Video

John McGrath Masterclass: Crisis Management in Project Management

June 09, 2022

Overview

In the series on “Future Trends in Project Management,” we delve into the crucial aspects of ‘Successful Crisis Management‘. McGrath outlines key strategies and insights that project managers should consider in effectively navigating and overcoming crises within the project management landscape.

Stay tuned as he explores the evolving dynamics of crisis management, shedding light on essential principles for ensuring project success even in challenging situations.

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Crisis management and project management are closely interrelated and often go hand in hand. Both are essential components in addressing challenges arising from natural and man-made disasters, with projects often playing a key role in the solution

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Introduction
I'm John McGraw, and this is my masterclass on Future Focus PPM.

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The Connection Between Crisis Management and Project Management

Crisis management and project management are closely interrelated — they often go hand in hand.
Both natural and man-made disasters can result in a crisis, and initiating projects is frequently a key step in finding a solution.

In fact, some project managers believe they face a new crisis every day.

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Shared Requirements and Organizational Resilience

Both crisis management and project management typically require a specific set of resources to address the associated challenges.
A crisis can take many shapes and forms, and no organization is immune.

How well an organization responds to a crisis often depends on its project management capability.

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Core Ingredients for Effective Execution

Identifying the scope, allocating resources, and providing strong leadership are key ingredients for effective execution in both crisis and project management.

A crisis control manager, much like a project manager, must be prepared to react, adapt to changes, and evolve as new problems emerge and the situation shifts.

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Prioritization and Decision-Making

In a business crisis, allocating resources to the highest priorities is fundamental — just as it is in project management.

In most crisis situations, the worst decision is no decision, and the second worst is a late decision.
This principle also underpins successful project management, which relies on effective and timely decision-making.

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Structure and Team Engagement

Both a project and a crisis require a clear chain of command, regular status reporting, and a highly engaged, connected team.

Daily Challenges

In fact, some project managers contend that they encounter a new crisis every day, highlighting the dynamic nature of their roles.

Resource Requirements

Both crisis management and project management necessitate specific resources to effectively tackle associated challenges. The diverse forms and shapes crises can take make it clear that no organization is immune.

Impact of Project Management

How well an organization responds to a crisis often hinges on its project management capability. This link underscores the importance of project management in enabling effective crisis responses.

What are the worst decisions in a crisis?

In most crisis situations, the worst decision is no decision and the second-worst decision is a late one. This is fundamental to successful project management, which is typically underpinned by effective and timely decision-making.

A project and a crisis both require a chain of command. They both require stance reporting, and they both require a highly engaged and connected team.