The Seven Keys to Success™

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© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002

The Seven Keys to Success™

Alter the course of your project’s history


© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 21 April 2023 | 2

“Hit me over the head!”

– Client Executive

You must communicate at the board room level



Healthy Signs Executive incentives tied to

project results

Investments in change management and training

Subject matter experts dedicated full-time

Unhealthy Signs No executive sponsor visible

People sabotaging efforts

Resistance to new ideas

No “experts” available

1. Stakeholders are committed



2. Business benefits are realized

Healthy Signs A compelling reason to implement

The solution doesn’t have to be fancy

The difference can be measured

Unhealthy Signs “Why are we doing this?”

Time is not important

Cost is too important



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



Unhealthy Signs “Issue” is a bad word

Nothing in writing

4. Scope is realistic and managed

Healthy Signs Evidence of healthy negotiation

Lengthy issues log

Written agreements



Unhealthy Signs The tension can be felt Turnover is high Working conditions are poor

5. Team is high performing

Healthy Signs Morale is good

The team is diverse



Unhealthy Signs “What risks?”

All-or-nothing tactics

6. Risks are mitigated

Healthy Signs Documented plan

Test-it-first tactics



Unhealthy Signs Good staff are not available

Negative remarks about performance

7. Delivery organization benefits are realized

Healthy Signs People feel they are learning

Willingness to invest in the project

Good press is being created



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

R

G

Y

Y

Y

G

R

Concern Recommended Action

Concern

Concern

Concern

Concern

Recommended Action

Recommended Action

Recommended Action

Recommended Action

A Board Room Agenda

What they need to know, what they need to decide



“You live your life forwards but

understand it backwards. ”

– Kirkegaarde

Accelerating the acquisition of expertise through research



Accelerating the acquisition of expertise through research

“Great understanding only comes when

very little of professional life remains. ”

– Project Management Guru



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

Y

G

R

Alter the course of your project’s history: the Seven Keys to Success

7 Keys > Altering the course

The Seven Keys to Success™

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