The Key Environmental Forces That Have Changed the Way the Project Is Managed

In having an understanding of the key environmental forces that have changed the way the project is managed, it is imperative to have insight into what projects entail. A project refers to the series of tasks required to be completed to reach a specific outcome (Baguley, 2008). In light of this, some of the key environmental forces that have changed the way which project are managed are knowledge growth, product lifecycle, time to markets, competition in the global markets, more focus on customers, and downsizing of the organization. Projects with shorter product life cycle result in quick delivery of product and vice versa. Therefore, different projects with different product lifecycle are managed differently (Deeprose, 2002). Besides, the increase in competition leads to different approaches to project management. When an organization downsizes the project is outsourced, and the project manager will be tasked with the management of employees from both organizations that can prove difficult. Besides, the organization is forced to tailor their product and services in line with the customers' needs. 

The environmental forces influence the management of the projects in different ways. To begin with, there is the increase in the number of projects in the organization because of customer focus. It forces organizations to carry out small projects for different customers (Heerkens, 2015). The employees are expected to be transparent and accountable in making the project successful. Organizations are forced to take into consideration the strategic alliance to facilitate the smooth completion of projects (Deeprose, 2002). Projects are linked to the customers and organizational strategy for successful completion. The nature of the project influences the number of project teams involved in its implementation. However, organizations in liaison with project managers increase the project teams for successful implementation of projects. 

References

Baguley, P. (2008). Project management . London: Hodder Education. 

Deeprose, D. (2002). Project management . Oxford, U.K.: Capstone Pub. 

Heerkens, G. (2015). Project management . [Place of publication not identified]: Mcgraw-Hill Education.