Want to Save $200,000 on Your Next $1,000,000 Project?
That’s not a trick; it’s real and verifiable. Maybe it won’t be 20%... it could be more.
Just Recently
On a recent assignment I was selected to provide value in the form of direction, oversight, and governance for a relatively new IT business unit. I was given two large project portfolios, one smaller portfolio, several stand-alone projects, and a leadership position within the, relatively new, PMO.
Relying on 10+ years experience in best practices, I reduced the cost to the enterprise in the portfolio at least 20% without sacrificing benefits, features, or ROI. Here is one example.
One group of projects contained three related efforts – enterprise desktop application upgrades. All three had previously been reviewed and approved by the executive body controlling project budgets and resources for high priority start.
The problem: A desktop application in use across the enterprise had become unmanageable due to previously chaotic upgrades. There were now many different versions in use simultaneously. Support and maintenance was a nightmare.
The solution: Three projects employing phased, consecutive implementations to achieve one final enterprise version. A new enterprise control structure to ensure future synchronous upgrades.
I conducted some quick internal analysis as well as engaged the vendor for more detailed information. It became rapidly clear that the most recent application version was actually a “replacement” not an upgrade. Since there is no need to upgrade prior to a replacement, we could simply move forward with one replacement effort and clean up afterward by removing all previous application versions. the other two projects (upgrades) were redundant.
Utilizing scope control mechanisms, negotiation and communication skills, working through the PMO, sponsor, and other project stakeholders, I was able to immediately stop two projects without any expenditure or effort lost and without any loss of features. The final budget for the effort was reduced almost 60% and the time line to completion was cut in half. In addition, disruptions for application users due to upgrades and training requirements were reduced to one (1) from three (3).
I took the same approach across all portfolios and projects resulting in an overall savings to the enterprise of 20% with no loss in benefits or ROI.
Meeting me before spending your next $1,000,000 is not a waste of your time.
- International Investment Services Organization: Reduced portfolio costs 20% by rapidly stopping 'bad' projects and effective scope management.
- International Financial Services Company: Decreased ramp-up for new hire consultants by 50% as primary on-boarding mentor for PMI/PMBOK and Iterative / Agile, RUP, SDLC, MS Project and EPMS use.
- International Financial Services Company: Reduced enterprise project costs 20% by introducing result-driven, data based process improvements adopted as “best practice” for similar projects company-wide
- International Logistic & Material Handling Organization: Reduced time to market 50% in faltering shrink-wrap aoftware application project through rapid analysis, solution reassessment, and quick turnaround
Continue reading "Want to Save $200K on Your Next $1M Project?" »
