Dubai

The ability to respond with agility to the growing disruption caused by innovation in the digital world is the key to development, a leading global management guru said at the fourth Dubai International Project Management Forum (DIPMF) on Monday.

“Innovation will continue to disrupt the way we work and live and it won’t slow down, so those who show increased agility or are quick to respond to the challenges in the market will be ahead of others. Nobody knows this better than Dubai,” said Mark Langley, President and CEO of Project Management Institute, during a keynote presentation on the first day of DIPMF at Madinat Jumeriah.

He added that Dubai has the experience in positively dealing with disruptions and, more importantly, driving fundamental change with a clear vision.

“This comes from having plans and targeted actions that are necessary to implement change, transforming the entire country. I travel around the world and marvel each time I come back and see the change that happens in Dubai compared to what happens outside,” Langley said.

He pointed out that having strategies alone will not bring success but clarity of vision, planning, action and implementation are the keys to build a bright future.

“The greatest strategies have to be realised with the capabilities to implement those strategies and that is the fundamental rule of management. All strategic change happens through projects and programmes. Those who understand that and build the capability with agility will be able to respond to the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that exist and Dubai is doing exactly that,” he said.

Organised by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) the DIPMF this year focuses on ‘making the difference.’

The two-day event will see 59 management gurus speaking at various sessions as well as conducting workshops. More than 1,500 professionals from 36 countries are taking part in the annual event.

Awards

The forum was inaugurated on Monday by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, who also honoured the winners of the first Hamdan Bin Mohammad Award for Innovation in Project Management.

Saudi Arabia’s Amjad Odeh Al Shabatat won the innovative project manager award for his water reservoir project in Makkah, which came handy in supplying water during the annual pilgrimage season.

The innovative PMO manager award was bagged by Germany’s John Donohoe.

In the organisation category, American firm Hyperloop UC won the Innovative Project Team Award, while UNICEF’ Kids Power project won in the category of Innovative Idea in Project Management.

Locally, Etisalat’s Dubai Park and Resorts Smart Theme Park programme, won the Innovative Idea in Programme Management.

In the portfolio management category, Borouge PTE bagged the top prize.

A total of Dh2 million was awarded in prize money to the winners of different categories.