Defence Embracing Rapid Change

The defence participants in my studies on dynamism related how the main battle rifle has traditionally remained the same for long periods (decades) to help maintain high quality and reliability in training, use, storage, maintenance, and distribution.  They also related how they had more recently been forced adjust their approach from resisting change to embracing it, and that now some Australia soldiers carry upward of $20,000 worth of high technology into campaigns, including night-vision and laser-targeting scopes.

At some point the advantages of stability and tight control are outweighed by the advantages of greater agility, and at that point the project management approaches also have to be adjusted to the keep pace with ongoing developments.

Simon Collyer
References
Collyer, S., Warren, C., Hemsley, B., & Stevens, C. (2010). Aim Fire Aim - Project Planning Styles in Dynamic Environments Project Management Journal, 41(4), 108-121. doi: 10.1002/pmj.20199

Collyer, S., Warren, C. M. J. (2009). Project Management Approaches for Dynamic Environments, International Journal of Project Management, 27(4), 355-364