ITC208 ASSIGNMENT 1 

 
Challenges which the project managers faced
Covid-19 had a significant impact on several business sectors, including slowing down the entire
process of managing projects, that is, overseeing them from the project's starting phase through
its completion or end phase of the project. Some of the challenges faced by project managers was
communication.  The aspect of communication is a very important key in projects execution
stage but if the company globally less experienced in remote work would be major hindrance to
team. This shift in communication in projects created a huge blow on in the planning stage of the
project. “A few components of the informal communication structure were lost as a result of
virtual communication. These included having routine office conversations with the project team
to gain context and insight into the project's accomplishments” (Shamim, 2022). Project tires out
a person more rapidly since the online interaction requires more concentration and time.

In order to achieve the objective, and consistent top-notch project results has given the extra
pressure to the project teams. Pandemic has bought a lot of overwhelming anxiety and
disorganization to the employees and executors. “As a result, most project team members were
under double Pressure, which involved sharing the project's work and helping with household
responsibilities (Shamim, 2022)”. This affects the mental health and well-being of the
employees, thus resulting to unsuccessful and failure projects.
Due to the unanticipated pandemic breakout, numerous projects encountered a variety of issues
and problems. This situation compelled the majority of project teams to focus on the critical
infrastructure and procedures of their projects. “This situation triggered ingenuity in solving
problems faced during the project life cycle and implementing new workarounds to achieve the
expected results” (Lucocq & Radhakishnan, 2021). The supply chain was primarily impacted and
interrupted by the global pandemic outbreak, this resulted to vender management risk. The
disruption in the supply chain resulted in higher prices and longer delivery times for specific
goods and parts. While some companies were considering mergers, several suppliers were
considering bankruptcy.
Another challenge would be the delay in project delivery in construction workers face. Because
most construction projects require more in-person contact and hands-on teamwork, the
construction industry had to experienced a temporary slowdown or shutdown. This has also
created the problem for the workers as being unemployed, they are unable support their family
and must move back to their hometown as living in the city is a struggle. Project managers
losing their workers and are unable to execute the plan.
How the challenges have been met or can be met.
Not having face to face interaction has made it challenging for colleagues to seek clarification
from project managers on specific issue relating to the project. As a result, organization created
virtual teams for projects making it possible for them to keep connected regularly. “Most
organization adopted chats due to the little time taken to get reply from other team members.
Chats allows the team members to manage their work schedules and respond on issues or

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inquiries in their own time instead to using constant phone calls” (Shamim, 2022). Organization
adopted to use the conference tools such as zoom or google meet, that is a recreation of
conference room atmosphere where team member facilitates communication and their views and
ideas regarding project. Project managers can swiftly recognize emerging problems and provide
workable solutions when there is constant communication.
Challenges can be met if project team uses project management application such as Trello, JIRA
etc., that enables team to login and access what task needs to be done and what is happening,
keeping them updated in given project in real-time. Project managers can also check the status of
given project and ensuring everything is taking place as planned. All team members are informed
of their roles, checks the tasks assigned to them, and the completion dates of their tasks thanks to
the centralization of data and resources.
“During the pandemic, all our projects have required greater management visibility and
collaboration to achieve greater productivity. Companies have had to learn to become flexible,
agile, pivot quickly, stay on project timelines, and execute to be competitive, which will continue
in a post-pandemic world” (Shamim, 2022). Project managers should understand how to
motivate people through empathy, emotional intelligence, and acting as a "psychologist" to them.
Example of IT project being affected “
Zipline, a drone manufacturing company in San Francisco, USA. Since the pandemic, business
has grown significantly. Although drone technology has been known for a long, the pandemic
allowed it to fully realize its enormous potential. Health systems all over the world were looking
at drones as a new and better way to transport goods like blood, cancer treatments, and vaccines
as social distance became the new norm. If a patient has to seek general care, this is more
practical and poses less infection concerns. In the three years between mid-June and September
2020, Zipline distributed more than 100,000 medicinal supplies.
“In May 2020, an emergency license was issued in America allowing Zipline to fly over long-
range delivery drones through controlled airspace for the first time and in December American
regulators issued new rules allowing drones to fly over people, and at night” (Sigari &
Biberthaler, 2021). More states are now obtaining medical supplies in a more effective and
efficient manner thanks to this looser approach. Currently, the company operated the distribution
centers in Japan, Ghana, US and in Rwanda.

Reference

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Lucocq, J. & Radhakishnan, G., 2021. SP4.1.13 Management of appendicitis during COVID-19
pandemic; short-term outcomes. British Journal of Surgery, 108(Supplement_7).
Shamim, M., 2022. The Effects of COVID-19 on Project Management Processes and Practices.
Central Asian Journal of Theoretical & Applied Sciences, Volume 3(7), pp. 221-227.
Sigari, C. & Biberthaler, P., 2021. Medical drones: Disruptive technology makes the future
happen.. Der Unfallchirurg, Volume 124(12), pp. 974-976.