Polaris: Walk the Project Runway with Michelle Boyd
Polaris brings you insightful discussions and expert opinions on business transformation, leadership culture, and strategic markets. In our latest episode, we cover successful project and delivery management to help you navigate and succeed in today's demanding environment. This week I sat down with Michelle Boyd, head of Delivery Excellence at Synozur.
Michelle's fascinating career spans construction, business school, and global consulting, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.
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Episode Highlights
Dive deep into the RAIDD (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies, Decisions) log and learn how to effectively manage these critical elements in your project.
Project Rescue: Discover the initial steps to take when rescuing a project that has gone off track.
New Technologies in Project Delivery: Explore the latest technologies revolutionizing project delivery and their impact on your workflow.
Delivery Management Success: Gain insights into the key factors that contribute to successful delivery management.
Examine a real-world case study showcasing successful project delivery.
Show Notes
Takeaways
Delivery excellence is crucial for organizations.
A project is defined as a temporary endeavor with specific objectives.
Miscommunication is often the root cause of project failures.
Kickoff meetings are essential for aligning expectations and success criteria.
Agile methodologies are not always the best fit for every project.
Technology can enhance project management but is not a panacea.
Sound Bites
"Projects are more about people than processes."
"Flexibility within a framework is the true essence of effective project management."
"Technology should be an enabler, not a dictator, of project success."
“That person who went on leave three months became a hidden stakeholder. Those folks can be a real problem as you go through delivery. Kickoff meetings can mitigate that.”
References
The Rise of Agile Methodologies in Non-Software Industries
According to a recent report by the Project Management Institute (PMI), organizations that prioritize delivery management are 30% more likely to meet their project goals and stay within budget. This highlights the critical role of delivery management in achieving project success. Source: Pulse of the Profession | PMI
Agile methodologies, traditionally used in software development, are now being adopted by various industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and construction. A study by McKinsey & Company found that 75% of organizations in these sectors have implemented agile practices to improve efficiency and adaptability. Source: 17 Agile Statistics You Need to Know in 2025
The Impact of AI and Automation on Project Management
The integration of AI and automation tools in project management is transforming the way projects are planned, executed, and monitored. Gartner predicted that by 2025, AI will automate 80% of project management tasks, leading to increased productivity and reduced human error. [They now say it will take until 2030.] Source: AI in project management: A no hype guide for teams
Events
Association for Intelligent information Management AI+IM Summit | March 31- April 2 (Atlanta)
Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (Vegas)
European Collaboration Summit | May 26-28, 2025 (Düsseldorf, Germany)
TechCon 365 Seattle | June 23-27, 2025 (Seattle)
Production
Polaris is produced with the help of our friends at Riverside.fm. Our theme song, “Alternative Dream” is provided courtesy of Adobe. Additional music and sound provided by IndieGuy Records. Graphic design by Josh Brantley. Creative inspirations from Mark Kashman.
Chapters
00:00 Opening
01:32 Trends and Data Points
03:06 Introducing Michelle Boyd
05:57 Defining Projects and Their Characteristics
08:31 Project Management vs. Delivery Management
11:49 Project Methodologies - Agile, Waterfall and Hybrid
17:04 The Importance of Kickoff Meetings
19:34 Effective Communication Strategies in Projects
20:15 Tools and Templates for Successful Delivery
21:53 Understanding the RAIDD Log
23:59 Project Rescue: The First Steps
26:16 Common Reasons Projects Go Off Track
27:13 New Technologies in Project Delivery
27:52 The Role of Technology in Project Management
32:06 Delivery Management Success
32:42 A Successful Delivery Case Study
34:55 Cultural Reflections and Personal Insights
35:41 Upcoming Events in Information Management
37:32 Closing
