The universe of a project has a lot to offer: progress, success, failure, recognition, satisfaction, glory, frustrations etc. It all depends on the nature of the project and the people involved. And when the project is managed virtually, meaning with actors in different locations, the complexity gets upped by several notches.Aspiring to quick fixes under these circumstances might bring a naive project manager in no time at all to face a jungle of red lights: areas with all sorts of obstacles slowing down the project’s progress .What went wrong? It all started with not enough attention being paid to identify the potential red light areas of the project.
In a survey we conducted, project management executives indicated the lack of sensitivity or blatant inattention to the these areas to be the most likely cause for potential trouble:
- Trust
- Diversity (location- or task-wise)
- Operational Guidelines
- Process Management
- Tool Selection
In a recent series of speeches and corporate presentations, Dr. Deasún Ó Conchúir, PMP, succeeded to raise the level of awareness to these pitfalls. As Collaboration Consultant at Scatterwork GmbH, Switzerland, he applies his project management experience to virtual team environments. He also specializes in Project Troubleshooting, Coaching and Training and is the author of ““Overview to the PMBOK® Guide””, described as the book for everyone in need of a readable instruction to best practice management. His clients include Swiss and international blue chip companies.
In addition, he is a member of the Engagement Committee for PMI Communities of the PMI Educational Foundation as well as former VP Education & Certifications of the PMI Switzerland Chapter, where he established six virtual teams.
If you are interested in Dr. Ó Conchúir’s topic, send a mail to e.bouchard@gd.scatterwork.com. We’d be pleased to send you a 5-minute video capsule outlining the benefits of virtual team working. Please pass this message on to anyone you think might be interested.