1. The Seven Keys to Success™
Alter the course of your project’s history
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2. You must communicate at the board room level
“Hit me over the head!”
– Client Executive
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

3. 1. Stakeholders are committed
Unhealthy Signs
No executive sponsor visible
People sabotaging efforts
Resistance to new ideas
No “experts” available
Healthy Signs
Executive incentives tied to project results
Investments in change management and training
Subject matter experts dedicated full-time
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

4. 2. Business benefits are realized
Unhealthy Signs
“Why are we doing this?”
Time is not important
Cost is too important
Healthy Signs
A compelling reason to implement
The solution doesn’t have to be fancy
The difference can be measured
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

5. 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
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

6. 4. Scope is realistic and managed
Unhealthy Signs
“Issue” is a bad word
Nothing in writing
Healthy Signs
Evidence of healthy negotiation
Lengthy issues log
Written agreements
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

7. 5. Team is high performing
Unhealthy Signs
The tension can be felt
Turnover is high
Working conditions are poor
Healthy Signs
Morale is good
The team is diverse
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

8. 6. Risks are mitigated Unhealthy Signs Healthy Signs “What risks?”
All-or-nothing tactics
Healthy Signs
Documented plan
Test-it-first tactics
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

9. 7. Delivery organization benefits are realized
Unhealthy Signs
Good staff are not available
Negative remarks about performance
Healthy Signs
People feel they are learning
Willingness to invest in the project
Good press is being created
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

10. What they need to know, what they need to decide
A Board Room Agenda
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
Concern
Recommended Action R G
Concern
Recommended Action Y
Concern
Recommended Action Y G
Concern
Recommended Action Y
Concern
Recommended Action R
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

11. Accelerating the acquisition of expertise through research
“You live your life forwards but understand it backwards. ”
– Kirkegaarde
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

12. Accelerating the acquisition of expertise through research
“Great understanding only comes when very little of professional life remains. ”
– Project Management Guru
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential

13. Alter the course of your project’s history: the Seven Keys to Success
7 Keys > Altering the course
Alter the course of your project’s history: the Seven Keys to Success
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 G Y R
The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 31 March |
IBM Confidential