A copy of the presentation Ira Hendon delivered to local business leaders at an Early Morning Networking Breakfast sponsored by the Illinois Lake County Chamber of Commerce on Friday, June 21, 2013.

1. Delivering Strategic Projects
A business leader’s/owner’s view
June 21, 2013
Early Bird Breakfast Network
Lake County Chamber of Commerce

2. Learning objectives
• Share globally recognized definitions of the terms
project, program and portfolio
• Share five tips and action items business leaders can
implement immediately at virtually no cost
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013 2

3. Agenda
• Common Terms
– Project, Program and Portfolio
– Strategic initiatives / projects
• Useful Tips
– Tip #1 – Clear vision of the desired end result
– Tip #2 – Foster an environment for straight talk
– Tip #3 – Test scope and plans for reasonableness
– Tip #4 – Realize milestone delays effect overall schedule
– Tip #5 – Ask probing questions
• Q&A
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013 3

4. 4
Common Terms - Project
Temporary
 Definite Beginning and End
 Objectives achieved or not
 Need for project no longer
exists
Unique Deliverable(s)
 Product, Service or Result
A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to
create a unique product, service or, result.
Progressive Elaboration
 Developing in steps
 Progressing in
increments
Projects versus Operational
Work
 Projects are unique and
temporary
 Operations are on-going
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013

5. 5
Project Examples
Small Business
 Preparing the RFI / RFQ
Response
 Planning an event
 Launching a new product or
service
 Planning and implementing new
business processes and/or tools
 Building an iPhone, or Android
app for your business
 Renovating a facility
 Building a road
 Developing a Proof of Concept
(POC)
 Moving a department to a new
office location
Government
 Preparing the Procurement
Management Plan
 Preparing the Contract Statement
of Work
 Preparing the Qualified Suppliers
List
 Correcting a supplier issue
 Procuring resources for a specific
initiative or project
 Implementing a strategic initiative
 Preparing a custom report for a
Freedom of Information Act
presentation / response
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013

6. 6
Common Terms – Program and Portfolio
A program is defined as a group of related projects
managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits
and control not available from managing them
individually.
A portfolio refers to a collection of projects or
programs and other work that are grouped together
to facilitate effective management of that work to
meet strategic business objectives.
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013

7. What is a strategic project?
• Strategy is a high level plan to achieve one or more
goals under conditions of uncertainty – Wikipedia
• A method or plan chosen to bring about a desired
future, such as achievement of a goal or solution to a
problem – businessdictionary.com
• Competitive strategy is about being different from your
competition – Michael Porter
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013 7

8. Tip #1 – Clear vision of the desired end result
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013 8
What does the end result look like?
How do we know we hit the target?
As the sponsor, make sure your team(s) are clear on the desired
outcome and what is in and out of scope?
What is in scope?
What is out of scope?

9. Tip #2 – Foster an environment for straight talk
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Most business leaders find out
about major issues too late to fix?
As the sponsor, make sure your team(s) understand they need to
share bad news earlier than later
Team needs to be comfortable
sharing bad news?
You do not have to like the bad
news…However, you need to
know there is bad news.

10. Tip #3 – Test scope and plans for reasonableness
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As the sponsor, make sure your team(s) strive to identify 100% of
the major work required up front…if the work effort is not well
defined, your team will stall downstream…this will cost your
organization time and money.

11. Tip #4 – Realize milestone delays effect overall
schedule
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As the sponsor,
understand
milestone
delays will
negatively
impact your
overall
schedule.

12. Tip #5 – Ask probing questions
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013 12
If you do not understand
something, ask!
As the sponsor, critical thinking and probing questions are your
friend…The only bad question is the one that was not asked.
Use your critical thinking skills to
help you identify good probing
questions.
Make sure you understand the
implications of a pending
decision.

13. 13
Question and Answers
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013

14. 14
Shameless self promotion
LCCC Early Bird Networking Breakfast - June 21, 2013
Hendon Group, Inc. is a full service portfolio, program and project leadership
professional services, consulting, training and coaching services provider. For
additional information, please visit our website at hendon-group.com