SharkTank- WORKSHOP: Harmonizing Expertise – Managing Multi-Discipline Projects and Teams

Challenge:
Managing projects involving multi-disciplinary teams often leads to communication breakdowns, conflicting priorities, and siloed efforts. Participants must create strategies to foster collaboration, alignment, and efficiency in diverse teams.

Format: Introduction (20 minutes):
Discuss the complexities of managing projects that span multiple disciplines, such as engineering, IT, finance, and operations. Share real-world examples of successful and challenging multi-disciplinary projects.

Group Activity (120 minutes):
1. Scenario Simulation:

• Teams are presented with a project case study involving a cross-functional team (e.g., IT, construction, and environmental specialists).
• The scenario includes challenges such as conflicting deliverables, differing technical languages, and a lack of shared understanding.

• Teams brainstorm solutions to improve communication, set common objectives, and integrate diverse technical inputs.
• Participants identify tools and frameworks to manage cross-functional collaboration, such as RACI matrices, integrated project schedules, and stakeholder alignment meetings.

• Each team presents its proposed approach for aligning multi-disciplinary teams, addressing communication, role clarity, and conflict resolution.

Lego- WORKSHOP: Using Lego Serious Play in Bridging Minds and Generations: Redefining Project Collaboration in a Smart Era

Challenge: Technology alone cannot guarantee success in today’s rapidly evolving project landscape. The real challenge lies in bridging the gap between the mindset of seasoned leaders and the digital-first thinking of the new generation. Participants will develop strategies to harmonize these perspectives and foster a collaborative, future-ready project environment. Format: Introduction (20 minutes): Learn about Lego Serious Play, practice with the Legos, and use imagination and creativity to build metaphors. Discuss the mindset and generational gaps hindering effective collaboration in technology-driven projects. Group Activity (120 minutes): 1. Scenario Simulation: - Teams are assigned a case study illustrating a project with seasoned executives and younger, tech-savvy professionals. - Scenario highlights include misaligned communication styles, resistance to new tools, and conflicting expectations about project workflows. 2.LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Exercise: - Individual Build: Each participant builds a model representing their view of ideal project collaboration in a smart, technology-driven era. - Team Co-Build: Teams merge individual models into one shared model, representing a unified vision of secure, streamlined, and smart collaboration across generations. - Problem-Solving Reflection: - Teams discuss insights from their LEGO® models:  What assumptions surfaced?  What mindset shifts are needed?  What practical actions can bridge the human gap? Solution Presentation (40 minutes): - Each team presents their shared LEGO® model and explains: - The key barriers identified - The strategies they propose for bridging mindsets and generations