pmi-mn symposium sep15, 2016 - amazon s3 · enhanced performance. enduring results.1 dr. susan...

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.1

Dr. Susan HeidornBRMP, CBAP, PMP, CSM, HSDPDirector of Business SolutionsWatermark Learning, Inc.

PMI-MN SymposiumSep15, 2016

susanheidorn@DrSKHeidorn

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Woman‐owned business established in 1992, offering training and related services, including certification preparation in:• Business Relationship Management• Business Analysis• Project Management• Agile/Scrum• Business Process Management • Leadership and Influencing Skills

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Earn 1 PDU/CDU for attending today! www.watermarklearning.com/self-reporting

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

1. Why project‐strategy alignment matters.2. 3 ways to enhance your strategic thinking abilities.3. 3 techniques to ensure your projects are aligned to 

the strategic direction of the organization and will deliver forecasted value.

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Strategy is never fully implemented or implemented effectively.

Stakeholders are unhappy with the results of the project.

The solution is not used or used an intended.  Too many low priority projects in the pipeline taking up resources.

Projects are implemented, but value is not realized. No coordination between business units and/or other projects.

Different views of the purpose of the project.

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Strategy is “a method or plan chosen to bring about a desired future.” 

BusinessDictionary.com

Projects are the tool used to implement business strategy.

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

If not…

Every project should contribute the organization’s strategic direction.

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Projects aligned to strategy: 90% success rate.  Project not aligned to strategy: 34% success rate. 

In addition companies that align projects to strategy…• are more nimble and effective. • are better able to capitalize on opportunities and maximize resources. 

• have a higher employee engagement and buy‐in.• have lower absenteeism and a high level of ownership.

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

TOP: Creates Strategy

Middle: Start Projects

Bottom: Execute Projects

Strategy?

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

“Ability to see patterns and make links, even when there is a lot of detail and to see the big picture.” 

HayGroup

“…a more systemic and holistic view of your environment.”                   Haines Centre for Strategic Management

“Assists in finding and developing unique opportunities that create value to the organization through challenging and creative dialogue.”

Center for Applied Research

11

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Draw Logical Conclusions

Make Assumptions

TakeAction

Source: Chris Argyris: Reasoning, Learning, and Action

Form Beliefs

Experience Emotions

Select Data

We Make Up A Story About It

Add Meaning

Based on our Perceptions

Pool of Data

Ladder of Inference

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Luke: What's in there?

Yoda: Only what you take with you.

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

The Blind Men & the Elephant

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Role Sees the cause of the problem as…

Might see the Solution as..

Business Executive:

It is what it is. An opportunity to market for new lines of food, clothing, or diet programs.

Educator: Learning deficits by overcrowded schools and educational budget cuts. Cafeteria food.

Add more teachers.Increase school budgets.Offer more nutritious food.

Dietitian We have become a sedentary population with high caloric intake.

More exercise programs.Information & caloric labeling.

Sociologist: Inadequate family support and social structures due to increase in divorce rates and single parenting.

Provide additional support to families. Family planning.Family counseling.

Economist: Insufficient purchasing power due to an increase in food prices & inequitable distribution of agricultural commodities.

Increase wages.Price controls.Food subsidies.

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Ask questions; be inquisitive.

Seek out data that invalidate your original beliefs.

Apply creativity as well as critical

reflection.

Seek out & listen to other perspectives.

Challenge your existing assumptions and

conventional wisdom.Be ready to explore the possibilities.

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Influences outside the program or project that can impact the selection, design, funding, management, and success of the program or project.

Environmental factors should be constantly monitored throughout the program.

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Strengths Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

Internal Analysis

Internal Analysis

External Analysis

External Analysis

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Factors Going Away Generally Accepted Emerging On the Brink

Political Occupy Wall Street2 party systemUse of social media in politics

Voter ID No politicalaffiliation

Economic Growth of the middle class

Social securityMedicare Bit coins New Min wage

Social-Cultural

Getting a good job right out of college

Kids come back to live at home after graduation

More single adults then married adults

Small houses New careers at 60/70

Technology Check blanks On-line shopping & banking

3D printingDrones

Pay per use agreements

Environmental Coal Recycling, Organic farming

Urban gardens, Patio gardens,Solar energy

Water purifying in 3rd world countries

Legal /Compliance Paper records Drivers license

TSA checks Known Traveler On-line voting

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

How will environmental influences impact your program or project?

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

“Strategic alignment is the key essential action requirement to achieve peak performance in any organization, leadership staff, business unit, team or individual contributor”. 

Roger Ingbretsen – leadership coach

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

How many of you ensure your projects are aligned to the strategic direction of your organization?

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Vision

Mission

Organizational Strategies

Portfolio Management

Management of ongoing Programs, Projects, & Operations

Benefits Realization Management

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

How many of you know your organization’s mission, vision & strategic initiatives?

What steps have you taken to ensure a program or project align to the strategic initiatives of the organization?

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Answer the following questions: What is the business issue? How will this project address the business problem/opportunity to what degree (measurable)?

What is the purpose of this project? What are the interdependencies between projects? How will it achieve what organizational benefits?

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Project deliverables and benefits must align with organization’s strategic goals.

Benefits Road Map can help demonstrate how benefits will be delivered and what assumptions are being made.   

“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”

—Sir Winston Churchill

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

“What is the program’s ultimate “champagne moment?”

What does success look like?  What business outcomes does the program need to realize? When?

Is this benefit achievable? Is it measurable? Can the target date for benefit be met? Can the benefit be assigned an owner? How does the benefit provide value to the organization?

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Organization’s Vision, Mission & Strategies

Program Vision, Mission, Strategy, Plan, Roadmap

Program Objective (MOS)

Business Benefits

Key Performance Indicators

Metrics

Measures

Program Objective (MOS)

Business Benefits

Key Performance Indicators

Metrics

Measures

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

PlannedBenefits Deliverables KPI Measure Threshold Progress 

IndicatorTarget Date /Milestone

Person/GroupAssigned

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

What are the benefits of your project / program?

Can you measure them?

Will someone be monitoring its value after deliver to ensure benefits realization? If so, who?

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.©

Bibliography

The Influencing Formula:

How to Become a Trusted Advisor and Influence Without Authority by Elizabeth Larson and Richard Larson 

For more information, contact us at:

Info@WatermarkLearning.com

www.WatermarkLearning.com

/watermarklearning

@watermarklearn

/watermark‐learning

Enhanced Performance. Enduring Results.