How program and project management work together to improve organizational performance
CHALLENGE:
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is a valued customer – a high-profile organization with a unique mission and strategic goals that require a management solution as dynamic as the organization itself. That’s where The Bolden Group (TBG) comes in!
TBG was brought in to incorporate Program/Project Management (PM) services thereby operationalizing the organization’s strategic plan. Among the AAMC’s most ambitious strategic goals is to increase the number of minority medical school applicants and matriculants. This strategic initiative’s purpose is to cultivate a diverse and culturally prepared workforce, advance inclusion excellence, imbue equity-mindedness, and enhance engagement with local communities.
APPROACH:
(Program/Project Management Support) TBG provided program and project management support services to the Senior Staff, and other related divisions within the organization including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Workforce Transformation areas.
We were responsible for project planning and oversight to ensure timely and efficient completion within budget. The Bolden Group’s PM personnel designated project resources, prepared budgets monitored progress, and kept stakeholders informed the throughout the lifecycle of the project in accordance with organizational goals and vision.
We also developed a comprehensive Strategy and Implementation Plan, developed schedules, and performed a gap and risk analysis. We also utilized PM tools (technology), including (Earned Value Management – EVM), to measure work performance, maintain project status information, and update the relevant stakeholders accordingly.
(Strategic Planning, Portfolio Management) TBG was also responsible for providing senior level Strategic Planning/Portfolio Management (PM) to assist in the development and implementation of PM methods, processes, and tools. Staff assisted the Director in developing and implementing continuous integrated activities to manage analysis, selection, control, and evaluation processes which provided a balanced strategy for making decisions and recommendations based on enterprise strategic planning and outcome-based performance measures thereby optimizing desired mission capabilities.
We also developed and implemented data collection activities that addressed the critical front-end requirements for strategic planning, performance and results management, benchmarking, elimination of unnecessary functions, process improvement, and definition of capabilities and gaps. Through the collection of execution data, TBG then conducted analysis and developed reporting mechanisms for leadership review(s).
(Strategic Communications and Administrative Support) The Bolden Group provided Strategic Communications and administrative support services for the Director and other relevant Senior stakeholders.
RESULT:
While The AAMC’s strategic planning is still ongoing, early indications are beyond positive. The Bolden Group performed all program and project management activities, including budgeting, reporting, and risk management. The number and tasks for which TBG staff was engaged varied based on business and workflow needs of AAMC. In all cases the team has been able to work seamlessly and forge strong relationships with AAMC staff both in the Workforce Transformation and across the organization.
Among the earliest consultative tasks was developing the ‘Strategy and Implementation Plan’. Ensuring the project’s outputs fulfilled the AAMC’s desired objectives was prioritized to promote project success. We accomplished this by changing the focus of communication between the project manager, the customer, and the project team.
Rather than focusing on project tasks, we expanded conversations to address their expected business outcomes. These minor course corrections produced significant dividends for time management, resource management, and customer satisfaction.
Through successful planning, execution, and intervention, the project has seen savings in its budget and is on track to begin implementation in advance of its initially planned ‘go-live’ date. With the budget savings, the organization is now able to outsource strategic program areas to supplement knowledge gaps with expertise in facilitation of project goals. To that end, we’re proud of the work we’ve done with AAMC.
About The Bolden Group, LLC