Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
What specific changes do you see to help schedule management during the pandemic, if any?
Do you change the way you estimate or apply contingencies, do you use different margins, or other artifacts? How do you communicate about schedule changes, and obtain information about delays or early finishing of tasks? Saving Changes...
Before you can introduce measures to respond to risks you have to identify the specific risks themselves.
COVID-19 is a source of risks and not a risk unto itself. There could be many risks related to the pandemic which could affect schedule performance including unavailability of resources (people, materials & equipment) and delays in external dependencies (e.g. 3rd party vendors impacted by the pandemic).
The specific strategies you'd use such as adding buffers, developing contingency plans would be specific to the risks.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Hi Kiron
thanks for your reply and agree that the pandemic is not in itself a specific risk for projects. My question is targeted to find out if there are typical classes of risks and responses fir which the pandemic is a root cause.
Regarding schedule management.
Like lack if face2face communication, or introducing more frequent checkpoints. Saving Changes...
I think the likelihood of risks related to the examples I provided might increase so the responses to those risks might need to be strengthened and become more proactive. So for example, if resource unavailability due to sickness or attrition was a concern before, it is more of a concern now, and we'd want to have a more proactive approach to addressing it (e.g. lining up temp resources).
Kiron Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Not at all. In my case, nothing changed. Perhaps it is for the characteristics of program/projects I am managing from long time ago where I have virtual highly distributed teams along the whole world. Saving Changes...
I am in a unique position where this pandemic has directly affected my projects, as I work with Pharmaceutical Companies in their Clinical Trial Advertising department. This pandemic has caused many of the clinical trial procedures to be affected, and therefore resulted in delays in development and distribution of advertising materials.
With these delays, I've had to spend more of my time working on revising all of our timelines based on estimated start up dates. It's proven to be quite a challenge since everything is up in the air at this time, but I've scheduled calls with my clients and internal teams separately to discuss at length projected timelines.
These delays have also impacted our budgets, so I've been working to update the scope and submit change orders now with additional contingencies to account for further unknown impacts of the pandemic.
As things become more clear, timelines/schedules and budgets continue to be updated on an ongoing basis to ensure the closest accuracy. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
McKenzie
thanks for sharing your experience. So I understand in your environment schedules are important to align teams and tasks and interruptions due to Corona effects foreced you to keep the alignment more fluid.
Just thinking loud, if your environment would have used a fluid scheduling like critical chain or scrum from the beginning, it might have helped you tackle the changes.
Any thoughts about this?
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1 reply by McKenzie Whitlow
Jul 17, 2020 2:13 PM
McKenzie Whitlow
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Hi Thomas,
Based on our industry, we're accustomed to process delays and schedule changes due to constant scientific advancements and revisions to clinical trials, so we're familiar with having to adapt and revise. However, we were not prepared for such a large impact, so we had to adjust for further-out timelines, rather than such quick revisions as we're used to.
thanks for sharing your experience. So I understand in your environment schedules are important to align teams and tasks and interruptions due to Corona effects foreced you to keep the alignment more fluid.
Just thinking loud, if your environment would have used a fluid scheduling like critical chain or scrum from the beginning, it might have helped you tackle the changes.
Any thoughts about this?
Hi Thomas,
Based on our industry, we're accustomed to process delays and schedule changes due to constant scientific advancements and revisions to clinical trials, so we're familiar with having to adapt and revise. However, we were not prepared for such a large impact, so we had to adjust for further-out timelines, rather than such quick revisions as we're used to. Saving Changes...
If this pandemic has done anything, it has only increased our working hours. I am in IT field. All are working from home and there is the fear of job security which directly contribute to increased work time. We are able to close more tasks than previously planned. We see high productivity among all members of the team across all disciplines. So managing schedule has not become a risk or issue for us.
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1 reply by Thomas Walenta
Jul 18, 2020 5:50 AM
Thomas Walenta
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Maria,
I understand that you rather could shorten schedules as you were able to be more efficient?
But, yes, the price is more stress. A good leader will care about their people and make sure there is a safe environment.
On the other hand, now with dominantly virtual work, it should enable people to find jobs globally.
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Jul 17, 2020 3:50 PM
Replying to Maria Lekha Johnson
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If this pandemic has done anything, it has only increased our working hours. I am in IT field. All are working from home and there is the fear of job security which directly contribute to increased work time. We are able to close more tasks than previously planned. We see high productivity among all members of the team across all disciplines. So managing schedule has not become a risk or issue for us.
Maria,
I understand that you rather could shorten schedules as you were able to be more efficient?
But, yes, the price is more stress. A good leader will care about their people and make sure there is a safe environment.
On the other hand, now with dominantly virtual work, it should enable people to find jobs globally.
...
1 reply by Maria Lekha Johnson
Jul 20, 2020 10:09 AM
Maria Lekha Johnson
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Yes Thomas, schedule can be shortened though I am not keen to do like that. Just because we all are working long hours suddenly, I don't want to take it out on the schedule and make it more formal. I prefer to call it "over-delivered", instead. I am waiting for life to turn back to normal mode :)
I understand that you rather could shorten schedules as you were able to be more efficient?
But, yes, the price is more stress. A good leader will care about their people and make sure there is a safe environment.
On the other hand, now with dominantly virtual work, it should enable people to find jobs globally.
Yes Thomas, schedule can be shortened though I am not keen to do like that. Just because we all are working long hours suddenly, I don't want to take it out on the schedule and make it more formal. I prefer to call it "over-delivered", instead. I am waiting for life to turn back to normal mode :) Saving Changes...
