George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
During times of crisis, we learn a lot about ourselves (both positive and negative) that may, under normal circumstances, have taken years or decades to discover. I expect the same will be true for our culture, employers, governments, businesses, and institutions in general.
Recognizing the insightfulness of project professionals, what do you see on the other side of this crisis – speaking to the positive side of this question. Saving Changes...
Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, work from home is a refreshing change. Managers have got a chance to enhance their managerial skills by building an efficient remote-working model. Project managers and supervisors can help manage the crisis by keeping their organizations afloat with efficient team management. Work from home inculcates self-discipline and provides a chance to maximize productivity. This is what I believe is the positive side of COVID-19 outbreak. Saving Changes...
Disaster management and business continuity. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Mar 22, 2020 12:52 PM
Replying to Thomas Walenta
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Sergio, agree.
What were the first two warnings?
SARS and Flu-A. Between others that some part of the world did not suffer like Hanta Virus or today Dengue. Dengue is killing more people than Corona Virus in most of the places of South America. The difference is Dengue transmition is by a vector (mosquito). The problem here is "First World" do not pay attention to this type of things because people living there is located into a totally different step inside the Masslow Pyramid. So, they pay attention when they are affraid for something like this. It is not a concern. It is a human being condition.
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1 reply by Thomas Walenta
Mar 23, 2020 12:53 PM
Thomas Walenta
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Thanks, Sergio.
Yes, these were other potential pandemics. We also had/have ebola, dengue (as you mentioned elsewhere), so epidemiologists are important people who can mitigate this risk and contain damage.
Outside this there are also potential disruptions to our current way of living, like global warming, neocon capitalism, AI, nanotechnology, nuclear bombs (not to be forgotten) and so on. We live on a fragile footing, but whatever happens, the earth will continue to spin around the sun.
Who really cares about humanity?
Saving Changes...
Riad AlhammoudProject management| LanganAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
No much pressure as usual during working hours with some relaxation on the social side where we are spending most of our time with our family and like before at work but we can't ignore the tension that we have due to the market bad conditions and fear of the COVID epidemic. It is really a big crisis. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Mar 23, 2020 10:06 AM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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SARS and Flu-A. Between others that some part of the world did not suffer like Hanta Virus or today Dengue. Dengue is killing more people than Corona Virus in most of the places of South America. The difference is Dengue transmition is by a vector (mosquito). The problem here is "First World" do not pay attention to this type of things because people living there is located into a totally different step inside the Masslow Pyramid. So, they pay attention when they are affraid for something like this. It is not a concern. It is a human being condition.
Thanks, Sergio.
Yes, these were other potential pandemics. We also had/have ebola, dengue (as you mentioned elsewhere), so epidemiologists are important people who can mitigate this risk and contain damage.
Outside this there are also potential disruptions to our current way of living, like global warming, neocon capitalism, AI, nanotechnology, nuclear bombs (not to be forgotten) and so on. We live on a fragile footing, but whatever happens, the earth will continue to spin around the sun.
Who really cares about humanity?
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Mar 23, 2020 3:24 PM
Sergio Luis Conte
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Those were not potential, those happened. So, we can anticipated the current one and future one. There are a lot of words and few actions on the other items. Questions about the other things you write about are simple: if we are talking about global warming, why are we using this site and other sites based on cloud computing? Why are we using cel phones? We need to be smart, not to be affraid or talking about things that will not solve the root just are acting (or declaiming) on causes. Too late. Just to remember: project managers are hire to prevent not to cure.
Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
In answer to the base question there are three possibilities:
1) the world will be better
2) the world will be worse
3) the world will be the same.
We can't agree on what is better or worse, never could, never will. Although there is movement back and forth, like a pendulum, we essentially establish a balance within which there is this back and forth. I do not see a change to this balance. Maybe a slight shift in the geopolitical scene - I see autocratic rule gain some ground based on the argument that pandemics are easier to manage with strong central governments. "Emergency measures" will be hard to displace.
That being said I predict result 3) the world will be the same. The have and have-not gap will still be there. Wealth and power will be in the hands of the few (possibly fewer). The few will continue abusing the many. Tribal warfare (which is mostly economic now) will continue. Pestilence, pandemics, nuclear war and environmental collapse will remain a threat. We, humanity, will bounce from crises to crises never looking beyond the next meal. Much like the animals from which we evolved.
As project managers we need to prepare for any eventuality. We have a little time on our hands at the moment so lets plan ahead. Start with a risk analysis, layout your strategy to; survive the disruption, re-start the projects, and make up for lost time. This should be the busiest time of our lives. Nobody stopped the clock on project management. You want the world to return to normal - do your job!
I understand we are all focused on the pandemic with concern for humanity's future and that's normal but we need to focus where we have influence, we have a job to do. Saving Changes...
It is hard not to be negative about the topic of COVID-19 when so much could have be done earlier on to prevent the spread and mitigate the risk of contamination.
Also in light of you question, when similar situations have occurred on numerous occasions in the past centuries that would warrant 'a better response next time' attitude.
As a result it is not what I would see as the outcome but what I hope would be the outcome. This would consist of better prevention methods at source.
Quicker response to confirmed diagnosis of known contagious pathogen, isolation, lock down and quarantine.
I think on a personal level people in general have shown empathy, emotional intelligence on a greater level than i have witnessed before so this is certainly one good aspect to come out as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Daire Saving Changes...
Andrew SoswaTechnology leader| Leading global financial institutionElk Grove Village, Il, United States
I am kinda Star Wars-type who believes that a personal choice, coming from good thoughts, words, and deeds, creates good in the world, rather than from one Star-Trek global government.
The good that will happen is that people will go back to basic of appreciating family (or community) as the base structure of our world, rather than considering a self, an individual, as the centre of the world.
For us, project managers, those who are innovative and always looking to create a value in businesses, others and in self, we will go through tribulations, but in the end, we will be fine.
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1 reply by Daire Guiney
Mar 24, 2020 7:25 AM
Daire Guiney
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Dear Andrew,
I do not mean to test your Star Trek knowledge but Star Trek is not about one central Government but instead a Federation of Governments that are responsible for their own actions but who work together for the common good of everybody involved.
Your take on Star Wars sounds more like buddhism and positive thoughts brings happiness, well being and harmony.
I agree with you in that people will go back to what shaped them when they were growing up, their family, their community and their sense of individuality.
Daire
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Mar 23, 2020 12:53 PM
Replying to Thomas Walenta
...
Thanks, Sergio.
Yes, these were other potential pandemics. We also had/have ebola, dengue (as you mentioned elsewhere), so epidemiologists are important people who can mitigate this risk and contain damage.
Outside this there are also potential disruptions to our current way of living, like global warming, neocon capitalism, AI, nanotechnology, nuclear bombs (not to be forgotten) and so on. We live on a fragile footing, but whatever happens, the earth will continue to spin around the sun.
Who really cares about humanity?
Those were not potential, those happened. So, we can anticipated the current one and future one. There are a lot of words and few actions on the other items. Questions about the other things you write about are simple: if we are talking about global warming, why are we using this site and other sites based on cloud computing? Why are we using cel phones? We need to be smart, not to be affraid or talking about things that will not solve the root just are acting (or declaiming) on causes. Too late. Just to remember: project managers are hire to prevent not to cure.
...
1 reply by Andrew Soswa
Mar 23, 2020 3:41 PM
Andrew Soswa
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I think that a paradigm shift in thinking is necessary for project managers.
I believe that we are hired to deliver a value to our customers (prevention is part of that thinking, curing is not but increasing existing value is)
Saving Changes...
John YorkTechnology Consultant, Pre-sales engineer, Project Manager| Ricoh IT ServicesLeesburg, Va, United States
Greater interdependency on each other, less stringent time tables and deadlines, greater sense of flexibility in general. Technologically, greater use of virtual communications, cloud computing, smaller actual corporate offices. Saving Changes...
