Picture this: you’re in charge of constructing one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the majestic pyramids of Egypt. You’ve got an army of workers, a grand vision, and a deadline that’s set in stone. Imagine pouring your heart and soul into this project.
As the years go by, the unexpected happens, and suddenly, your once-grand vision is at risk:
- The unexpected, premature death of the pharaoh for whom the pyramid was being built.
- You run out of resources and still need a massive amount of labour & stones.
- The priorities of the pharaohs and the people have changed, and a new project takes precedence.
The construction of the pyramid would grind to a halt because of these common occurrences. Sounds familiar?
Welcome to the world of project management, where even the greatest achievements can crumble without proper planning and execution. And that’s exactly why we can learn so much from the ancient Egyptians and their approach to building pyramids. Think about it, building a pyramid was no small feat. These structures took years, even decades, to complete. IF they were finished as intended.
As a result, the builders of these structures needed to adapt to changing circumstances, such as the death of a pharaoh or the shifting of resources.
The Pyramid of Djoser, built during the 3rd dynasty, is considered being one of the earliest and most important pyramids in ancient Egypt. This pyramid was originally a mastaba-style tomb, but it was later expanded and enlarged to become a six-step pyramid, the first of its kind in Egypt.
This evolution and expansion of the project shows the adaptability and flexibility of the pyramid’s builders, who were able to respond to changing circumstances and incorporate new ideas as the project progressed.
This adaptability is also a key tenet of Agile, a project management methodology that emphasizes flexibility and the ability to respond to change. These same roadblocks and obstacles are faced by project managers today. But just as the ancient Egyptians adapted to changing circumstances, so too can Agile teams when new information comes to light or as the project evolves.
I hear you thinking: “All nice. BUT that does not apply to us. We are different. I see how that works for a pyramid. But that would not work for a house, would it?” Think about it for a bit longer. It is a very common practice, which is applied often:
- Adding a sunroom or porch to create extra space to a house, especially if a family wants to enjoy outdoor living areas.
- Adding a garage or carport to provide extra storage space, as well as a place to park vehicles.
- Expanding the kitchen to create more space for cooking and entertaining.
This approach is referred to as “Incremental housing“. And, this can be taken to the level of the Pyramid of Djoser: in countries like Mexico, India, the Philippines, and many African nations, families may start by building a small, basic structure that serves as their home. Over time, they add additional rooms and levels as they are able to afford it. This type of construction allows families to have a roof over their head while they work towards completing their dream home.
In conclusion, the pyramids of ancient Egypt offer valuable lessons for anyone involved in a large-scale building project. Whether you’re building a pyramid, an incremental house or delivering a project, the key to success is being able to respond to change, embrace flexibility, and evolve your plans as the project progresses. So, take a page from the ancient Egyptians and let’s build some Wonders of the Ancient World, Agile-style!
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