Implementing strategic projects - A business leader's view

Delivering Strategic ProjectsA business leader’s/owner’s view

June 21, 2013

Early Bird Breakfast NetworkLake County Chamber of Commerce

Learning objectives

• Share globally recognized definitions of the terms project, program and portfolio

• Share five tips and action items business leaders can implement immediately at virtually no cost

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Agenda

• Common Terms– Project, Program and Portfolio– Strategic initiatives / projects

• Useful Tips– Tip #1 – Clear vision of the desired end result– Tip #2 – Foster an environment for straight talk– Tip #3 – Test scope and plans for reasonableness– Tip #4 – Realize milestone delays effect overall schedule– Tip #5 – Ask probing questions

• Q&A


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Common Terms - Project

Temporary Definite Beginning and End Objectives achieved or not Need for project no longer

existsUnique Deliverable(s)

Product, Service or Result

A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or, result.

Progressive Elaboration Developing in steps Progressing in

incrementsProjects versus Operational

Work Projects are unique and

temporary Operations are on-going

LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013

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Project ExamplesSmall Business Preparing the RFI / RFQ

Response Planning an event Launching a new product or

service Planning and implementing new

business processes and/or tools Building an iPhone, or Android

app for your business Renovating a facility Building a road Developing a Proof of Concept

(POC) Moving a department to a new

office location

Government Preparing the Procurement

Management Plan Preparing the Contract Statement

of Work Preparing the Qualified Suppliers

List Correcting a supplier issue Procuring resources for a specific

initiative or project Implementing a strategic initiative Preparing a custom report for a

Freedom of Information Act presentation / response


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Common Terms – Program and Portfolio

A program is defined as a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually.

A portfolio refers to a collection of projects or programs and other work that are grouped together to facilitate effective management of that work to meet strategic business objectives.


What is a strategic project?

• Strategy is a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty – Wikipedia

• A method or plan chosen to bring about a desired future, such as achievement of a goal or solution to a problem – businessdictionary.com

• Competitive strategy is about being different from your competition – Michael Porter


Tip #1 – Clear vision of the desired end result


What does the end result look like?

How do we know we hit the target?

As the sponsor, make sure your team(s) are clear on the desired outcome and what is in and out of scope?

What is in scope?

What is out of scope?

Tip #2 – Foster an environment for straight talk


Most business leaders find out about major issues too late to fix?

As the sponsor, make sure your team(s) understand they need to share bad news earlier than later

Team needs to be comfortable sharing bad news?

You do not have to like the bad news…However, you need to know there is bad news.

Tip #3 – Test scope and plans for reasonableness


As the sponsor, make sure your team(s) strive to identify 100% of the major work required up front…if the work effort is not well defined, your team will stall downstream…this will cost your organization time and money.

Tip #4 – Realize milestone delays effect overall schedule


As the sponsor, understand milestone delays will negatively impact your overall schedule.

Tip #5 – Ask probing questions


If you do not understand something, ask!

As the sponsor, critical thinking and probing questions are your friend…The only bad question is the one that was not asked.

Use your critical thinking skills to help you identify good probing questions.

Make sure you understand the implications of a pending decision.

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Question and Answers


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Shameless self promotion


Hendon Group, Inc. is a full service portfolio, program and project leadership professional services, consulting, training and coaching services provider. For additional information, please visit our website at hendon-group.com

http://hendon-group.com/

Implementing strategic projects - A business leader's view

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