Project management is a complex process that involves several steps and considerations combined with strong skill sets to achieve a successful outcome (Watt, 2014). Reflecting on my own experience with leading projects after reading about project management in the literature has been interesting. In my previous role managing a not-for-profit, I applied for, received, and managed many grant-funded projects with no project management training. Typical for a not-for-profit, I wore many \u2018hats\u2019 and had to develop skills on the job that would be fulfilled by a specialized position in many larger organizations. Over time, I became better at leading and managing projects, yet with a greater understanding of project management after the readings in this course, it is evident that the use of proper project management skills and processes could have improved the project outcomes and my experience managing the project itself. However, barriers in this context limit the ability to have full control over managing the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking generally of the nature of projects I have managed, they were almost always funded by the government through one-time project grants. Due to the nature of grant applications, much of the project planning is completed as part of the application process. Upon approval, the project becomes constrained within the parameters of the application, and there is very little flexibility, especially from a budget and time perspective. Moreover, many project grants do not allow for expenses related to human resources, so the project management and execution stay \u2018in-house\u2019 without the ability to hire external expertise. Watt (2014) describes the term \u2018triple constraint,\u201d in which a project quality is influenced by the balance between time, cost, and scope, and with the best projects having a perfect balance between the three factors. In my experience with grant-funded projects, the proposed project plan based on the application requirements doesn\u2019t always allow for a perfect balance to exist, as timelines are often based on the funding agency\u2019s fiscal plan and not always aligned with the recipient\u2019s needs. Furthermore, many projects I have led have been in partnership with Indigenous communities, and timelines dictated by the funding agency do not support the time needed to build relationships for meaningful and long-lasting work.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When working with Indigenous communities, I am not convinced that a traditional project management approach is the most effective, and I believe it has the potential to reinforce colonial systems. Taking a wider system view and applying cultural theory can help understand the power dynamics and motivation within a social system, leading to innovative ways to address challenges (Conway et al., 2017). This is a good place to start; however, the remaining challenge is converging two systems into a meaningful, respectful, and effective process for managing projects. Additionally, advocating for funding agencies to account for this process in their guidelines would be essential for progress in this area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
References <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Conway, R., Masters, J., & Thorold, J. (2017). From design thinking to systems change: How to invest in innovation for social impact<\/em>. Royal Society of Arts Action and Research Centre. https:\/\/www.thersa.org\/globalassets\/pdfs\/reports\/rsa_from-design-thinking-to-system-change-report.pdf<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watt, A. (2014). Project management<\/em>. BCcampus. https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/projectmanagement<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Project management is a complex process that involves several steps and considerations combined with strong skill sets to achieve a successful outcome (Watt, 2014). Reflecting on my own experience with leading projects after reading about project management in the literature has been interesting. In my previous role managing a not-for-profit, I applied for, received, and… Continue reading Leading Projects<\/span>