Adaptive model approach for managing company projects and overcoming adoption obstacles

Adaptive Management

Adaptive Project Management

Adaptive management is a structured and systematic process for continually improving decisions, management policies, and practices by learning from the outcomes of decisions previously taken (Intaver Institute, N.d.). The model was originally developed by ecologists who were trying to explain how life adapts to various changes to their environment. However, the model was eventually tailored to different leadership and management theories because the model had certain advantages in explaining how things can adapt to a dynamic environment. This allows projects the ability to make a plan that has an inherent amount of flexibility built into the plan itself. This approach seems to work extremely well in projects that are operating in a volatile environment.

It is argued that traditional project management technics have many issues adapting to a dynamic environment (Shenhar & Divir, 2007). Although traditional project management does make provisions for change management in the event that activities deviate from the baseline plan, adaptive project management assumes that change is inevitable rather than just a possible occurrence. Therefore change is built in to the project's baseline plan and a reiterative analysis is conducted at different stages. In a project where the environment is fairly static, this approach may not have any significant advantage because the project's scope and schedule can be fairly well defined from the beginning.

However, when the environment moves dynamically in any direction then the reiterative approach can add significant value to the project. Some of the most common examples of projects that may operate in such an environment seem to be in relation to software or hardware development or new product development. In regards to hardware and software, the environment is constantly shifting as processes and components become obsolescent quickly. Some of the practical recommendations that are made involving the implementation of adaptive management in regards to hardware and software are as follows (Intaver Institute, N.d.):

1. Whenever possible, do not define a detailed project plan upfront; instead, use an iterative project management approach.

2. Always identify multiple project alternatives or hypotheses; model these alternatives; and if deemed beneficial, implement a few alternatives at the same time.

3. Use quantitative risk analysis at each phase and iteration of the project.

4. Integrate original assumptions and new learning when planning the next project iterations.

5. Try to minimize the cost of decision reversals; minimize risks by ensuring that the option to change project direction is always available.

6. Ensure that adaptive management is implemented within a creative business environment characterized by a collaborative structure for stakeholder participation and learning.