Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
I have the opportunity to work on that. I really do not know what does means innovative for you. But in my experince (in the Argentine goverment so I do not know if that applies for other countries) the challenge is, in scence, the same than into any other type of environments except for you have an amount of money that you have to spend in a determined time of period. Saving Changes...
Michael AdamsSolutions Architect| LANLLos Alamos, Nm, United States
Hi Arlene, I work in local government. I'm curious what you are looking for when you say innovative projects? Like software development, or moving to bio fuel? Who are your stakeholders, and how high profile is the project/program your referencing? Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Hi Arlene, I agree with the gentlemen, can you elaborate more on what you specifically mean by innovation projects - New Technology, Green Buildings, etc ? Saving Changes...
Gina AbudiPresident| Abudi Consulting LLCAmherst, Nh, United States
Challenges I have found in the public sector in any types of projects (innovative or not) is in getting buy-in and commitment as well as showing the value and benefits. Showing the value and benefits is particularly challenging in innovative projects (such as green building, cutting edge technology, etc.) I address the challenges through spending significant time up front (even before the project starts) in talking about the value and the benefits of the project and ensuring that those who may be a bit apprehensive or even against the initiative are involved in it in one way or another. Saving Changes...
Michael AdamsSolutions Architect| LANLLos Alamos, Nm, United States
I like what Gina suggests! A robust communication plan is always a good idea. I just published this article on effective presentations. In part of it, I explore how to make things like project kick-off meetings interactive. It might be worth a read:
Three Surefire Ways to Improve Your Presentations and Engage Your Audience Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I agree with Gina. Spending the right time to plan and brainstorm prior to commencing with the project is one of the best things you can do.
One more thing to add, for innovative projects and new technology, you need to spend more time om risk management and identifying risks because inmovative projects might contain many unknown-unknown risks more than normal ones. Saving Changes...
Arlene:
Projects are all about people, processes, politics, and everything in between. Sponsor support, stakeholder engagement and culture immersion for your team will be top challenges for you in the public sector. There is an IT component in any project; your challenge will be people issues not the technology. Make sure you have competent systems engineers, enterprise architects and technical consultants paired with existing technical staff to provide the insights you need on your projects. Read my recent article on Workfront "There's More to Project Management than Process Alone".
https://www.workfront.com/blog/project-management-process/
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
These are the things you deal with when you have public service projects
* committed people
* additional processes to work through: approvals, procurement, recruitement
* fiscal year limited budgets
* government changes
* budgeting cuts
* long-term outlooks Saving Changes...
Tips and tricks...one more from me- in my experience of local Govt projects the most important thing relates to stakeholder management of the elected Members/ Representative (or whatever the local term is for your local politicians). Without one of those that is strongly supporting the project then the project has little chance of success.
One more thing, don't aim too high- those organisations (at least here in the UK) are very slow moving so don't expect to create a great deal of fast change.
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