Project Leadership: The game changer in large scale complex projects

A new report on Project Leadership, published by the International Centre for Complex Project Management (ICCPM) and the John Grill Centre for Project Leadership at the University of Sydney, emphasises the fact that “the game changer in large scale complex projects is the leaders’ ability to see projects not just as assets or systems but […]

Liquid times, liquid organisations and liquid life pursuits

Recently, I came across Zygmunt Bauman´s brilliant writings on liquid modernity, for example in “Liquid Times – Living in an Age of Uncertainty”. In this book he describes how the change from »solid« to »liquid« modernity has created a pretty new and unprecedented setting for individuals, organisations and society with a series of challenges never […]

Project management change path 2020 to 2025

Smart phones dependent lives, thinking machines replacing humans at the workplaces, social media-based societies and fast-paced technological penetration in day-to-day living are just the tip of the iceberg examples of irreversible changes that human civilization is going through currently.  These changes are redefining behaviors and professional norms. Like other professions, project management needs to respond […]

Self-organisation – a new paradigm for project-oriented work (2)

This is the second of a series of blogposts on self-organisation in the context of projects. The topic was discussed in depth last weekend in a think tank on “rethinking projects”, which will prepare the topic fundamentally and then discuss it in greater detail at the IPMA research conference in autumn 2020. This time I […]

Do we need to consider a »Theory Z« for millennials?

In 1960, Douglas McGregor published his famous book “The Human Side of Enterprise”, which had a significant impact on the way we see organisations, management and human engagement in enterprises. In this book, Douglas McGregor identified an approach of creating environments within which employees are motivated via authoritative direction and control or integration and self-control, […]

ADKAR® – How to successfully implement change

I am currently preparing for the Prosci Practitioner Qualification and Certification, which includes reading the book “ADKAR: a model for change in business, government and our community“. The model is easy to understand, it explains how change can be implemented successfully and guides the way for people engaged in change projects. ADKAR is a goal-oriented […]

Helping emerging strategies change the organisation

In most of the literature on project, programme and portfolio management it is stated that strategies should be “broken down” into projects and programs through portfolio management, ensuring that the strategic objectives set by the top management are achieved. However, this presupposes that managers at the top of the organisation know exactly what will happen […]

The impact of digital technologies on plant engineering and construction projects

Recently, PwC and the German Large Industrial Plant Manufacturers´ Group of VDMA published a benchmark report on digital business models in plant engineering and construction in an international comparison. It was done in the light of urgent need of improvements for the European business models as the players in Germany and other European countries lagging […]

Technologies are not enough to make a city smart

During the 5th SENET Conference at Belgrade, hosted by the Serbian Project Management Association (IPMA Serbia) a roundtable was facilitated addressing “SMART Cities – A new perspective for innovative and start-up projects in a digital age”. More than 30 people were in attendance and discussed concepts, ideas and questions from a global, regional yet also […]

Do the spoken language differences affect project thinking?

The number of languages spoken today across the globe is estimated to be over 7000 (based on various internet sources). Language is a powerful mechanism that enables people to connect, collaborate and co-evolve. In hindsight, languages play a pivotal role in bringing clarity of thoughts, actions and serve as a catalyst for people to move […]