, relying on a diminishing pool to guide them through intricate and uncharted territory.
The Project Management Institute's (PMI) June 2021 report, "Talent Gap: Ten-year employment trends, costs, and global implications," identifies three primary reasons contributing to the shortage of skilled project professionals:
Increasing demand for jobs requiring project management-oriented skills.
Higher demand for project professionals in emerging and developing countries due to economic growth.
The accelerated rate of retirement from the workforce.
Of these, the accelerating retirement rate poses the most significant concern. Even with a continuous influx of new talent armed with project qualifications, the shortage persists. Experience, garnered through exposure to complex projects, remains a crucial element in successful project management.
Quality Professionals as the Safety Net
The question arises: Why is experience relevant from a quality perspective? Quality professionals, with a deep understanding of project risks, issues, and best practices, can serve as a safety net.
Asking pertinent questions at critical junctures can guide projects and offer support to less-experienced project managers. Understanding the common reasons for project failures is imperative to provide effective oversight.
Opportunities for Quality Oversight:
1. Resourcing a Project:
Alignment with business strategy is crucial at the selection stage.
Assessing if the scheme aligns with business goals ensures benefits justify implementation costs.
2. Inadequate Planning:
Poorly defined plans lead to confusion and miscommunication.
Inadequate time for planning and unrealistic timeframes compromise project quality.
3. Risk Assessment:
Poor risk assessment results from lack of experience.
Reviewing risk logs can identify gaps and areas for improvement.
4. Project Reporting Standards:
Adding a quality perspective to reporting standards ensures correct assessments across the project portfolio.
Saving Millions through Quality Intervention
Interventions in these key areas can potentially save organisations significant sums, preventing wasted expenditure, missed opportunities, and loss of competitive advantage. As the pace of change accelerates, building knowledge in project management becomes paramount.
In conclusion, quality professionals, equipped with an understanding of project intricacies, are the missing puzzle piece. Their interventions can ensure large and complex projects stay on target in the competitive and ever-evolving landscape of modern business.
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