A Tale of Two Projects
Posted by [email protected] on Sep. 22, 2023 / Ways of Working / Subscribe 0
September 13th’s Lunch and Learn was a great opportunity to learn from the experiences of Danielle Smithen. Danielle’s 12 years of Project Management experience with C.R. England provided attendees with invaluable insights into running large-scale projects to include best practices and some practices to definitely avoid. And special thanks to Devin from the University of Utah who greeted us before Danielle’s presentation with multiple bags of swag and a reminder (and discount code) that PMINUC members get a 10% discount on all the U’s Professional Education Courses.
17 lucky Project Managers got to know each other and did a bit of networking while eating the provided lunch in a box before Danielle began her “Tale of Two Projects: How to Run a Successful Large-Scale Implementation.” One project successfully installed new systems in 4,300 trucks and implemented their operation before the deadline and with a delay while the other project took over five times its projected timeline and never reached full implementation. So what was the difference?
Some of the highlights that Danielle taught attendees include:
- DO NOT think the PM can do it all. Communication and proper delegation are critical.
- “DO NOT skimp or go easy on training.”
- DO Ensure EVERYONE who needs it gets training, track it, adapt it and fill training gaps as needed. Training should be the “BUSIEST area of managing your project.”
- DO ensure to facilitate communication and constant feedback. Make sure feedback can easily flow from the front lines but…
- DO NOT involve the front line during early/planning phases. “Understanding MVP [Minimal Viable Product] is key!” and this should be driven from the top.
- DO make sure that testing is thorough and complete. Ensure everyone that needs to be is involved.
This Lunch and Learn was an awesome opportunity to hear from an exceptional PM working at the cutting edge of technology in the logistics industry. We’re thankful that Danielle was willing and open to share her depth of knowledge and experience in an open way. Following her presentation there was time for some questions and side bar discussions before everyone left. If you’re looking for real live data about the day in the life of a PM look no further than PMINUC’s Lunch and Learns. We’ll look for you at the next one!
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