Technology Enhancements and Project Management Essay Example

presence" and "information richness" (Bharadwaj and Saxena, 2006). Meeting these requirements is crucial for software developers as it enables them to enhance interpersonal interactions beyond traditional means of communication. Moreover, it reflects the strong desire of global project teams to have a working experience that is as close to face-to-face and interpersonal as possible.

There are similarities between the rise of project management and the quality movement in the 1980s. Like quality control transformed into quality assurance, project management has shifted towards a more comprehensive approach with the emergence of enterprise project management (EPM).

According to Gray ; Larson (2003, p. 518), EPM refers to the centralized management of a portfolio of projects to ensure that resources are allocated in line with the organization's strategic focus. Companies are increasingly realizing the advantages of project management and envision themselves as dynamic and innovative ventures made up of an ever-changing portfolio of projects (Gassmann & Von Sedwitz, 2003).

In addition, the University of Phoenix (2004) states that project compensation will be linked to performance, and project auditing will become standard practice. Furthermore, companies may choose to outsource personnel recruiting for projects to specialized companies. The future project management organization will prioritize efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and speed. This will lead to the adoption of a project management culture by companies.

Project managers now fill the role that middle managers used to occupy in many organizations. All employees, regardless of their position within the company, will possess a strong understanding of project management principles and will naturally apply them to both independent and collaborative projects. This shift will result in project management becoming an essential component of the overall corporate culture. To support this

new cultural emphasis, a project management office (PMO) will be created. The PMO's primary function will be to provide information systems and establish organization-wide standardization for various projects.

The culture will be strengthened by institutionalized support in the form of integrated systems, trained staff, and a corporate culture that sees itself as more of an enterprise than a traditional organization. Globalization will continue to affect businesses worldwide. The increasing presence in the global market makes accurate and timely information crucial. Globalization will also lead to more cross-cultural challenges. The global outlook in management has generated a demand for global standardization.

The Project Management Institute, in collaboration with companies like Siemens, is developing global standards (Project Management Institute, 2005). The idea of using project teams to enhance functional efficiency is a recent concept that lacks established authoritative sources for drawing conclusions. Adopting benchmark organizations as models can be beneficial for others to follow. However, benchmarking is effective only if the circumstances faced by the companies are comparable.

In the future, project management organizations worldwide will increase networking efforts to address globalization challenges. The upcoming project manager will consider the project's requirements and select team members from a global pool of company project human resources. (University of Phoenix, 2004). Databases containing information on global resources and suppliers connected through intranets will revolutionize the field of project management (University of Phoenix, 2004). This will result in quicker turnaround times.

Projects are progressing at a faster pace and meeting deadlines in various physical locations worldwide, often concurrently. As a result, parallel activities are being carried out simultaneously, demanding faster response times. Modern global companies are conducting projects around the clock, 24

hours a day. Design work can occur in Canada, procurement in Argentina, and fabrication in China. These activities are reminiscent of the British Empire where the sun never sets.

The tendency for globalization to continue growing will be supported by the growth of virtual projects and developments in telecommunications (Gassmann ; Von Sedwitz, 2003). Enterprise wide systems will prioritize projects and align them with the organization's strategy and resource availability (University of Phoenix, 2004). Technologies facilitating collaboration among project teams will be further developed to allow coordination of activities across multiple time zones (University of Phoenix, 2004). Conclusion

The discipline of project management is advancing into global project management. The changes are significant. Global teams can work on projects faster, cheaper, and with greater flexibility, intelligence in resource management, risk mitigation, and change management. However, international project teams face challenges that require special attention. These challenges include language barriers, cultural differences, biases, differing working styles and times, and difficulties in building trust without personal contact.

The internet and international connections undoubtedly benefit virtual teams and non-stop companies. Today, technology facilitates efficient worldwide communication through voice and visual means, eliminating the need for personal interaction. Undoubtedly, global business will revolutionize our daily routines. However, the extent to which these new trends transform our lives relies primarily on individuals rather than just technical capabilities. Technology is rendered useless without acceptance.