Project management

My work projects end-to-end delivery of a new digital system or business initiative to improve communications, awareness or staff workflow. I have undertaken study in Project Management at Harvard University and have a strong understanding of formal project methodologies.

Typically, my developments require complex management skill to ensure:

• Timelines for delivery and integration run according to schedule;
• The finished outcome matches or exceeds the expectations of the client;
• The milestones are accurately documented to ensure the customer is aware of progress, obstacles and necessary alterations;
• The system is integrated and deployed correctly and achieves the desired result with the target group.

I have outlined my expertise and processes below regarding:

• Project scope and planning
• Team management (including outsourcing and working with Subject Matter Experts)
• Business workflow mapping and integration
• Roles and responsibilities with the production team
• Time management, deadlines and scheduling
• Flexibility and scope for improvement

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Scoping and design of production plan

Complex projects require a detailed plan with consideration for purpose; cost and allowance for variation.

I commence my projects with a comprehensive analysis of the current system – legacy software, communications and consideration for existing success stories.

I then build a framework for key milestones and deliverables , and accommodation for client requriements. 

The scope will produce a clear goal and schedule for delivery, and allow for variation if required by the client.

My planning is sophisticated and I have successfully managed tenders, as both a contractor and provider of services. Comprehensive scheduling and planning is crucial for successful business-to-business interaction.

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Team management, outsourcing and subject matter experts

I have experience in managing development with direct reports and outsourced teams of developers.

My work in managing content producers has been broad, with different areas of expertise and interest, and different motivations for the messages.

I have successfully managed teams of technical staff and content producers to accomplish:

• Time management, delegation and substitution;
• Concurrent deliverables, and ensuring delivery of multiple features on schedule;
• Ensuring team members are valued and feel valued, and given opportunity to utilise their strengths and raise concerns;
• Patient, hands-on training of team mates and senior staff with new software, techniques and business processes;
• A holistic understanding of where the project fits in the business process, including integration with related areas, and coordinating teamwork to ensure satisfaction;
• Accurate documentation, reporting and troubleshooting, with team members given opportunity to raise concerns;
• Business benefit as a key outcome for the project and its team members.

I’m not an expert at everything. There are people who are far better at certain facets of web builds and content production than myself.

However, I am at skilled at defining the input and required output for the technical tasks and identifying the right experts for the job – complete with timeframes.

The content in much of the technical content that I have worked with (gastroenterology / dam wall engineering / international toy safety standards / parole legislation for low-risk offenders, etc.) requires consultation and ownership by subject matter experts.

I love learning and am able to gather this complex content – often from individuals who do not agree with each other – and condense and simplify it to produce a cohesive, layperson-friendly message. This often requires two or three revisions with the subject matter experts to ensure that the critical elements are retained and the message is not lost in the simplification.

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Workflow mapping

Many businesses spend time performing unnecessary tasks, or achieving the goals in a convoluted or imprecise way. An fresh set of eyes can often see the wood for the trees and explore fresh methods for achieving the same tasks with a new process that is complete and more efficient.

In prior roles, I have streamlined the methods that staff use to perform regular processes , and integrated this with the legacy data systems. I have also introduced new systems for improving speed and accuracy – for instance:

• Barcode stock handling systems;
• Inventory feeds for stock forecasting;
• Streamlined data collection methods for staff in the field – including those who are actually in a field; 
• Logistics data for accelerating stock landing and dispatch.

Once they have been fine-tuned and are working appropriately, the new initiative can be integrated into other business systems (ERP, E-commerce suite, etc.)

Occassionally, my process mapping has also uncovered significant holes in the business processes. Some of these could have had significant issues for the company. An independent review of potential issues is a significant advantage for the company and has allowed the company to proactively address threats to data, security and business integrity. Disaster recovery is a significant issue for many businesses that is often undervalued by senior management.

It is important to consider that workflow mapping does not just mean the staff action; it is a crucial part of accurately generating content with the appropriate level of authority.

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Roles and responsibilities

I have worked with various teams of stakeholders to develop web publication platforms and business data strategies.

Some of this work has required careful management of submissions, escalation to project owners, and mediation for stakeholders who do not necessarily agree with each other.

These sorts of issues can cause delays in delivery of the project. I have worked to mediate successful outcomes for these conflicting teams; often within schedule (not always!) Where a delay has caused an unacceptable risk to the project deadline, I am able to negotiate a compromise and deliver a best-fit solution that is flexible and allows for the completion during a subsequent phase.

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Time management and scheduling

Complex projects require detailed plans with dependencies for timeframes. In particular:

• Technical developers must perform the skeletal build for the foundation of a project
• Content providers must deliver graphical and text content within a reasonable timeframe, and content “owners” (senior management) need to approve this for publication
• Front-end developers and User Interface/User eXperience specialists must ensure that the wireframing and final layout is delivered to deadline, with consideration for scalability, accessibility, content revision and Search Engine Optimisation (Google friendly.)

This work must be then approved by the content owner, released to the target audience, and reviewed with training for future content providers.

My project management work has given me the experience and forecast required to assist participants to deliver to timeframe, and step in to assist when the workforce is insufficient or unavailable to meet the milestones.

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Flexibility is key

All plans require flexibility to some degree – due to client requirements; the adjustment of the scope; or things just not going to plan.

My planning allows for this and provides for scalability – the opportunity for the customer to increase the capability of the system – and providing for the addition of extra features, within reason.

I often find that clients require additional functionality or integration beyond the original scope, and I can work with this and provide a structured plan for expansion without falling into chaotic feature-creep. 

The strategic plan must always allow for variation in the market and environmental considerations. It is important to allow a bit of leeway into the development roadmap.

 
(back to) Digital Project Management and Content Production
Content production and management
Stakeholder management and teamwork
Qualifications, certifications and specific skills