Are You the Puppet or the Puppeteer?
Congratulations!
You’ve just been chosen as the Sponsor-Lead-Manager for one of your organization’s most critical transformative projects, a testament to your ability to build high-performing teams. But amidst the excitement, have you considered the potential consequences if the project fails? The stakes are high, and a misstep could have lasting impacts on your career and your organization.
The New Reality of Transformational Projects
Today’s economic environment demands more with less. Projects must deliver results faster while navigating increasing complexities, balancing internal and external demands, meeting stakeholder expectations, and producing measurable benefits.
Traditional metrics like “on time, on budget, and to specifications” are no longer enough. Success now requires:
• Achieving clear objectives
• Managing change effectively
• Exceeding stakeholder expectations
• Realizing measurable business benefits
Yet, the odds are against you. There’s only a 25% chance of true project success.
Who Are You in This Process?
Here’s the ultimate question: Are you the puppet or the puppeteer?
Will you entrust the project assurance for your transformation to the implementation partner, other vendors, or worse, ignore it entirely?
Or will you take control and own the responsibility yourself?
How to Steer Toward Success
Before things spiral, here are three critical steps to improve your odds:
1. Secure a dedicated Project Assurance Budget
Partner with your sponsor or the internal audit team to allocate a budget for your project assurance. Consider utilizing a portion of your transformational project contingency funds, if needed, you won’t regret it.
2. Embrace Key Quality Principles
• Anchor business value firmly in your project.
• Define requirements early and engage stakeholders and partners.
• Use a governance model and process to maintain accountability within and beyond your organisation.
• Ensure timely delivery with effective assurance process automation, tracking and controls.
• Staff the project with skilled, motivated people and raise internal capabilities through continuous learning.
• Apply appropriate agile methodologies with quality in mind. Do not hesitate to prototype.
• Learn from past success & failures and manage risks proactively.
• Leverage best practices for both business solutions and project delivery.
• Prioritize organizational change management for sustainable transformation.
3. Leverage Professional Guidance for your project assurance
Use a proven project innovation & assurance platform and renown partner to navigate complexities, learn, practice innovate and maintain focus on success (Contact me for more details).
Remember, control is everything. Will you pull the strings—or be pulled? The answer determines your project’s fate and your legacy.
Take the First Step Toward Innovation Success