the seven keys to success

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© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002

The Seven Keys to Success™

Alter the course of your project’s history


© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 2

“Hit me over the head!”

– Client Executive

You must communicate at the board room level



Healthy Signs Executive incentives tied to

project results Investments in change

management and training Subject matter experts dedicated

full-time

Unhealthy Signs No executive sponsor visible People sabotaging efforts Resistance to new ideas No “experts” available

1. Stakeholders are committed



2. Business benefits are realized

Healthy Signs A compelling reason to implement The solution doesn’t have to be

fancy The difference can be measured

Unhealthy Signs “Why are we doing this?” Time is not important Cost is too important



3. Work and schedule are predictable

Unhealthy Signs Can’t describe what finished means Uncontrolled — poor plans, controls,

tracking mechanisms Slippage comes as a surprise

Healthy Signs Everyone gives the same definition

of finished Good evidence of control Slippage, when it happens, is

predicted



Unhealthy Signs “Issue” is a bad word Nothing in writing

4. Scope is realistic and managed

Healthy Signs Evidence of healthy negotiation Lengthy issues log Written agreements



Unhealthy Signs The tension can be felt Turnover is high Working conditions are poor

5. Team is high performing

Healthy Signs Morale is good The team is diverse



Unhealthy Signs “What risks?” All-or-nothing tactics

6. Risks are mitigated

Healthy Signs Documented plan Test-it-first tactics



Unhealthy Signs Good staff are not available Negative remarks about

performance

7. Delivery organization benefits are realized

Healthy Signs People feel they are learning Willingness to invest in the project Good press is being created



Stakeholders are Committed

Business Benefits are Realised

Work and Schedule are Predictable

Team is High Performing

Scope is Realistic and Managed

Risks are Mitigated

Deliv. Org. Benefits are Realised

R

G

Y

Y

Y

G

R

Concern Recommended Action

Concern

Concern

Concern

Concern

Recommended Action

Recommended Action

Recommended Action

Recommended Action

A Board Room Agenda

What they need to know, what they need to decide



“You live your life forwards but understand it backwards. ”

– Kirkegaarde

Accelerating the acquisition of expertise through research



Accelerating the acquisition of expertise through research

“Great understanding only comes when very little of professional life remains. ”

– Project Management Guru



Stakeholders are Committed

Business Benefits are Realized

Work and Schedule are Predictable

Team is High Performing

Scope is Realistic and Managed

Risks are Mitigated

Deliv. Org. Benefits are Realized

R

G

Y

Y

Y

G

R

Alter the course of your project’s history: the Seven Keys to Success

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the seven keys to success

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