It was one of the finest baroque churches in the world (Meg, 1998) in a city that is known as “Florence of the Elbe”, dominating the skyline since its completion in 1743 (Furlong, 2004): The Frauenkirche (“Church of Our Lady”) in Dresden, Germany. Unfortunately, the church was destroyed in 1945, when Allied bombers attacked the city and killed around 100,000 inhabitants (Connolly, 2005; Meg, 1998) in response to the Germans bombing the City of London. After the blackened ruins had laid for decades (Connolly, 2004), the church was reconstructed between 1994 and 2005 based on a civilian initiative that aimed to create a symbol for reconciliation and peace (Furlong, 2004).
This report aims to sketch the major characteristics of the according project and the lessons that can be learned from its realisation. It thereby draws on major project management tools and frameworks in the following categories:
- Project description, vision and strategy
- Challenges
- Project stakeholders
- Project risks
- Lessons learned
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Project description, vision and strategy
3. Special challenges
3.A) Technology - High-tech
3.B) Novelty - Platform
3.C) Complexity - System
3.D) Pace - Regular
4. Stakeholder
5. Risks
6. Main lessons
Project Goals and Themes
This report aims to analyze the project management characteristics of the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche in Dresden, focusing on how the initiative successfully navigated technological, stakeholder, and risk-related challenges to achieve its vision of reconciliation.
- Historical preservation through the combination of traditional techniques and modern technology.
- Pro-active stakeholder management to ensure broad public support and financial stability.
- Application of project management frameworks such as the "Diamond Framework" and the "Extended Iron Triangle".
- Risk mitigation strategies and lessons learned from a large-scale international reconstruction effort.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Special challenges
The project involved various challenges. The “Diamond Framework” by Shenhar & Dvir (2007) helps to identify those standing out from the crowd.
A) Technology - High-tech
To live up its vision, the builder-owner used a sensible combination of traditional and modern technologies (dw.com, 2005), which was technologically challenging. Mr Burger, the responsible master builder, describes it as a “balancing act between the knowledge and application of the old handicraft techniques, in use since the Middle Ages, and the implementation of modern technology" (Goethe-Institut, n.d.). Technologically pioneering was the use of a computer animation to identify the original location of the historic building material (Ruthe, 2005). In order to continue the work throughout the year, heating units were deployed to heat up several workplaces (Burger, 2005).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of the Dresden Frauenkirche, its destruction in 1945, and the civilian-led initiative to rebuild it as a symbol of peace.
2. Project description, vision and strategy: Describes the mission goals, including the integration of historical material with modern technology and the strategy of international involvement and fundraising.
3. Special challenges: Analyzes the project's specific difficulties using the "Diamond Framework," covering technology, novelty, complexity, and pace.
4. Stakeholder: Examines the various stakeholders involved, their specific interests, and how the initiative successfully managed these relationships to secure the project.
5. Risks: Discusses the identified risks, such as funding issues and environmental factors, and how these were prioritized and mitigated during the construction.
6. Main lessons: Synthesizes the project's success and outlines three core lessons regarding stakeholder influence, project vision, and the symbolic value of infrastructure projects.
Keywords
Frauenkirche, Dresden, Project Management, Reconstruction, Stakeholder Management, Risk Mitigation, Diamond Framework, Reconciliation, Civil Initiative, Monument, Architectural Heritage, Funding, Traditional Techniques, Modern Technology, International Cooperation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this report?
The report examines the project management practices employed during the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche in Dresden, evaluating how the project was planned, executed, and successfully completed.
What are the central themes of the work?
Key themes include project vision and strategy, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and the use of the "Diamond Framework" to assess project complexity and technological requirements.
What is the primary objective of this project?
The primary objective was to reconstruct the ruined church to its former glory to create a memorial against war and a symbol of reconciliation between former warring nations.
Which scientific methods were used in the analysis?
The analysis utilizes established management models such as the "Diamond Framework" by Shenhar & Dvir, the "Extended Iron Triangle," and power/interest grids for stakeholder analysis.
What is covered in the main body of the document?
The main body details the project's vision, specific technical challenges, a comprehensive stakeholder map, risk planning, and an evaluation of the project's overall success.
Which keywords best characterize this project?
Core keywords include Project Management, Reconstruction, Stakeholder Management, Reconciliation, and the Diamond Framework.
How was the challenge of "High-tech" addressed during reconstruction?
It was managed as a "balancing act" by combining traditional medieval handicraft techniques with modern technologies, such as computer-assisted identification of historic stones.
What role did the "flood of the century" play in the project's risk management?
The 2002 flood revealed that the builder-owner had underestimated environmental risks, as contingency plans for such low-probability events were insufficient.
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- Alexander Keck (Autor:in), 2017, Project Management. The reconstruction of Dresden’s Frauenkirche, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/455060
