Facilitation and project management, 24th Feb, Marcel Ekkel

Facilitation and

Project Management

APM Hong Kong Branch - 24 Feb. 2015

Marcel Ekkel • Lucidus Consulting

• APM training

• Consulting

• SynergySynQ Ltd.

• Consulting

• Project/Portfolio Mgt

• Facilitation

• APM Branch Member

Introduction

Facilitation in the PM space

PDW

Let’s Play

When my team is overseas

Close up

– wikipedia

“Facilitation is any activity that makes tasks for others easy, or tasks that are assisted”

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

“fa•cil•i•ta•tion (fə-sĭlˌĭ-tāˈshən)▶

n. The act of making easy or easier.

n. The state of being made easy or easier.

n. Physiology The process of lowering the threshold for propagation of the action potential of a neuron, especially by repeated use of a neural pathway or the summation of two or more sub-threshold impulses.

”

– ProjectManagement.Com

A set of techniques used by a workshop leader, or facilitator, to improve the operation of a workshop or project team meeting. The benefits of applying facilitation techniques include:

• elimination of the effect of politics and power struggles on the information-gathering and/or problem-solving process

• enhanced communication among participants of the workshop session or meeting

• balanced participation required for achieving consensus • well-paced activities moving towards the completion of one or more workshop

deliverables

• enhanced creativity • easier, more effective conflict resolution

• greater commitment to workshop results • managed expectations

• Active Listener

• Asks Questions

• Stays neutral on content

• Stays on track

• Check Energy Levels

• Tests Assumptions

• Collects Ideas

• Summarise Clearly

One who contributes to structure and process to interactions so groups are able to function effectively and make

high-quality decisions.

manage

GROUP and INDIVIDUAL

manage the EVENT

manage your LEARNING

manage the PROCESS

manage YOURSELF

Starting

During

Ending

sponsor what why who

trouble makers context

Follow up

before during after

Facilitation in the PM space• Project Definition Workshop

• Planning and Scheduling

• Problem Solving

• Decision Making

• Idea Generation

• Meetings

• Others

PDWproject definition workshop

14

PDW – Day 1Agenda itemIntroductionSetting the sceneGoalObjectivesFinal product definition

LunchApproachScopeProject outcomesConstraintsProduct Breakdown Structure & Product Flow

15

PDW – Day 2Agenda item

Product Breakdown Structure, Product Flow & Product Description

Risks

Project name

Organisation

Short – term activity planningCommunication planning

Business benefits / costsWrap upTidy up

Right Participants Follow Up

Preparation Facilitator

SponsorShip

Let’s Play

• 2 Groups

• 5 min brainstorm

• 5 min group

• Review

When my team is overseas

challenges

• (body) language

• facial expressions

• interactions

• engagement

Agenda Test Test Test

Connection

Check Pulse Plan B Plan C

Introduction

Facilitation in the PM space

PDW

Let’s Play

When my team is overseas

Close up