The Importance of Situational Awareness
From the Voices on Project Management Blog
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by Wanda Curlee
I recently came across an article by consultant Melanie Nelson about project management and situational awareness. In the article, Nelson argues that project managers need to be more than just technically savvy.
They must also be able to see the bigger picture and understand the context they are working in—including industry culture, employee pain points and the other projects and business goals competing for attention in the company. They must hone their situational awareness.
Situational awareness is the ability to understand what is happening around you, why it is happening and what you need to do or not do in reaction. Some call this a soft skill, but I believe it goes further than that.
As rookie project managers, we learn about which processes and procedures are done in what order. However, project managers with situational awareness may question, for example, whether or not all steps in the process need to be completed, what processes must be changed to accommodate the needs of the organization or even if the correct methodology is being used.
For a software project, that could mean questioning if agile or waterfall is the best approach or if lean should be used instead. To paraphrase Nelson, she loves Kanban but she knows that it is not appropriate for all projects.
Situational awareness is a skill beyond understanding earned value management, creating status reports, or managing conference calls and client meetings.
It is about asking, for example, in those client meetings questions such as:
Do you have the attention of the client? Are the right people in the conference room? If not, why not? What will you do about it?
It is not easy and takes a lot of practice.
Do you have the situational awareness needed for your project?
Posted
by
Wanda Curlee
on: September 08, 2016 09:40 AM |
Permalink
Comments (18)
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Karthik T
Senior Engineering Manager| Nike
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
This is a great info, thanks for sharing.
Wanda Curlee
Dr. Wanda Curlee| PMI
Ferguson, NC, United States
Karthik - I am glad you found it interesting.
Oliver Franz Lehmann
Project Management Trainer, Owner of the Project Business Foundation| self-employed
München, Germany
Hi Wanda,
I am in full agreement with you.
While interested parties try to sell us their one-size-fits-all cooking recipes for project management, we find ourselves in situations, where the same practice, approach, tool and technique that was successful in one project situation may fail in another one.
The problem so far is that not much knowledge has been developed on the situational aspects of project management . For me, the most urgent need is a typology for projects to help project managers navigate in the complex system of organization, people and of course technology.
I made a first step in this direction in some research with field experts, that I published in my recent book "Situational Project Management: The Dynamics of Success and Failure" (https://www.crcpress.com/9781498722612). You may find it interesting.
I think, the situational aspect of project management, that you correctly describe, is probably the most interesting aspect of our discipline at all.
Kind regards,
Oliver
Wanda Curlee
Dr. Wanda Curlee| PMI
Ferguson, NC, United States
Hello Oliver - Thanks for your comments. I totally agree one size does not fit all. I will definitely review your book. This area, in my humble opinion, is about to be the next big step. I can actually see a practice guide being started by PMI.
Alan Zucker
Founding Principal| Project Management Essentials
Arlington, Va, United States
Great project managers demonstrate good situational awareness and high emotional intelligence. Project management is about getting people to work together. See my blog "Projects Are About People". https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/projects-people7-ways-put-people-first-alan-zucker?trk=mp-reader-card
Lynn Rundle
PM II| Discover Financial
Mount Prospect, Il, United States
I agree that situational awareness is an important asset for project managers. The value that this skill can provided seems to be underrated in some organizations.
George Lewis
Program/Project Manager| DXC Technology Company
Heredia, Costa Rica
Situational awareness is a skill beyond everything!
Thanks for sharing...
Wanda Curlee
Dr. Wanda Curlee| PMI
Ferguson, NC, United States
Wanda Curlee
Dr. Wanda Curlee| PMI
Ferguson, NC, United States
Hello Lynn - I would venture to guess that many do not even know what situational awareness is!
Julia Cunningham
Manager Project Management| Battelle
Richland, Wa, United States
I see a great need for situational awareness not only in projects but in life. I see far too many people not driving beyond their bumpers daily, and it frightens me.
Wanda Curlee
Dr. Wanda Curlee| PMI
Ferguson, NC, United States
Hello Julia - Thank you for your comment. I agree, many are oblivious to their surroundings.
Oliver Franz Lehmann
Project Management Trainer, Owner of the Project Business Foundation| self-employed
München, Germany
Without situational understanding, what will people do?
"If you only have a hammer to make your living, you must tell the world that it is made from nails.
If your only tool is a screwdriver, you better convince the world that it is screwed."
Tobe Phelps
Director of Digital Experience| Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, Nm, United States
This is another aspect of political management. As project managers we need to understand the political landscape and use this powerful tool to our and our project's advantage. You should always take stock of your surroundings and ensure that you are tailoring appropriately.
I think definition of situational awareness is much bigger. It's like being here now. It's like attentiveness and putting our feet in shoes of the client. It is the ability using which the project manager sees the real world. If it same like when we can feel the temperature of the water while having it in a steel glass. In more advanced terms A successful Project Manager van anticipate all kind of situations, take decisions and align his team well in advance.
Being on the ball, is vital and essential necessity of a Project professional. Taking the eye of the ball...... comes with its own peril.
Wanda Curlee
Dr. Wanda Curlee| PMI
Ferguson, NC, United States
Tobe - Understanding the political landscape is critical to a successful project.
Wanda Curlee
Dr. Wanda Curlee| PMI
Ferguson, NC, United States
Manish - Thanks for your perspective. As situational awareness moves into the business world, many definitions will abound and it will slowly coalesce into a more defined area.
Wanda Curlee
Dr. Wanda Curlee| PMI
Ferguson, NC, United States
Chanu - I could not agree with you more.
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