Reading [this post](https://lnkd.in/exUvDUki) on LinkedIn about a scientific research expedition made me reflect on the nature of project outcomes. In science, setting out with a hypothesis and discovering it to be incorrect doesn't equate to failure; rather, it's a vital part of the journey towards discovery. This perspective sparked a realisation about my own project at Shopify—why wasn't I applying the same logic? Stopping a project can often be seen as a setback, but whether it’s a GSD project in Shopify or a scientific expedition, it can actually signify progress, adaptability, and strategic foresight. Both scenarios underscore the dynamic nature of project management and research, where outcomes, insights, and strategic shifts are crucial in deciding whether to continue or discontinue an initiative. So I wanted to share this, and ask: How’s your project going? If it’s not progressing as expected, could it be time to consider stopping it? This may seem counterintuitive, especially in an environment like Shopify where everything is so high-energy and forward-moving. But sometimes, the boldest move you can make is to press pause - or even stop. I recently made the decision to stop my project, Integration of Deployment Training for Developers. This decision was influenced by the evolution of learning strategies and how we have adopted learning tools like VaultBot and ChatGPT. A shift that reflects a broader trend in corporate training and development towards more agile, just-in-time learning modalities that can be more effective and less disruptive than traditional structured programs. In scientific research, the findings, whether they confirm or refute the initial hypothesis, provide valuable insights that can redirect the focus of inquiry. If NUIG's research concludes that climate change does not significantly impact the role of microorganisms in carbon absorption, it doesn't signify failure. Rather, it offers new knowledge that can change our understanding and influence future research directions. Stopping a project often involves strategic realignment with current needs and goals. At Shopify, integrating immediate, on-demand learning tools represents an adaptation to the changing landscape of workplace learning, optimizing resources to better suit the developers' and the company's needs. Regardless of the outcome, the research team’s findings might prompt a realignment of research focus towards more pressing or newly uncovered issues related to climate change and marine biology. Here, stopping and realigning ensures that resources are used where they are most needed, enhancing the overall impact of research efforts. In both worlds, stopping a project is not a marker of failure but a part of the evolutionary process of learning and adaptation. It is being responsive to new information and changing circumstances, ensuring that efforts are directed in the most effective and efficient manner.
A research team led by University of Galway is investigating whether climate change is reducing the impact that some of tiniest organisms in the oceans have on CO2 levels in the atmosphere. The researchers spent several weeks at sea on board the Marine Institute’s Celtic Explorer in the Labrador Sea between Canada and Greenland, to record levels of phytoplankton. The expedition team are assessing the role of these tiny plants in carbon absorption from the atmosphere in the context of the threat from climate change on the seas from freshwater and meltwater in the Arctic regions. The research expedition was funded by the Marine Institute, and led by Professor Brian Ward, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway and involved researchers from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada and the Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University Newfoundland; and the Science Foundation Ireland research centre for applied geosciences - iCRAG. Science Foundation Ireland Dalhousie University Ocean Frontier Institute iCRAG - SFI Research Centre in Applied Geosciences #UniversityofGalway #Research #MarineScience #ClimateChange #Phytoplankton
