Not business as usual: increasing operational lifetime and attracting new science through utilization of project management principles for observatories

The astronomy society is undergoing a massive series of disruptions. From the blooming field of artificial intelligence to worldwide pandemics and to capturing the first-time historic images of certain celestial phenomenon; permanent shifts are reshaping this science community. Project management (PM) is now the most important method for astronomy leaders in this society to handle these changes for a positive and desirable outcome. It is a challenge to be a project manager in the astronomy world which is driven by effort, when progress and results are what is required from a project manager to deliver a successful project. Since PM is the essential model for creating value in all private industries, now non-profit organizations are pressured to follow the same principles that composes a project, which determines whether the project's life-cycle was a success. If governments, non-profit organizations, and educational facilities focus on these principles and apply their associated functions, project success will be almost guaranteed. Throughout the astronomy society, forward-looking observatories will set themselves up for sustainable growth. This article will talk about the observations of the author on the challenges to apply PM principles in operational observatories and how to follow PM principles dutifully in future projects for long lasting observatories.