Project Program Manager Career Conversation

Project Program Manager Career Conversation

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  - 1 - CareerConversation How will your life be post MBA…. …. If you were a or project / program manager
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  - 2 - AboutMe Joined Cognizant Client Facing at onsite Delivery Responsibility from offshore EPGP at IIMB Consultant @ Deloitte Independent Consultant 2002 2011 2012 2016Both client facing and offshore Testing / Development Tech Lead / Solution Design I like to…. Professional Journey 17+ years of professional experience in providing IT services ranging from advisory to implementation for fortune 500 clients Under Graduation BE, Mechanical Engr. NIT Trichy Home Town: Trichy, Tamil Nadu Current Base: Bangalore Analytics Lead - Agilisium 2018 2020 Data Lead - Securra
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  - 3 - Project Management  How can MBA Help  Preparing for Project Management Interviews Agenda
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  - 4 - TheBig Picture Strategy Planning Execution What to do? How to do? Any business or organization’s asset development process has three blocks in it Strategy | Planning | Execution Resources
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  - 5 - TheBig Picture Strategy Planning Execution Each block has a critical role to play in order for a business to be successful Long-Term Medium-Term Near-Term Scope Timeline People Cost Dependencies ResourcesResources Risks Milestones Quality Key Decisions Evaluation of Choices Leadership 30,000 ft 30,000 ft – 5,000 ft Ground Level Visionary Opportunities Delivery Constraints Project Management
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  - 6 - Typesof Projects Projects can be classified into different categories Field | Technology | Work Area | Work Type | Location | Sourcing | Project vs. Product | … POC Prototype Build Migrate Upgrade Run Field Non-Field WorkArea Work Type The overall principles of project management are the same, however the project Management focus areas vary by the project characteristics
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  - 7 - DefiningProject and Project Management Project is a temporary endeavor designed to produce a unique product, service or result with a defined beginning and end Anything without a time bound, cost, scope is not a project Project Management: Managing the project to achieve goals while managing the constraints – scope, time, cost while leading a team Optimize allocation and integrate efforts across teams Focus on business outcomes
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  - 8 - DefiningProgram and Program Management Program is a group of related projects managed in a coordinated manner to obtain benefits not available from managing them individually. Programs are also time bound with cost and scope Program Management: Managing several related projects while managing priorities Align with organizational / business objectives Focus on business outcomes
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  - 9 - Yourboss is very tactical in nature Your boss might force you to deviate / change your focus You could be working with a team that is not fully equipped The market is very turbulent (things change frequently) The org level goals are dynamic Facing resistance through organizational inertia There are various stakeholders and each one looks at the project in a different perspective You are an independent contributor, the project members do not report to you (Influence without Authority) Is it difficult to focus on Outcomes?
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  - 10 - PMDisciplines (Knowledge Areas) Project Integration Management Project Scope Management Project Time Management Project Cost Management Project Quality Management Project Human Resources Management Project Communications Management Project Risk Management Project Procurement Management Project Stakeholder Management
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  - 11 - PMProcess Initiation Planning Execution Monitoring & Controlling Closing
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  - 12 - PMFrameworks Waterfall [SDLC] Agile Framework Lean Framework Theory of Constraints Lean-Agile
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  - 13 - Communication Team/ People Management Negotiation Influencing Without Authority Risk Management Status Reporting Leadership Executive Status Reports Top skills for a PM
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  - 14 - Staybusiness focused Understand the holistic picture (ask the right questions) OB and HRM – understand organizational inertia, value system, people resistance to change Structured approach to problem solving Operations – achieving efficiency and effectiveness Tools / techniques learnt from Strategy Spreadsheets How can MBA Help?
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  - 15 - Stakeholder(s)Management Influencing without Authority Communicating: Tell a story through PPT Don’t confuse role and designation − Higher the designation, more towards defining org level strategy & taking accountability − Example: Sr. Manager performs program management with multiple project managers reporting to him / her. Sr. Manager can also perform a very complex project management. Sr. Manager in a services company can be responsible for Account P&L in addition to deliver accountability − Example: IT - Sr. Manager role in a Cognizant could be different from Amazon, which can be totally different in FreshWorks or a captive Other Things you Should Know
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  - 16 - OtherThings you Should Know Scenario – ‘A’ PM executed a complex project without crisis through superior execution Scenario – ‘B’ There was a bit of a crisis, but the PM handled it really well at the end Which one of the two is better? How can this be perceived by the leaders? How do you address this?
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  - 17 - TypicalWork Day of a PM
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  - 18 - Startand end with a meeting Review task status, impediments, risk contingency and mitigation Resolve conflicts Managing ambiguity Executive Status Reports Typical Work Day of a PM
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  - 19 - MBAcan bring in the business focus that can be missing in a typical PM Typical PM focuses on managing the business, as an MBA grad, you can look to move the needle towards business objectives Be more effective in handling people, negotiating and influencing Stay current (trends, tools, techniques, etc.) Summary
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  - 20 - What is Project/Program Management  Role of a typical Project/Program Manager in a company  Skills required to be a Project/Program Manager  Leverage MBA for a switch from different domains to Project/Program Management  Domains work experience that would would be helpful to land up in Program Management. Ideal previous work experience for this role  Placement roles offered for project / program management Which companies hire from one year MBA campuses?  Difficulty in switching domains  Typical working day brief of a project manager / personal experience Audience Questions Review
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  - 21 - OtherQuestions
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  - 22 - ThankYou!