Our Future Is A Project

 

Five megatrends will shape our world in 2021 and beyond. Are your projects in the mix?

There is still so much to do (and not do), and millions upon millions more vaccine shots to administer, but citizens and businesses alike are starting to contemplate a post-pandemic reality—one in which schools and restaurants are open; movies, concerts and ballgames are back on the calendar; and, yes, project teams are sharing a pizza and collaborating in person.

2020 was as chaotic as it gets, with COVID-19 a constant shadow. And yet, there was more—much more—going on, from political and social unrest to economic upheaval, from artificial intelligence to natural disasters. These realities are all intertwined with the global pandemic, but they won’t go away when the masks come off. And no organization, no matter how laser-focused on its market or service, can afford to ignore them as they move forward with existing and future projects.

To that point, Project Management Institute has released Megatrends 2021, a timely report that identifies five global trends reshaping our world:

• COVID-19
• Climate Crisis
• Civil, Civic and Equality Movements
• Shifting Globalization Dynamics
• Mainstream Artificial Intelligence

In the report’s introduction, PMI president and CEO Sunil Prashara states: “As this year made clear, change is inevitable. But by understanding the drivers behind the volatility, organizations and their leaders can thrive in the Project Economy, delivering positive social impact at a time when it’s needed most.”

Based on research, industry data and interviews with project leaders, the report summarizes each of the five megatrends and then offers guidance on ways that organizations can address these developments through their projects and their approach to executing them. In short, organizations must:

• Make social impact projects a strategic priority
• Foster open, innovative partnership ecosystems
• Rethink relationships with customers and wider stakeholders

To do any of this, we need change-makers—project leaders, the report concludes, that rely on three critical capabilities:

1. New ways of working, including agile, waterfall and hybrid approaches; microlearning apps, and AI-driven tools.

2. Power skills such as collaborative leadership, innovative mindsets and empathy.

3. Business acumen, including an understanding of how work relates to strategy.

Be sure to check out the entire Megatrends 2021 report—and share it with your teams, your CEO, your clients, your friends and family. We’re all in this together. And projects can make a difference on what the future looks like.