Last Friday, I had the privilege of participating in the Solidarity Superlive, a crucial event organized by PMI Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil ((https://pmirs.org.br/)) and PMI Latam to support the recovery of Rio Grande do Sul. Not only did this event serve a noble cause, but a constellation of project management experts provided invaluable insights into crisis management, which are particularly relevant in the context of the current situation in the southern region of Brazil.
The scale and impact of the current Rio Grande do Sul crisis is unprecedented in the region and a dramatic example of what we will face with increasing frequency and intensity. On February 10, 2020, in my hometown, Botucatu, a torrential rainstorm caused massive damage to bridges, roads, and buildings and, unfortunately, four deaths. Recently, a large-scale fire occurred in a dense vegetation area near my residence, causing significant fear and apprehension.
Recognizing the importance of the topic and that we are all exposed to the occurrence of disasters, I would like to share some practical insights from the presentations I was able to attend. These insights are not just theoretical knowledge but can be applied in real-life situations, making them extremely useful for any citizen, especially project managers who are fundamental agents in implementing changes
Ricardo Vargas shared his experiences with risk projects during his tenure at the UN. Some key points:
Recognizing the situation (“awareness”) as a crisis is crucial for quick assessment and decision-making.
Ricardo explored the importance of crisis containment, such as restoring order and essential services.
Recovery should be based on lessons learned, utilizing the concept of Build Back Better, which may involve difficult decisions like rebuilding in another location.
Evaluating lessons learned is fundamental to avoiding new crises.
Critical elements in a crisis: community, leadership, empathy, and flexibility.
He also mentioned the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (https://www.undrr.org/implementing-sendai-framework/what-sendai-framework).
Farhad Abdollahyan discussed best practices for post-disaster reconstruction. Highlights include:
Disasters are the consequence of wrong decisions or lack of decisions.
The danger (natural or anthropogenic) can vary according to the overall resilience to deal with the situation.
Pre-disaster actions: prevention and mitigation, strengthening readiness systems like alarms.
During the disaster: alert, evacuation, rescue, humanitarian aid, damage assessment, social assistance, restoration of infrastructure and services (Build Back Better), resettlement, reconstruction, recovery, and development.
Importance of public and private investments, oversight, and citizen awareness.
Farhad cited examples of locations where prevention plans have already been developed, such as Chile and Japan, where there are public structures to respond to disasters quickly.
Disaster response does not need to be grand; everyone can contribute locally.
Farhad is the co-author of the “Cartilha pós-inundação” (along with Finocchio and Guilherme Lima): https://www.crea-rs.org.br/site/documentos/Cartilha-de-Recuperacao-Pos-Inundacao-Estrategias-de-Estabilizacao-Rev02.pdf
José Finocchio Jr and Guilherme Lima gave a hands-on presentation on inventive methods for problem-solving. Using a case study of rebuilding a flooded property, they collaboratively explored ChatGPT, Miro, and PM Canvas and used the Flood Recovery Guide (https://floodmary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/homeowners-guide-to-flood-recovery.pdf) as a reference for data in ChatGPT. Finally, there was an explanation about TRIZ, a structured methodology for innovation developed in 1946 by Genrich Altshuller. They further explored the use of GPT Triz Master in ChatGPT.
Mario Trentim presented the organization Project Managers Without Borders (PMWB), https://pmwb.org/, which was recently incorporated into Project Management Institute . He discussed its history, initiatives, and volunteer opportunities, which will be available on the Volunteer Engagement Platform (VEP): https://www.pmi.org/leadership-central/volunteer-engagement-platform.
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in organizing and holding this Superlive. I also want to express my deep appreciation for those who are contributing in various ways to the recovery of Rio Grande do Sul. My thoughts and solidarity are with the people of Rio Grande do Sul.
#CrisisManagement #SolidaritySuperlive #PMIRioGrandeDoSul #PMILatam #BuildBackBetter #TRIZ #Innovation #Disasters #Reconstruction #PMIVolunteering #Crises #pmirs
Comments