Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002
The Seven Keys to Success™
Alter the course of your project’s history
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 2
“Hit me over the head!”
– Client Executive
You must communicate at the board room level
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 3
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
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 4
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
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 5
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
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 6
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
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 7
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
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 8
Unhealthy Signs “What risks?” All-or-nothing tactics
6. Risks are mitigated
Healthy Signs Documented plan Test-it-first tactics
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 9
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
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 10
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
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 11
“You live your life forwards but understand it backwards. ”
– Kirkegaarde
Accelerating the acquisition of expertise through research
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 12
Accelerating the acquisition of expertise through research
“Great understanding only comes when very little of professional life remains. ”
– Project Management Guru
Business Consulting Services
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2002The Seven Keys to Success | PowerPoint | 28 April 2023 | 13
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