And ... if this pandemic lasts for many months

Hi Andrew,

I agree that immersed VR/AR is not going to take over the PM world in the near future, but layers of it will be sought after if the new-norm keeps “accountable PM’s” from having in-person engagements with their cross-functional teams.

I’ve been using video conferencing for 20-years, and have always had to use heavy in-person supplements to keep my finger on the pulse of the project, plus the necessary engagements for workshops, critical meetings, and the like. Stated differently, I’ve noticed that my grasp on a project starts to slip when physical presence is not managed correctly.

Although most PM’s will be able to adjust their way-of-working, the accountable/executive or cross-domain-expert PM may have issues bringing a project in for a landing per-plan if they are 95%+ remote. It can work, but we will need to factor our estimates accordingly.

Now, if you have a strong history/relationship with your teams (in physical presence), then most of the issues I’m concerned with are mute. Fortunately, that’s my situation now, but many of my projects of the past would have been determinately impacted if I were not able to have a periodic physical presence

I disagree that VR/AR will take over the PM world (at least not in the near future).
The need for physical/VR/AR interactions is necessary to use all communication channels based on our sensors. If we use only audio via audio-conference, we have less opportunity to be effective communicators. But it will take some time trying-and-failing until we are good at it. Again, there will be a few gurus, minority of "kinda know how to do it", and overwhelming majority of failures because they will not be able to adjust.

I believe that video-conferencing will be paramount to create better teams, some PMs will excel at it, some will fail. We will notice a larger group managing by "checklist" or by the title of their position. On the other hand, those who manage by "charisma", "soft skills", verbally, influence, knowledge - will need to reorg the skills and adapt them to work in remote management.

Yes of course, this goes without saying Luis. This is more of a force majeure that resulted in many other risks globally.

RK

Hi Andrew,

I agree that immersed VR/AR is not going to take over the PM world in the near future, but layers of it will be sought after if the new-norm keeps “accountable PM’s” from having in-person engagements with their cross-functional teams.

I’ve been using video conferencing for 20-years, and have always had to use heavy in-person supplements to keep my finger on the pulse of the project, plus the necessary engagements for workshops, critical meetings, and the like. Stated differently, I’ve noticed that my grasp on a project starts to slip when physical presence is not managed correctly.

Although most PM’s will be able to adjust their way-of-working, the accountable/executive or cross-domain-expert PM may have issues bringing a project in for a landing per-plan if they are 95%+ remote. It can work, but we will need to factor our estimates accordingly.

Now, if you have a strong history/relationship with your teams (in physical presence), then most of the issues I’m concerned with are mute. Fortunately, that’s my situation now, but many of my projects of the past would have been determinately impacted if I were not able to have a periodic physical presence

Dear Deepa
Thank you for participating in this reflection

In addition to considering that what Thomas and Kiron wrote as a great contribution, what is your opinion on the topic?

Dear Luis,

If the pandemic last many months the main problem is not only at project manager role level but at every labor work levels.
As long as there is a uncertain future some activities will be more affected then others.

As you really know in our home country companies layoff already started to be implemented even in some technological companies. Remote work doesn't solve all problems in fact doesn't solve the majority of them, big part of the economy is based in human contact, tourism, restaurants, night activities like bars, discos, event activities like weddings, baptisms, religious activities, sports, concerts etc...
The prohibition of all of this has effect in the economy and also in technology. The economy fabric will be changed temporarily and some (or a lot) position jobs will be eliminated.

However in my perspective it is not possible to confine human relationships to virtual relations over a bearable amount of time.

Having said that the project management role will decrease in the same proportion of the cancellation or differing in time of projects and or layoff advance.

After this crisis the economy will recover probably with a different fabric structure, with more remote work, probable the cross-functional teams will evolve in some cases using only a product manager instead a project manager, more offer of live virtual training and education, but there are always activities that will be imperative face to face collaboration, the human touch, essential activities to any sovereign will still have a lot o human presence.

Alexandre

Dear Louis, I am a physician and a project manager and so looking at the blend of both these domains, I see a lot of changes that the healthcare and patient care will undergo as a project.

This pandemic will be tamed by the mankind to change its face to being endemic and then it will be prevention of morbidity and mortality as is the case with many pandemics that are now endemic in the world. I look at healthcare never to be same again.

For healthcare where there is a central "project" manager to who manages the patient care, it will be a new way of working towards ensuring care of sick.

Lots of changes to come in...

Thx

Need of the hour topic. I do have a similar opinion. The PM role won't become extinct but will have to evolve depending upon the teams we may have to work in the future, possibly a mix of working with on the floor and virtual teams, more of virtual team monitoring and control.

Dear Louis, I am a physician and a project manager and so looking at the blend of both these domains, I see a lot of changes that the healthcare and patient care will undergo as a project.

This pandemic will be tamed by the mankind to change its face to being endemic and then it will be prevention of morbidity and mortality as is the case with many pandemics that are now endemic in the world. I look at healthcare never to be same again.

For healthcare where there is a central "project" manager to who manages the patient care, it will be a new way of working towards ensuring care of sick.

Lots of changes to come in...

Thx