IPMA Global eCollaboration Competition 2024
International project management case study challenge
Context
The Global eCollaboration Competition (GeCCo) 2024 presented a unique opportunity to demonstrate project management competencies in a high-pressure, international collaborative environment. As part of the “Draconic Alliance” team, I participated in this prestigious virtual competition alongside 221 other participants from 42 countries, organized into 37 teams competing in a 24-hour intensive case study challenge.
Competition Overview:
- Organizer: Young Crew of the International Project Management Association (IPMA).
- Scale: 37 teams, 222 participants, 42 countries.
- Challenge: Sustainable Aviation Solutions Inc. (SASI) SAF plant development project.
- Duration: 24-hour intensive case study with 4 submission deadlines.
- Team Result: 19th place globally out of 37 international teams.
Team Composition: Our international team represented six countries across multiple time zones: Canada, Croatia, Iran, Peru, Finland, and Greece.
Case Study Focus: The challenge centered on developing a comprehensive project management solution for SASI’s new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant, addressing market analysis, deployment strategy, stakeholder engagement, and risk management in the emerging sustainable aviation industry.
Methodology
Collaborative Framework: Given the international nature and tight 24-hour timeline, I employed a structured approach combining agile project management principles with focused competency areas:
My Core Responsibilities:
- Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement Planning: Comprehensive mapping and engagement strategies.
- Risk Assessment and Management: Identification, analysis, and mitigation planning.
- Communication Planning: Internal team coordination and external stakeholder communication.
- Questionnaire Contributions: Multiple question responses and strategic input.
- Quality assurance and document organization: Editing, formatting, proofreading, and ensuring deliverable coherence.
Time Zone Management Strategy:
- Established overlapping work windows across 6 time zones.
- Implemented asynchronous contribution methods with clear handoff protocols.
- Created shared documentation systems for real-time collaboration.
Assessment Framework: Teams were evaluated on 8 key questions across two categories:
- Team Collaboration: Organization, communication, work structure, continuous improvement.
- Case Study Execution: Project aspects, stakeholder engagement, risk management, lessons learned.
Process
Phase 1 – Pre-Case Study: The pre-case phase served as a strategic team-building exercise through a creative music-themed assignment. Each team member shared popular music from their respective countries, allowing us to explore cultural diversity while establishing our team identity as the “Draconic Alliance.” Through crafting a compelling presentation, creating a collaborative Spotify playlist and designing a custom cover, we naturally assessed individual capabilities and project management skill levels. This engaging approach facilitated role definition discussions and communication protocol establishment, setting the foundation for effective collaboration across our six-country team before tackling the intensive case study challenge.
Phase 2 – Case Study: Throughout the intensive 24-hour period, I focused on developing comprehensive stakeholder analysis and risk assessment frameworks while coordinating across multiple time zones. My contributions included mapping 9 key stakeholder groups with engagement strategies, identifying and analyzing 5 critical project risks, and supporting the team through questionnaire responses and communication planning. The challenge required constant collaboration and quality assurance, culminating in multiple submission deadlines that demanded precise coordination and document management across our international team.
Phase 3 – Post-Case Study: Created a collaborative team video documenting our GeCCo journey, highlighting key moments, teamwork dynamics, and lessons learned throughout the competition. This reflective phase allowed us to showcase our collaborative experience and share insights from the intensive 24-hour challenge.
Artifacts
Primary Deliverables:
1. Stakeholder Analysis Matrix
- Mapped 9 key stakeholder groups with power/interest analysis.
- Developed engagement strategies and communication preferences.
- Recognized by assessors for detailed quality and comprehensiveness.
2. Risk Management Framework
- Identified 5 critical risks across technical, regulatory, and market categories.
- Created probability/impact assessments with mitigation strategies.
- Contributed to competition’s strongest analytical components.
3. Communication Management Plan
- Developed multi-tiered communication strategy for project stakeholders.
- Established internal team protocols across 6 time zones.
- Integrated stakeholder-specific communication approaches.
4. Questionnaire Responses & Quality Assurance
- Contributed strategic analysis across multiple competition questions.
- Provided editing, formatting, and proofreading for team deliverables.
- Ensured document coherence and professional presentation standards.
Competition Performance & Learning:
- Global Ranking: 19th out of 37 international teams.
- Key Feedback: “Very detailed stakeholder and risk analysis” and “good executive summary”.
- Competencies Validated: Cross-cultural collaboration, analytical thinking, quality-focused delivery under pressure.
- Growth Areas Identified: More specific lessons learned documentation and enhanced communication planning detail.
Key takeaways: This international competition experience demonstrates my ability to apply project management competencies in real-world scenarios, collaborate effectively across cultural boundaries, and deliver quality results under pressure. The recognition from IPMA assessors for detailed analytical work validates my stakeholder and risk management capabilities, while the global ranking demonstrates competitive project management skills on an international stage.
Strategic Value: Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder environments, assess project risks, lead international teams, and maintain quality standards under tight deadlines – essential skills for modern project management roles in global business environments.
Featured image created by myself using the official GeCCo logo by IPMA Young Crew and a laptop stock photo. Used for display purposes.