Project management approaches to energy conservation and community engagement

Technology and Project Management

The Energy Crisis

As the global demand for energy increases at an exponentially growing rate, the price for these resources also climbs. In many Western Countries the price of gasoline and other fuels is often subsidized which artificially suppresses the market price. This in turn also suppresses the development of alternative fuels by making them less price competitive in the market. Therefore, one step that could be undertaken is to begin to alleviate the fuel subsidies on items such as coal and gasoline. This would increase efficiency while also making investments into newer technologies more appealing for investors and end users alike. On an individual level, people could focus on shrinking their fuel consumption by using public transportation when possible, weatherizing their houses, buying local products, and biking to commute as much as possible.

Globalization and the Environment

One problem that seems to be evident locally is the lack of community involvement in recycling programs. While some people do recycle, there are many more that could participate in these programs. If there was greater participation then the amount of trash that ends up in landfills would be reduced and the recycled materials could also reduce the need to use more natural resources in production. To engage more people in the local community to participate in these programs a community outreach strategy could be developed and people could be educated about the programs available and volunteers could even help get individuals and families started in the process.

A Day in the Life

Rachel seems to make very effective use of her time and has an incredibly demanding schedule. Nearly every aspect of her daily schedule is focused on something productive. Furthermore, Rachel must multitask constantly as she bounces from one project to another or from one aspect of a project to another. It seems like it would be difficult to keep all of the information that she acquires throughout the day in context. A day in the life of a project manager seems like it could be incredibly hectic at times and require a great deal of attention to details as well as effective personal time management to handle the jobs requirements.