Speaking - Managing Conflict in Projects

Managing Conflict in Projects

This presentation explores conflict in projects, the sources and levels of conflict, and the implications of project conflict. It questions whether regular project management tools and techniques can be used for managing conflict in projects. Through several historical and contemporary case studies it examines projects that were mired in different types of conflict and show how these were managed. For example, in the Florence Duomo project the project manager had a disaffected group of stakeholders undermining his authority based on conflicting approaches to the project.  In the Hoover Dam project the project manager incited conflict with his approach to the project workforce.  In contrast the project manager took a different approach in the Golden Gate Bridge Project that reduced conflict with the project workforce and created a positive culture. In today's world project managers need to create a constructive conflict culture to ensure constructive outcomes to a conflict so that conflict management has a greater impact on project success. Encouraging project teams to face and resolve conflicts in a managed way will improve communication, efficiency, increase commitment and nurture loyalty during the project.

Audience: Project Managers, Program Managers, Business Managers

Managing Conflict
in Projects

Learning Objectives

The presentation:

• Reinterprets several historical projects for a modern project management audience, by examining in detail how project managers managed conflict.
• Demonstrates how project managers were able to recognize conflict through competence, insight, and an inherent awareness.
• Allows us in turn to learn about the types of conflict, conflict factors, so that we can recognize conflict in our projects, and determine strategies to address conflict and mitigate its impact
• States how conflict management is arguably one of more significant and under estimated topics in contemporary project management.

Full of intriguing details, the presentation helps you to work out strategies for managing project conflict.

The Benefits

In today's world, as project organisations increasingly become more globalised with geographically distributed project teams connected virtually, project team members require strategies for managing conflict in this environment. The presentation is valuable in understanding the processes, approach and experiences from previous contemporary and historical projects in managing conflict.

Note: This presentation conforms to the internationally recognized standards of the Project Management Institute (PMI®). You will receive 1-2 PDUs (professional development units) upon completion.