To the Sound of Air Raid Sirens: Mini MBA Program “Action in Hope” Continues in Odesa

The first training day was dedicated to project management. Together with Svitlana Buhai, a Ukrainian business trainer, management and organizational development consultant, and lecturer at the UCU Business School (LvBS), participants explored how to turn an idea into a realized project and analysed management tools required for effective teamwork. Given the danger and frequent air raid alerts, the session took place in a shelter.

During the session, special attention was paid to the key functions of management—planning, organizing, executing, controlling, and communicating. Delegation formed a distinct topic: participants discussed which tasks a leader should retain and which should be entrusted to the team and practiced the algorithm of a delegating conversation—from setting tasks to transferring responsibility and defining expected results.

The practical part of the training focused on team development and effective internal interaction. Attendees learned about Bruce Tuckman’s model of team development, examining the characteristics of various stages of team formation, conflict management methods, and principles for building trust among members. The role of feedback as a tool for employee development, maintaining motivation, and improving work quality was also addressed.

Particular attention during the session was devoted to motivation. Participants analysed the internal factors that influence people’s engagement in a shared cause, how a leader can account for different types of motivation, and why a successful project relies not only on high-quality planning, but also on the ability to unite a team around a common goal.