Elements of Cost Overruns, Delays, and Risks Involved in Project Management as Applied to Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Construction Projects

Project management is the crucial component for managing and mitigating the inherent risks associated with changes in technology and innovation. The procedures to track the schedule, budget, and scope of various projects in the standard worlds of engineering, manufacturing, construction, etc., are essential elements to the success of the project. Cost overruns, schedule changes, and other natural risks must be managed effectively. But what happens when a project manager is tasked with delivering an attraction that needs to withstand harsh weather conditions, and millions of people enjoying it every year, for a company with arguably the highest standards for quality and guest satisfaction? This would describe the project managers at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) and the projects they oversee have tight budgets, aggressive schedules and require a bit more pixie dust than other engineering projects. However, the universal truth is that no matter the size or the scope of the endeavor, project management processes are absolutely essential to ensuring that every team member can effectively collaborate to deliver the best product.