Project Delivery, Uncertainty and Neuroscience: A Leader's Guide to Walking in Fog

by Carole Osterweil

Working on complex projects often in the form of change and transformation programmes can be stressful and unpredictable. Whilst there is plenty of advice on how to manage the stresses that come with the job and the ‘people issues’ that get in the way of delivery, much of it doesn’t quite hit the spot.This book takes a different tack. It recognises the reality of organisational life where many leaders and project professionals find so much is changing, on so many fronts, that at times it seems impossible to keep up - let alone influence the way forward. And this is not how your organisation or projects are supposed to function! At times you feel stuck, frustrated and unable to put a finger on what is going wrong or why. It’s like being caught in a thick fog. Unable to see a way forward, all you can do is keep walking and take cues from those around you.Fully referenced, yet concise and easy to read, Project Delivery, Uncertainty and Neuroscience, draws on recent research in neuroscience, mindfulness, complexity and project management.Part One is a primer. It draws explores how the human brain works to build an understanding of why people behave as they do in organisations (the social dynamics). It uses this as a platform to examine the dynamics of complexity, and attitudes to risk and uncertainty; three factors which have a fundamental impact on stress levels and project outcomes.Part Two is primarily a toolkit. It includes a series of practical frameworks and suggestions to help you apply your knowledge from Part One. These develop your capability to read and influence the behaviors and emotions of everyone involved, and to see projects as social systems. Together these tools allow you to take the stress out of delivery, reduce complexity and improve business and personal outcomes.Project Delivery, Uncertainty and Neuroscience was groundbreaking when it came out in 2019. And it led to the Association for Project Management inviting the author to expand on her ideas and write a follow up, Neuroscience for Project Success, why people behave as they do.You could describe Project Delivery, Uncertainty and Neuroscience as a truncated version of Neuroscience for Project Success.Project Delivery, Uncertainty and Neuroscience is the ideal purchase for people an introduction to this arenaare short on timewant to purchase multiple copies for their team members

Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2019

Reviews

[Saeed Ramazany · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتاب کلا ۴۰ صفحه‌س.
من دنبال کتابی بودم که به نقش ابهام تو زندگی و تصمیم‌گیری بپردازه و کمک کنه تو دوران فرینلسی با فشار روانی کمتری فعالیت کنم.
ولی این کتاب در مورد مدیریت پروژه‌ها و افراد بود (همان طور که در عنوانش هم هست).
خوبی کتاب اینه اضافات بیخود نداره. یه ایده رو مطرح می‌کنه، از دو سه تا مقاله و یه پژوهش اسم می‌بره و میگه بر اساس این حرفا چه کار کنیم که یک تیم به نتایج برسه. ایده اصلی هم اینه که ابهام یه چیز تنیده شده تو پروژه‌هاست و افراد ایده‌ی مختلفی از وضعیت ابهام و شفافیت پروژه دارند. هم باید این ابهام رو فهمید، هم تلاش کرد ایده افراد بهم نزدیک بشه و البته کمتر درگیر استرس بشند که کارایی تیم پایین نیاد.

[Dave Snowdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 43 pages it's more of a booklet than a book. What information that is presented is useful but I feel there could have been a bit more in the "walking in fog" - perhaps some more hints on how to tackle this; the book(let) is quite vague in this area.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical, helpful