Conflict in Project Management: Poor Governance & Failure to Achieve Goals - Essay Sample

Introduction

The question of conflict in any management of a project is a common thing. This conflict can be brought by the managers who may otherwise put some assumptions in their performance. Such managers in any project conducted will not accept any point of correction from their junior committee as they believe they are more superior to them (Godschalk, 2004 p. 7). Therefore, issues such in management can lead to poor governance of a project or failure to achieve specific essential goals. This can be defined as co-worker's conflicts among themselves. The subsequent paragraphs will be able to answer a few questions on the context of the topic under study.

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Firstly, Daniel has to resolve some problems in the project due to the following stated reasons. The challenge that the manager, Daniel, is going through is that he was able to identify Linda as the one to gather the requirements for the project, but unfortunately, they were vague. Furthermore, there was a challenge in Linda availing herself to make the project successful. It is confirmed that Linda is residing in Perth, and due to unavoidable commitments, she was not readily availing herself to ensure the project turns successful. Sometimes, Daniel would also find Linda not responding to his emails. Daniel, the project manager, is faced with a challenge when he lacks a view which is complete towards the project. It is clear the project is five months, but the manager has no ideas of basic requirements (Bellinger et al. 2011 P.204). Thus, from the context, it can be seen the above factors have contributed significantly to problems in the low carbon footprint project.

Moreover, the first step I could take if I could be Daniel is to send an email to Linda requesting her for a meeting to address the status of the project and requirements. This will change the delays on the schedule, and asking to meet her personally will help. Since changing the conditions have a negative impact on our budget and may lead to blowing out of our budget, I would suggest such an activity should not be undertaken. It will continue expanding our budget to levels that are not planned. To send an email to Linda seems a more proper way of facing somebody even if I will confirm that her plans have not succeeded. I will also consider the twenty samples concepts on carbon footprint, which were vague and suspect the requirements to be not correct.

Also, by informing Linda about the project status, she will automatically be suspicious there might be something I need her to address. Thus such a step could make Linda be concern about the ongoing project and suspect things were not in order. In case I send Linda an email asking her we met in person, it would not work well. Linda may be fearful as suspect me, as the project manager, to commit to being using an email as a trick of hijacking her. Also, when I avoid meeting Linda, I will give specific reasons why we cannot accommodate new requirements that may be inefficient too. Linda may assume such emails, and end up doing nothing towards the original vague condition. In the end, it will be the most significant challenge towards the project since no follow-ups may be made. Since Linda seems more ignorant even when talking to the manager, if I would attempt writing her an email, she will ignore it.

Additionally, if I could be Daniel and faced with a challenge that he was when Claire claimed about his incompetence to go through such a project, I could send Jacintha an email just after the meeting. I would explain the reasons for the meeting and time for a personal talk. Such action will prove my concernment towards the success of that project. It will also be a moment to share with my boss about the challenges Linda is creating in the project through her vague new requirements. Such a moment with my boss will be a time to prove myself to him. I would even display the contract forms of orders and how Linda has contributed to the drawback of the project. As a project manager, I would suspect such vague concepts and strategies others plan requirements to subsidize those provided by Linda.

When deciding to catch Jacintha just after the meeting will provoke her because, at the moment, she may be highly tempered because, as a boss, she believes in success (Boskey, 1998 P.86). From my understanding, probably, the boss could judge me wrong for being an optimistic worker. It can create a hostile environment, especially when Claire is around simply because she might think I am there to explain her challenges too. If I decide to wait a few days and walk in her office, it will not prove my leadership qualities as one who is concerned in the success of the project. I will be seen as a leader who is not working for the good of the project. Doing nothing towards such a challenge facing a project manager may tend to be ignorance, which is believed to be the most expensive thing. Jacinta may suspect a miscommunication between workmates.

Consequently, if I could be Daniel, the first step to take is to stop more vague orders of Linda in order to convince the advisory stakeholders about my competence in accomplishing the project. This will be an assurance to my junior staff that the plan is goal-oriented. I would work with the calculated budget and ensure no more budgets is injected in the project that could otherwise cause blowing out of the budget. Since I am the project manager, and I now understand what is facing the project, I will make sure I control the process adequately. I would also have a close-talk with Claire so that we can share ideas on how to go through the project without much competition towards leadership roles. I will volunteer to listen from her point of view and request her to give a chance to exercise my role as a project manager.

In case Linda has been proposed to be providing the requirements; I would make a written contract that payments will be outstanding service delivered. I would also bring my workers together so that we can evaluate where to sharpen so that we can all make the project succeed. Those who find me so incompetent I will come with a way on how to approach them. I will ensure decision making should not be centralized, but everybody should participate in implementations. Other matters that I can prove to the advisory committee will be complaints being addressed systematically. Such that, once a problem experienced in such a project, there should be a systematic way of approaching. The boss should address issues that have already being addressed by the project manager. However, when it seems to be difficult, such a challenge should now be addressed by the boss. The project manager should be given a few roles such that the co-workers to take over the project roles so that no conflict challenge should arise to only one individual

In case I was Daniel, at that moment, when difficulties arose in the project, I would strive to regain my confidence using subsequent attempts. First, I would email Claire in order to ask her we met and talk personally. This will enable me to share my views with her and request her which area is she competent that she can assist in making our project go through. I would also educate her on ways of how to correct someone in public. I will also find out more information to employ where I find there is a challenge in the project. New skills may help be implemented to the co-workers to go through where we see any difficulty.

To problems incompetence, I would take it positively and understand my inexperience. This will make me find out how I can make corrections towards the same. I would also implement a lead-up strategy where i will prove to the co-workers what has made the project fail and what we need to succeed. Even during our meeting, I would ensure committee members are not focused on expressing their resentment but are focused in solving the problem at the moment. Through our sessions, I will make sure no argument, and the meeting should be under my control. I would respect the team members, especially when am proved I should control such members in any session. I would also use a friendly way of addressing conflicts between the people and me. This will aid in ensuring members air out their views without faire but in a more disciplined manner.

Conclusion

I strongly disagree with Linda for her to complain during the meeting towards the project manager, Daniel. As a project manager means Daniel was to control the whole project to the end. When Linda says that she understands it seems she pretends to know everything. She has been constructed by Jacinta, but she seems to take control of the project. When Linda says Daniel to do what he can, she looks down upon Daniel as just an employer who cannot take anything from her. According to me, Linda identified Daniel to be strict in her, and she had an idea to provide vague requirements unnoticed, but Daniel was watching her.

References

Bellinger, J.B. and Padmanabhan, V.M., 2011. Detention operations in contemporary conflicts: four challenges for the Geneva Conventions and other existing law. American Journal of International Law, 105(2), pp.201-243.

Boskey, A.L., 1998. Biomineralization: conflicts, challenges, and opportunities. Journal of cellular biochemistry, 72(S3031), pp.83-91.

Godschalk, D.R., 2004. Land use planning challenges: Coping with conflicts in visions of sustainable development and livable communities. Journal of the American Planning Association, 70(1), pp.5-13.