Page 238 - DMGT304_EVENT_MANAGEMENT

Unit 10: Leadership

part of larger systems and that one change in the system can affect hundreds of other components Notes
in the event.
The sensitivity analysis is the identification of the degree of influence any part of the event
has on the entire event as a whole. This analysis also aids in the risk-management controls
for the event because it demonstrates how a small change in one area can affect other areas
of the entire event. As a result of this careful documentation, a series of outputs are created,
including charts and reports. Later you can use these outputs to form a handbook or manual
to educate or train others as well as provide important documentation and historical detail
of the event.
Event Leaders will greatly benefit from project management training. The use of this system, as
outlined by O’Toole and Mikolaitis, provides Event Leaders with a system that bridges the most
accepted practices of their clients. For this reason and many more, it is important that Event
Leaders become familiar with how to apply project management techniques to their Event
Leadership system.

10.6 Gap Analysis

Too often, Event Leaders proceed by rote memory to produce an event in a style with which they
are most familiar. In doing this, they often overlook critical gaps in the logical progression of
event elements. Identifying these gaps and providing recommendations for closure is the primary
purpose of gap analysis.
This planning tool involves taking a long, hard look at event elements and identifying significant
gaps in the planning that could weaken the overall progression of the plan. The Event Leader
has created a wide gap in his or her plan that must be closed to strengthen the overall event.
Therefore, finding a secure indoor location in case of a weather emergency would be a good
beginning toward closing this gap.

Use a critical friend—a person whose expertise about the particular event is known to you—
to review your plan and search for gaps in your logical thinking. Once you have identified the
gaps, look for opportunities to close them. By implementing the findings from SWOT and gap
analysis, you are able to begin executing your plan. This execution phase is known as
coordination.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
11. According to Event Project Management (Wiley, 2002), there are several reasons why
project management offers you unique resources for improving your practice.
12. Using a project management system will help you establish a systematic approach to all
events.
13. Like the five phases of Event Leadership, the project management system provides you
with a superstructure to enable you to systematically approach every event using the
same framework.
14. Many events—especially those in the social market—are driven by emotional decisions
rather than systematic or logical approaches.
15. The project management system will personalize the event as it provides you with an
objective process for reviewing the event development.

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