Important note:  this work was completed in 2009.

I was assigned as program manager to implement a major telecommunications ebonding capability for mobility services to signature customers throughout the world. This was a program to make a repeatable process that would help define a customized catalog of services for each customer yet a common interface to performing suppliers that would actually fulfill the orders for example a customer may have mobility needs in multiple countries throughout the world one in South America one in Asia one in Germany warning the Netherlands one in United States one in Mexico etc. etc. and there was no common wireless carrier they could fulfill all these orders. Each country had its own set of rules and data sets that made a single interface impossible to implement. My role as program manager involves several different steps:

1. Determine the key stakeholders in the program. I was given the charge to implement program management but there wasn’t any formal documents that made such an announcement. So I created a program charter and had an executive sign it and email it to his peers to authorize resources to plan the program.
2. Assembled a small team from the product house, operations, and IT to create a joint definition of work effort.
3. Shared this document with multiple organizations to assemble a core team of stakeholders and a responsibility matrix.
4. Created a program plan which defined various work packages and the time box timeframe for certain deliverables. Among these deliverables were a business requirements document. Benefits realization plan, and a governance model.
5. Developed seven project charters to implement the work efforts. Three of the charters were specific to IT development one of the charters was to the marketing and technical implementation plan two of the charters were specific to process and lifecycle support, and final charter were specific to developing a repeatable process for catalog management.
6. Mapped the cost of the projects based on a high-level order magnitude to a benefits realization plan and established the expectations for the deliverables.

To summarize, my planning processes is first to make sure I have owners and executive sponsorship from the business, next it is to do a program charter the authorized organizations to commit resources to the planning, next is planning the roadmap and the business realization plans, next is to issue a program plan which outlined how work package are aligned which then will generate a charter for each project that will help meet those objectives. Once the charters are defined a project manager will be assigned there will be responsible for implementing the requirements of the work. Tools and techniques that I use in this planning process is constant communication and dialogue with key stakeholders and a small work team. Interacting with knowledge workers through facilitating meetings with different organization to define business rules, program requirements, baselining documents and using the concept of progressive elaboration to monitor control their evolution from a planning cycle until project implementation. Finally, the process involves interacting with the teams through a defined governance model so all organizations know the protocol for handling issues, communicating status, and reporting task completion.

Hand Sketch Graphics Have Better Retention

There is a growing trend of using hand sketched icons, symbols, and graphics in documentation and presentations to emphasize main topics, increase reader retention, and better communicate the message.  More publications and tools are embracing this trend and providing a much better overall user experience.

I recently had the pleasure of reading the book: The Practitioner’s Guide to Project Management – Simple Effective Techniques that Deliver Business Value.By Lynda Carter.  Lynda is a Project Management Consultant and Custom Training Development Specialist.  She has done work for Baldwin Wallace University and owns Competetive Edge Consulting ( http://www.cectraining.com/ ).  She has developed an extremely easy to navigate reference guide on project management.  She developed this with project management classes in mind and has had great success in using it as a reference for her project management training classes.

From a content perspective the book I spot on.  It lays out a very logical flow, set of reusable/scalable tools, and the business logic behind project management.  It includes many real life examples including real-world needs such as using KPIs as a leverage point to stakeholder relationships.  Her approach has provided me a new tool in my tool box.

But where the book stands out is the layout, it is top notch.  The book encompasses a great use of white space and a FANTASTIC use of supporting graphics and sketches. The picture below demonstrated this use of icons in defining components of the project and they are reused throughout the book.  I can see a lexicon like this being used throughout a project and words such as “the piggy bank” being used as the metaphor for financing.

Ms. Carter is utilizing an effective means of communication and taps into a growing trend.  I recently talked (if I call exchanging email, attending webinars, and exchanging Facebook posts talking) to Michael Deutsch, the product manager of Mindjet, about hand-sketched graphics, and he told me that there is a study that shows how hand-drawn sketches on slides help increase retention by a factor of 20% or more.  He indicated that one of the significant features of the new release of Mindjet Mindmanager is the inclusion of a set of hand drawn icons in four different colors.  They provide an effective visual message and categorization of thoughts, without the invasiveness of manufactured clips. 

Although I don’t see dominate graphics going away and being completely replaced by hand drawn sketches, the two have a great opportunity to work together.  And a project manager can now use simple sketches to tell the story of the project and propagate the message through many different communications in the project lifecycle.

One of Ms. Carter’s most effective techniques is establishing repeatable icons for use throughout the book.  When she introduces roles she does so with a graphic, as demonstrated in the image below, and then uses the icon at different points to emphasize the role in that aspect of the project.  For example, the big fingered sponsor is used later when the responsibility of the sponsor is discussed.

The book is available online at http://www.amazon.com/Practitioners-Guide-Project-Management-Techniques-ebook/dp/B00MH69UEW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413760743&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Practitioner%E2%80%99s+Guide+to+Project+Management+%E2%80%93+Simple+Effective+Techniques+that+Deliver+Business+Value in both hard copy and electronic (Kindle) versions.

The net-net of this post is 2 fold.  First, using hand-sketched graphics in your communication facilitates retention and allows for visual reference through the project lifecycle.  Second, I highly recommend The Practitioner’s Guide to Project Management – Simple Effective Techniques that Deliver Business Value. As a reference for project managers at all levels, but especially entry level or “accidental” project managers.   

·         The graphics in the book were composed by David Balan, Illustration & Sequential Art www.davidbalan.com

** Full disclosure, I have previously worked with Lynda Carter and know her outside of this blog.

Benefit Realization and Analytics

One of the most compelling reasons for benefit realization the ability for the program manager to report back to the business that the investment value is being realized. In order to perform this task properly the program manager is going to apply many of the principles of analytics. This blog wants to give high-level definition of analytics and how they will apply to program management and benefits realization.

As the image shows analytics have a couple major components to them that are right in line with the entire benefits realization concept. First analytics is a higher-level of looking at your data and communicating results visually as well as tactically. Analytics is looking at patterns in the data, it may be trends in maybe cause-and-effect it may be direct or indirect relationships. So the first step is understanding the data in the enablers to create. Second analytics relies on statistical disciplines, this includes using tools to extract data in the appropriate research in business intelligence in order to quantify the performance of that data.  Finally analytics does favorite data visualization to communicate the inside of the knowledge that has been obtained by the program manager that is reporting the actual results of the benefits realization.

In some ways the use of analytics expands the role of the program manager into a couple different areas both the delivery of the solution as well is running of the business. Analytics falls mainly under a business analysis skill set, and PMI now has a certification in business analysis, as well as performance analysis of the different components with in the program itself.  The program manager will need to be able to look at production data and be able to identify the patterns and communicate those and how they relate to the program itself. Analytics will require the current state the future state of the KPIs and how the benefits are going to be able to measure is associated KPIs. The other area that analytics will expand the program manager skill set is on analyzing a series of data points as opposed to just a snapshot in time traditionally project managers are able to give a readout of the current earned value, with respect to schedule and cost and project be earned value to completion. Analytics, as applied to the program, will also need to look at past performance and project future performance across multiple components and the people aspect of implementing these components.

What analytics will drive is a new means of communicating for the program manager. As mentioned in the definition above analytics resonate with the visual explanation. The program manager will be expected to provide that visual explanation interrelationship between expected results in actual results and the approach to close the gap is the variance is about tolerance level. This is not to be dependent on good data which will drive the program deliverables to ensure the proper hand also milestones are defined. It will also require the program manager to be able to map out the relationships between project results and business performance.

This is an exciting growth area for program managers and a great opportunity for a strategic project management office to be able to deliver more value to the business. This is another step in the journey to aligning the strategy of the company with the investment is being made. The program manager be looked at to be able to explain the journey and demonstrate where the organization is on that journey. And be able to do so in a visual data proven presentation that will transcend all components of the value chain.

I have a one hour chapter presentation or webinar on benefits management.  I have also developed and delivered workshops and prestation for many organizations including ProjectWord and PMI.

Introduction to Benefits Realization

Are we getting what we need?

At the 2015   PMI Annual Leadership Institute Meeting, PMI CEO Mark Langley told the audience that his single most frequent request from the Business Community was to have Portfolio/Program/Project Managers utilize Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in Benefits Realization. This session will introduce the concept of Benefits Realization and how it is an important subset of Program and Project Management.  It will cover a definition of Benefits, a discussion on the currency of the benefits, and conclude with an interactive definition of a benefit in a Benefit Realization Plan.  Designed for practitioners at all levels, this will cover an in-demand skill for PPPM professionals in the 2010’s and beyond.

Complimenting Benefits Workshops, this presentation is an opportunity for you to better understand the relationships between Benefits Realization and Corporate strategy and establish yourself a Project Manager “who can do it!”.  It is an energized, pragmatic presentation, with many real-life examples, humorous anecdotes, and proven methods to the map between project objectives and corporate strategy.  It also includes time  for Q&A where you will learn:

• What are  benefits and dis-benefits and what are some of the human bias that make it a difficult process for most organizations?
• The purpose of a Benefits Map and how defining the Project Benefits can transcend the project completion through a transition to operations.
• The role of the project manager and the project outcomes and how they interact with Benefits Realization.

A project must be designed to provide benefits back to organization.  Whether they are revenue centered benefits to reduce cost or maximize revenue, or cost effective benefits forced by external mandates, there is a reason the company is making the investment.  This presentation helps to bridge the gap between the strategy and implementation and how the project manager fits into the picture.

The presenter, Dave Davis, PMP & PgMP is a practitioner of PPPM and a recognized professional in helping organizations. He has 30+ years as a manager (business, project, program, & knowledge), business analyst, curriculum advisor, instructor, and course developer. His PMI roles include Chapter President, Standards committees, and certification question writing. He is currently on the PMI COP Advisory Group. Dave holds 3 master’s degrees including an MBA from Xavier University, and eBusiness Project Management Certificate from the University of British Columbia.  He has published many articles and delivered presentations at professional conferences throughout Europe and North America.  Dave has developed and delivered advanced training for many universities and private companies.  Besides the Project Management certifications, Dave is certified as a Professional Business Analyst, Benefits Management, and Mindjet Mind mapping.  He also holds a Master’s in Business Administration, the PMI Leadership Masters Certificate and is a Six Sigma Green Belt.

This meeting is your opportunity to strengthen your Distinguished Project Manager toolbox!

Hand Sketch Graphics Have Better Retention

There is a growing trend of using hand sketched icons, symbols, and graphics in documentation and presentations to emphasize main topics, increase reader retention, and better communicate the message.  More publications and tools are embracing this trend and providing a much better overall user experience.

I recently had the pleasure of reading the book: The Practitioner’s Guide to Project Management – Simple Effective Techniques that Deliver Business Value.By Lynda Carter.  Lynda is a Project Management Consultant and Custom Training Development Specialist.  She has done work for Baldwin Wallace University and owns Competetive Edge Consulting ( http://www.cectraining.com/ ).  She has developed an extremely easy to navigate reference guide on project management.  She developed this with project management classes in mind and has had great success in using it as a reference for her project management training classes.

From a content perspective the book I spot on.  It lays out a very logical flow, set of reusable/scalable tools, and the business logic behind project management.  It includes many real life examples including real-world needs such as using KPIs as a leverage point to stakeholder relationships.  Her approach has provided me a new tool in my tool box.

But where the book stands out is the layout, it is top notch.  The book encompasses a great use of white space and a FANTASTIC use of supporting graphics and sketches. The picture below demonstrated this use of icons in defining components of the project and they are reused throughout the book.  I can see a lexicon like this being used throughout a project and words such as “the piggy bank” being used as the metaphor for financing.

Ms. Carter is utilizing an effective means of communication and taps into a growing trend.  I recently talked (if I call exchanging email, attending webinars, and exchanging Facebook posts talking) to Michael Deutsch, the product manager of Mindjet, about hand-sketched graphics, and he told me that there is a study that shows how hand-drawn sketches on slides help increase retention by a factor of 20% or more.  He indicated that one of the significant features of the new release of Mindjet Mindmanager is the inclusion of a set of hand drawn icons in four different colors.  They provide an effective visual message and categorization of thoughts, without the invasiveness of manufactured clips. 

Although I don’t see dominate graphics going away and being completely replaced by hand drawn sketches, the two have a great opportunity to work together.  And a project manager can now use simple sketches to tell the story of the project and propagate the message through many different communications in the project lifecycle.

One of Ms. Carter’s most effective techniques is establishing repeatable icons for use throughout the book.  When she introduces roles she does so with a graphic, as demonstrated in the image below, and then uses the icon at different points to emphasize the role in that aspect of the project.  For example, the big fingered sponsor is used later when the responsibility of the sponsor is discussed.

The book is available online at http://www.amazon.com/Practitioners-Guide-Project-Management-Techniques-ebook/dp/B00MH69UEW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413760743&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Practitioner%E2%80%99s+Guide+to+Project+Management+%E2%80%93+Simple+Effective+Techniques+that+Deliver+Business+Value in both hard copy and electronic (Kindle) versions.

The net-net of this post is 2 fold.  First, using hand-sketched graphics in your communication facilitates retention and allows for visual reference through the project lifecycle.  Second, I highly recommend The Practitioner’s Guide to Project Management – Simple Effective Techniques that Deliver Business Value. As a reference for project managers at all levels, but especially entry level or “accidental” project managers.   

·         The graphics in the book were composed by David Balan, Illustration & Sequential Art www.davidbalan.com

** Full disclosure, I have previously worked with Lynda Carter and know her outside of this blog. We actually collaborated on a Leadership research project that was delivered as a PMI webinar.  If you are a PMI member, you can view it online at:    http://www.pmi.org/Knowledge-Center/On-Demand_Webinars.aspx.