Theoretical Perspective - Research Paper Example

? Theoretical Perspective Virtual Project Management means managing the workforce from different parts of the world. The project manager utilizes the latest technologies to plan and develop the project through devices and techniques, which produce virtual images and help in data transfer. This methodology is helpful for those industries where it is difficult for managers to visit and detect the problem areas. Oil and gas industry is such a sector which required detecting oil spills and also exploring new oil and gas fields. The project managers in this sector needed to monitor his workforce and schedule tasks for them. Project managers usually use emails and video conferencing techniques for a two way communication with his team members. Apart from this, special 3D and 2D satellite images are used by project managers for detecting the areas of oil spills and the working condition of the pumps. The manager then schedules the maintenance plan for the same. The oil and gas field can also be detected under the sea or on ground through 3D images of Stereo satellites. The companies are injecting the most advanced technologies to increase the efficiency of the workforce and also maximize the profit. Increasing use of these VPM tools is also helping the industry to decrease their operating expenses and this might also affect the price of oil and gases in the global market in future. Table of Contents Virtual Project Management 4 Virtual Project Management (VPM) Tools 4 VPM Tools in Oil Producing Environment 5 Current and Future Abilities for Project Implementation 6 Effect of New Technology on Projects and Members round the World 7 References 8 Virtual Project Management We often see that, the project teams are generally dispersed in many different locations of the world. The projects in MNCs are generally given to team, in which the members might be working from different parts of the world. Sometimes a single project is carried out by different companies. The geographically dispersed work or project is often called virtual projects. Virtual projects are called so because most of the communication regarding the project is done through email, video conferencing, telephone or using other forms of technology. The long distance communication methods and techniques are no longer expensive or prohibited. It helps the project managers to communicate with his project team frequently and openly (Mantel, Meredith, & Shafer, 2006, p. 56). Virtual Project Management (VPM) Tools In Virtual Management, the whole team is mainly depended upon the technological aspects. As such most of the work and decision making functions are undertaken through web-based technology such as internet. The tools that are used in virtual project management need to fit in the teams from all round the world. The main function that any VPM tool should have, is to allow the project team members to communicate with one another efficiently, as all the team member are in separate locations. Moreover, they might not have knowledge of each other's prior work experiences. In this case communication becomes the only key for discussing and formulating plans regarding the project. Secondly, the tools should also allow the team members to collaborate in the virtual space. The tools should also help the project manager to manage the project functions, schedule the resources and also track the progress of the tasks. The VPM tools are usually web based applications, which are used to create schedules and assign tasks. The resources and activities of team members are monitored and important documents are also exchanged through these tools. VPM Tools in Oil Producing Environment Virtual project management tools are very useful in the field of natural resources such as minerals, oil and gas. Since, these natural resources are usually found in remote areas, so technological tools play a very important role in detecting and planning out the projects. In such cases, satellite, and airborne remote sensing technology is often used to select the oil and gas exploration areas and develop plans for conducting the exploration. These also help in detecting areas of oil spills and exchange of information. The geological and geophysical interpretations and the orthorectified images are often used to select the areas for planning. The 2D and the 3D images are also used to study the environmental safety hazards and minimize the risks. There is no other technology in the world which matches the efficiency level of remote sensing, in oil and gas industry. The high resolution satellites are used to explore the larger areas for oil and gas wells or field. The Stereo Satellites and sensors generate Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), for detailed visualization of the actual terrain through computer environment. 1 m satellite imaging mosaics also provides the operators, an efficient planning tool for conducting 2D and 3D seismic surveys. The Virtual model tools are used to visualize and plan the project by utilizing complex 2D and 3D models of oil and gas terrains. Current and Future Abilities for Project Implementation The future organizations would require project managers who can manage uncertainty and tough competition by utilizing a diverse workforce. The project managers also have to utilize their leadership skills to work in virtual project environment. It is very important for the project managers to explain the purpose of the project to the virtual team members. The VPM tools utilized for project management were mainly wed based functions. The communication process was conducted through emails, video conferencing or chats, but in case of oil and gas industry, more advanced tools are required for visualizing the remote terrains. The virtual project management tools utilized now and would be utilized in future in relation to oil and gas industry: Virtual Collaboration, Sensory Control, Business Intelligence, Real time awareness of situations. The future of oil and gas industry is heavily depended upon the 3D simulated environments. The complex data are transferred and sophisticated simulations would also assist the project managers to develop an insight of the project and imagine the situation of the oil or gas field just by sitting in the office. This would also save lot of time and expenses of the company. Real-time data exchange would also help to solve the problems, by decreasing the operating cost of the oil and gas companies. This would also affect the price of oil and gas in the world market. The sensory control equipments such as the neutral actuation device or gesture interface technique are generally supported by the micro electro mechanical systems help the project manager and his teams to analyze the status of the pumps in the oil and gas station and the maintenance of those are planned by them. Virtual meetings are conducted to discuss maintenance issues for pumps. The project Managers utilize the mechanism of both real-time and right-time to filter the information received. This is maintained through the technology of business intelligence, which filters the right set of information for the manager (Santos, Soares, Carvalho, & Raposo, 2012, p. 1). Effect of New Technology on Projects and Members round the World The latest technologies have been skillfully injected in the organizations nowadays to increase the efficiency of the workforce and maximize the profit. The advent of virtual projects has encouraged the globalization of ideas and workforce. It has become easy to work with people belonging to a totally different country. The virtual project management tools have helped the project managers in the oil and gas industry to get a bird eye view of the large areas of exploration where it is impossible for humans to go and visit. It was very difficult to detect oil spills under the sea or ocean. The pipelines are laid over huge areas and it runs from one country to another. The ability of the human resources was limited, but the introduction of 3D satellite pictures made the task easy for project managers. References Mantel, S., Meredith, J., & Shafer, S. (2006). Project Management. New Delhi: Wiley India. Santos, I. H. F., Soares, L. P., Carvalho, F. & Raposo, A. (2012). A Collaborative Virtual Reality Oil & Gas Workflow. Retrieved from http://www.ijvr.org/issues/issue1-2012/paper1.pdf. Read More