- Blog Categories
- Project Management
- Agile Management
- IT Service Management
- Cloud Computing
- Business Management
- BI And Visualisation
- Quality Management
- Cyber Security
- Most Popular Blogs
- PMP Exam Schedule for 2025: Check PMP Exam Date
- Top 60+ PMP Exam Questions and Answers for 2025
- PMP Cheat Sheet and PMP Formulas To Use in 2025
- What is PMP Process? A Complete List of 49 Processes of PMP
- Top 15+ Project Management Case Studies with Examples 2025
- Top Picks by Authors
- Top 170 Project Management Research Topics
- What is Effective Communication: Definition
- How to Create a Project Plan in Excel in 2025?
- PMP Certification Exam Eligibility in 2025 [A Complete Checklist]
- PMP Certification Fees - All Aspects of PMP Certification Fee
- Most Popular Blogs
- CSM vs PSM: Which Certification to Choose in 2025?
- How Much Does Scrum Master Certification Cost in 2025?
- CSPO vs PSPO Certification: What to Choose in 2025?
- 8 Best Scrum Master Certifications to Pursue in 2025
- Safe Agilist Exam: A Complete Study Guide 2025
- Top Picks by Authors
- SAFe vs Agile: Difference Between Scaled Agile and Agile
- Top 21 Scrum Best Practices for Efficient Agile Workflow
- 30 User Story Examples and Templates to Use in 2025
- State of Agile: Things You Need to Know
- Top 24 Career Benefits of a Certifed Scrum Master
- Most Popular Blogs
- ITIL Certification Cost in 2025 [Exam Fee & Other Expenses]
- Top 17 Required Skills for System Administrator in 2025
- How Effective Is Itil Certification for a Job Switch?
- IT Service Management (ITSM) Role and Responsibilities
- Top 25 Service Based Companies in India in 2025
- Top Picks by Authors
- What is Escalation Matrix & How Does It Work? [Types, Process]
- ITIL Service Operation: Phases, Functions, Best Practices
- 10 Best Facility Management Software in 2025
- What is Service Request Management in ITIL? Example, Steps, Tips
- An Introduction To ITIL® Exam
- Most Popular Blogs
- A Complete AWS Cheat Sheet: Important Topics Covered
- Top AWS Solution Architect Projects in 2025
- 15 Best Azure Certifications 2025: Which one to Choose?
- Top 22 Cloud Computing Project Ideas in 2025 [Source Code]
- How to Become an Azure Data Engineer? 2025 Roadmap
- Top Picks by Authors
- Top 40 IoT Project Ideas and Topics in 2025 [Source Code]
- The Future of AWS: Top Trends & Predictions in 2025
- AWS Solutions Architect vs AWS Developer [Key Differences]
- Top 20 Azure Data Engineering Projects in 2025 [Source Code]
- 25 Best Cloud Computing Tools in 2025
- Most Popular Blogs
- Company Analysis Report: Examples, Templates, Components
- 400 Trending Business Management Research Topics
- Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK): Guide
- ECBA Certification: Is it Worth it?
- How to Become Business Analyst in 2025? Step-by-Step
- Top Picks by Authors
- Top 20 Business Analytics Project in 2025 [With Source Code]
- ECBA Certification Cost Across Countries
- Top 9 Free Business Requirements Document (BRD) Templates
- Business Analyst Job Description in 2025 [Key Responsibility]
- Business Analysis Framework: Elements, Process, Techniques
- Most Popular Blogs
- Best Career options after BA [2025]
- Top Career Options after BCom to Know in 2025
- Top 10 Power Bi Books of 2025 [Beginners to Experienced]
- Power BI Skills in Demand: How to Stand Out in the Job Market
- Top 15 Power BI Project Ideas
- Top Picks by Authors
- 10 Limitations of Power BI: You Must Know in 2025
- Top 45 Career Options After BBA in 2025 [With Salary]
- Top Power BI Dashboard Templates of 2025
- What is Power BI Used For - Practical Applications Of Power BI
- SSRS Vs Power BI - What are the Key Differences?
- Most Popular Blogs
- Data Collection Plan For Six Sigma: How to Create One?
- Quality Engineer Resume for 2025 [Examples + Tips]
- 20 Best Quality Management Certifications That Pay Well in 2025
- Six Sigma in Operations Management [A Brief Introduction]
- Top Picks by Authors
- Six Sigma Green Belt vs PMP: What's the Difference
- Quality Management: Definition, Importance, Components
- Adding Green Belt Certifications to Your Resume
- Six Sigma Green Belt in Healthcare: Concepts, Benefits and Examples
- Most Popular Blogs
- Latest CISSP Exam Dumps of 2025 [Free CISSP Dumps]
- CISSP vs Security+ Certifications: Which is Best in 2025?
- Best CISSP Study Guides for 2025 + CISSP Study Plan
- How to Become an Ethical Hacker in 2025?
- Top Picks by Authors
- CISSP vs Master's Degree: Which One to Choose in 2025?
- CISSP Endorsement Process: Requirements & Example
- OSCP vs CISSP | Top Cybersecurity Certifications
- How to Pass the CISSP Exam on Your 1st Attempt in 2025?
- More
- Tutorials
- Practise Tests
- Interview Questions
- Free Courses
- Agile & PMP Practice Tests
- Agile Testing
- Agile Scrum Practice Exam
- CAPM Practice Test
- PRINCE2 Foundation Exam
- PMP Practice Exam
- Cloud Related Practice Test
- Azure Infrastructure Solutions
- AWS Solutions Architect
- AWS Developer Associate
- IT Related Pratice Test
- ITIL Practice Test
- Devops Practice Test
- TOGAF® Practice Test
- Other Practice Test
- Oracle Primavera P6 V8
- MS Project Practice Test
- Project Management & Agile
- Project Management Interview Questions
- Release Train Engineer Interview Questions
- Agile Coach Interview Questions
- Scrum Interview Questions
- IT Project Manager Interview Questions
- Cloud & Data
- Azure Databricks Interview Questions
- AWS architect Interview Questions
- Cloud Computing Interview Questions
- AWS Interview Questions
- Kubernetes Interview Questions
- Web Development
- CSS3 Free Course with Certificates
- Basics of Spring Core and MVC
- Javascript Free Course with Certificate
- React Free Course with Certificate
- Node JS Free Certification Course
- Data Science
- Python Machine Learning Course
- Python for Data Science Free Course
- NLP Free Course with Certificate
- Data Analysis Using SQL
- Home
- Blog
- Project Management
- How To Manage Your Project In A VUCA Project Environment
How To Manage Your Project In A VUCA Project Environment
Updated on Jul 19, 2018 | 2 min read
Share:
Projects were never simple.
But they seem to be getting less so. Not only is the external environment more challenging, but we now have to balance the traditional need for rigor, which predictive methodologies give us, with the new desire for agility, and all the options for Agile Project Management. A promising way to advance in the project management career is by enrolling in online PMP certification training.
Welcome to the VUCA World
The acronym VUCA stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. It was originally applied to the 21st-century military theatres of operations. Now, the old-fashioned war movie simplicities of friend or foe no longer seem to apply. These are environments where the rules seem to change rapidly, along with the technology, the tactics, and the politics.
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/upgrad1/abroad-images/tag/project-management/widget/imagePWMXXS2DP30L.webp?tr=w-undefined,q-70)
Master Right Skills & Boost Your Career
Avail your free 1:1 mentorship session
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/upgrad1/abroad-images/imageCompo/images/1531973932280_image6EQGV48.webp?pr-true)
Does that sound familiar?
Those of us who are fortunate to work in a safe project environment of a modern office, factory or warehouse don't put our lives at risk whenever we come to work. But we do still have to deal with the impacts of constant change, shifting priorities, and flexible allegiances.
So, what can we do to cope? I’d like to make a few suggestions.
A Compelling Cause
The benefit of a well-defined project is that it has a single, compelling goal to drive you. Where you can separate bigger, more complex projects into a number of smaller single-goal projects.
Use these goals as your anchor, to remind you what you need to be doing and why. Build stage gates into your projects, and at each one, actively review the project goals against business needs. Because, in a volatile world, your priorities may change.
The Gemba
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/upgrad1/abroad-images/imageCompo/images/1531974045963_image1_1_RKE60C.webp?pr-true)
The Gemba is a Japanese concept of 'the place where it happens'. In military jargon, we have the ground truth. Yet too many project managers spend their time in meetings or, worse, behind a screen. To help cut through uncertainty and ambiguity, physically go to where people are working on your project, the problem is occurring, or to your stakeholder’s office.
Strategic Networking
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/upgrad1/abroad-images/imageCompo/images/1531974073993_image2BFGFGH.webp?pr-true)
Project allegiances may shift, but long-term alliances make you stronger. They create political flexibility and provide emotional support. Go beyond simple stakeholder engagement and amplify your project performance by building collaborative partnerships. But remember, in a volatile and uncertain environment, you will need to constantly invest in maintaining the quality of these relationships.
Powerhouse Peak
Project managers typically thrive under pressure. But, under too much pressure, even we can crumble. But equally, without enough pressure, we easily get bored and inefficient.
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/upgrad1/abroad-images/imageCompo/images/1531974094787_image3NVUVQ9.webp?pr-true)
The Powerhouse Peak is the sweet-spot between boredom and overwhelm. Get there by designing your work so that it:
- Has clear and worthwhile outcomes
- Stretches you to your limit
- Allows you to monitor progress and quality as you go
Top Cities where Knowledgehut Conduct Project Management Certification Training Course Online
The Best Thinking Mode for the Task
There are different thinking modes and you need to choose the right one for each situation. Before jumping in, reflect on which is the best:
- Sometimes you need to respond quickly and instinctively. If the situation is complex but you are familiar with it, intuition will guide you well.
- But, for less familiar situations, intuition will often let you down and you need the rigor of careful consideration.
- Always carve time out of your week for half an hour of quiet thinking time. There you can access your deep insights and creativity.
- And sometimes rational thinking is not enough. You need to open yourself up to people’s emotional responses and call upon your empathic understanding of the situation.
Constructive Conduct
There are two priorities only in project management:
- Delivering your project
- Doing so in an ethical and accountable manner
Everything else is tactical. So, what matters when you are under pressure is not blind adherence to petty rules. It’s an iron commitment to the principles and values that make-up you, your organisation, and what you stand.
Treat people well, and do what is right for them. When you behave compassionately and constructively, you’ll earn the loyalty and commitment of your team. That’s worth far more under pressure than any number of rules.
Horizon Scanning
Be a Meerkat. From time to time, they stop what they are doing and put their heads up, stand on tip-toes, and scan the horizon for dangers or opportunities.
Do the same. Make time in your day for a systematic inventory of your project and what is around the next bend. Building an awareness of your environment will prevent you from being caught out by the volatility and uncertainties of life.
I like to inventory what I call the SPECTRES of the future:
- Social changes
- Political pressures
- Economic forces
- Commercial considerations
- Technological shifts
- Regulatory regimes
- Environmental factors
- Security priorities
Elevate your career with our online PRINCE2 training certification. Master project management and reach new heights!
Powerhouse Project Management Modes
When shift happens, and one of your SPECTRES looms on the horizon, you need to respond appropriately. There is no single style of good project management. Instead, you need to pick the right one for the circumstances. Which of the six Powerhouse modes will you choose to deploy:
- Calming and decisive leadership
- Exploration to resolve uncertainty
- Lock in certainty with a clear process
- Steady problem resolution with fix-it mode
- Direct activities to avert danger or a crisis
- When others know what to do, support them
The following diagram best explains how to harness a VUCA environment for the best outcomes.
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/upgrad1/abroad-images/imageCompo/images/1531974282941_image44FBIEX.webp?pr-true)
Curiosity
In a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, you can never afford to stop learning. Otherwise, before you notice, you will be unaware of the new things you need to know and understand.
At least once a week, take a step back and reflect on what has happened. Make time for reading and conversations. Continuous learning and growth is the mark of a true professional, and this has one thing at its heart: Curiosity.
The Powerhouse Loop: The Ultimate Success System
One simple cycle keeps your work on track in uncertain times: The Powerhouse Loop.
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/upgrad1/abroad-images/imageCompo/images/1531974313783_image57AEK7B.webp?pr-true)
Identify your opportunities, analyse them, put in place a plan, and take action. Then identify your progress or setbacks, analyse them, make a new plan, and take more actions.
The Powerhouse Loop never ends: it articulates the secret to success in anything: 'intelligent persistence' - keeping going through adversity, adjusting where necessary, and stopping when it no longer makes sense.
This is how to do projects. It’s at the core of traditional, planned project management, and it is at the heart of the Agile approach to projects too. This is the key to staying adaptable in a VUCA project environment.
Get Free Consultation
By submitting, I accept the T&C and
Privacy Policy