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Knowledge Sharing Innovations in the Natural Resources Community: A toolkit for community-based project teams

Abstract

Preface

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2 - Assessing impact

Chapter 3 - Environmental Complexity

Chapter 4 – Reducing the risk of failure

Chapter 5 - Critical Success Factors

Chapter 6 - Advice

Appendix A: Project Descriptions

Appendix B: Project characteristics

Appendix C: Project Highlights

Appendix D: Teleconference Participants

Appendix E: Reflection Workshop Participants
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Chapter 5 - Critical Success Factors

Expect change and be flexible

Each of the project teams acknowledged that change was inevitable. As one grantee stated, “The one thing you can count on in a project is change.” Whether because of technological problems, personnel issues, or changing needs of stakeholders, the ability of the project lead to assess these events and to make adjustments as necessary was found to be vital to the success of each project. A number of participants noted the importance of open communication among team members and with stakeholders to effectively assess project goals, timetables and stakeholders. They also noted the value of having the service objective statement as well as an understanding of stakeholder needs as a way to inform discussions about changes in the environment and in resources available to the project.


Environmental Scanning
Organizations use environmental scanning to monitor important events in their surrounding environment. It is a way to answer the questions, “What’s happening in my environment that will affect my future?” Scanning involves identifying the issues and trends that have important implications for the future. Scanning includes analysis of the information about these issues and trends to assess their importance and determine their implications for planning and strategic decision making in your project.
Source: Making Smart IT Choices

Tips
  • “Plan the work and work the plan.” Recognize that change is inevitable. Be open to the likelihood that the conditions within which the project is being carried out will change and the project plan will have to change as well.
  • Look for opportunities for positive change – sometimes unexpected changes create negative consequences, however, sometimes they are positive. Keep an eye out for those opportunities.
  • Continuously assess the project environment and progress regularly and make adjustments as needed.