Project Management Blog

In my previous blog, posted here on the 28th of February, I spoke about the first key to Successful Improvement Projects; “An Uncompromising Focus on the Customer.” At the conclusion of that posting, I promised to follow it up with the second key; Senior Sponsor Support. Read on to find out about the second key…

It is a waste of time to go about improving operations or implementing a new project unless there is a senior sponsor that will advocate, exert influence and resource the project. If the sponsor is not passionate about the change - do not start! I have seen numerous ingenious innovations left to die on the vine. Why? Because the leader was focused on important, urgent and immediate issues while creative people in the organisation had great ideas but no mechanism to bring that idea to market. The senior sponsor plays a critical role when bringing about changes to the business. Sponsor support happens at two very different levels. You need the sponsor’s ‘head’ to provide you support with resources and people. More importantly you need to tap into the sponsors ‘heart’, to find support in the form of an excitement and passion for the improvement. I discuss this further in my newsletter, Silver Bullet 7. Visit Silver Bullet.pdf for more information.

This newsletter includes some practical tips on engaging your sponsor.

As the project rolls out, ensure you maintain communication with the sponsor to give feedback, receive direction and maintain a level of excitement about the success the improvement will bring.

In my next post, I will explore the third key to Successful Improvement Projects: A crystal clear vision.

Dan Jackson
Head Coach 7SIM Business Improvement
www.7sim.com.au

In my post printed here on the 21st of January I referred to the 7 Keys to Successful Improvement Projects. The first key is to have an uncompromising focus on the Customer. We hear it a lot don’t we? Companies promising in their advertising that that they consider the customer their first priority, stressing that they are always listening to the customers needs. Sadly, this is not always our customer experience.

The challenge is to turn that experience around in our own companies, and project improvements.
Recognise that one of most important keys to sustaining successful change is valuing your customer. You can change the way you do things, you can change your structure, but if it doesn’t change how you support your customer then it probably isn’t a change worth making. When improving operations, organisations tend to look for four opportunities:
Eliminate waste
Reduce variation
Grow the customer base
Improve the value provided to the customer.
Whilst a good list, it fails to recognize that improving value to the customer is the first priority; the other improvements can follow.
Practical tips on improving value to the customer are discussed in my newsletter, Silver Bullet. Follow the link to http://www.7sim.com.au/uploads/Files/silver-bullet/Silver%20Bullet%208.pdf. Refer particularly to my article titled "Striving toward having the best business culture in the world".

I’d be interested on hearing your views.
In my next post, I’ll discuss the 2nd key to successful improvement projects: Senior Sponsor Support.

Dan Jackson Head Coach at 7SIM
Head Coach at 7SIM
www.7SIM.com.au

This blog is intended to invite discussion on why some improvement projects succeed while most fail to realise the benefits expected.

I have conducted significant research in this area and have found the reasons most improvement projects fail is not because of the methodology underpinning the improvement process, but the failure to recognise and foster the cultural implications of change.

Equipped with this knowledge, I developed 7 keys to successful improvement projects:
1. An uncompromising focus on the Customer
2. Senior Sponsor Support
3. A crystal clear vision
4. Plain spoken and extensive consultation
5. The best people on the Improvement Team
6. Actively manage change
7. Recognise that people transition differently through change

I have loaded a new video describing these keys at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb2QpsesYPc

In future posts, I’ll go into more detail on each of these keys. I would like to hear from other project managers involved in business transformation or process improvement to hear your views and any advice you have.

I hope this has been helpful.

Dan Jackson
Head Coach 7SIM Leadership Training
www.7sim.com.au

PS. Email me if you would like a link to the Research Points aforementioned at Enquiries@7SIM.com.au