Launching Project Pulsar: Dreams, Doubts, and Digital Transformation
Our Execute Stage comes to life in a “scenario-based” guided tour that provides a contextual framework for DX Plan Execution. Ushering a fictional company through the process will help CXOs visualize steps in the process and identify potential challenges and opportunities on their way to plan launch.
Over the last six months, we have laid out a step-by-step roadmap designed to equip CXOs for their self-directed digital transformation (DX) journey. These articles have provided industry best practices and expert recommendations taken directly from Victoria Fide’s proven Process for Transformational Change.
Our first installation of this guided tour introduces an up-and-coming manufacturing company who has experienced explosive growth and now seeks to transform and scale their business using Victoria Fide’s Process for Transformational Change. Their leadership team has just finished the Prepare stage and is now ready to host a project kickoff meeting based on the one presented in this article.
As we witness the Execute stage in action, we will experience their team’s hopes and dreams, watch them face unexpected challenges, and witness their incredible perseverance in the face of obstacles.
Frustrations with Inaccurate Inventory: Gone Forever?
“Aren’t you so excited?”
Lucy returned her co-worker’s smile with as much enthusiasm as she could muster and muttered a non-committal response.
“This project is going to change everything,” Maggie, the VP of Operations, continued without waiting for an answer. “Just think, in fifteen months you won’t have to deal with inaccurate inventory anymore!”
“Wouldn’t that be a dream come true?” Lucy quipped good-naturedly, trying not to sound too pessimistic. Maggie meant well, taking on the role of project sponsor for this project, but she was like a magpie; easily distracted by shiny objects. Next month would inevitably bring another glimmer.
Maggie laughed. “Well, you know our slogan: ‘Unleash Your Dreams.’ Just you wait, Luce; you’ll see. Project Pulsar is going to put us on the map.”
Lucy just smiled and nodded as Maggie excused herself to mingle with others. The conference room buzzed with anticipatory energy. Other employees of Galactic Gravity Inc. – or GGI – mingled in pairs or small groups between tables as they waited for the Project Kickoff meeting to begin. Lucy spotted some of her team members enjoying some pigs-in-a-blanket and laughing. Good for them, she thought. They deserve a nice break.
To her begrudging surprise, it seemed like the company had really pulled out all the stops for this event to kickstart their digital transformation project: glowing LED planets and moons hung from the ceiling, upbeat music filtered through a sound system, and tables filled with hors d’oeuvres and drinks lined the back wall. A banner announcing “Project Pulsar” hung behind the small stage at the center.
When she’d first heard of this initiative to improve their end-to-end forecasting, production, and delivery timeline, Lucy had felt excited. Their small virtual headset manufacturing company had experienced explosive growth over the last year, and although it was every small company’s dream, Lucy and her operations team had borne the brunt of it.
GGI never had enough components available for headset production, which meant her team was always behind with the orders. Company satisfaction rates were consistently dropping while demand continued to skyrocket, and the company was struggling to scale their business processes. Not to mention that the complex demand planning spreadsheet was enough to give her headaches a headache. It was clear that something had to change, but in Lucy’s experience, companies were quick to promise transformational initiatives and slow to follow-through on delivering lasting change.
Meeting Demand in the Midst of Production Challenges
“Go ahead and grab a seat everyone,” a familiar voice chirped over the sound system. The room quickly quieted, and Lucy slipped into a seat between Erin, GGI’s OCM Lead, and the Production Manager, Jonathan.
“Welcome, everyone!” Maggie beamed. “Take a minute and look to the person on your left. Now to your right. For the next fifteen months, these people are going to be your teammates, your partners, your fellow astronauts as we launch Project Pulsar and shoot for the stars. Together, we are going to transform Galactic Gravity Inc. from a fledgling start-up to a household name in Virtual Reality games.”
Maggie truly was a great motivator, Lucy admired as the woman continued. Her energy was contagious, and as she spoke, Lucy felt the atmosphere in the room charge with excitement. She even began to wonder for herself if this time would be different. Maybe Project Pulsar would make a difference.
“Growth does not happen without growing pains, as I know each and every one of you is well aware,” Maggie continued. “In the last eighteen months we have gone from producing a thousand units per month to now struggling to meet the current demand of ten thousand units per month. It’s a good problem to have, of course, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still a problem. We consistently struggle with lack of inventory, missed delivery dates, and our forecasting…” A knowing chuckle rippled through the room. “Let’s just say there’s room for improvement.”
“It’s no secret that these challenges have put us behind the eight ball,” Maggie continued more gravely. “We have not been able to service customers effectively, which has jeopardized our reputation in the marketplace. But Project Pulsar is here to change all that.”
“This project isn’t something we’ve cooked up on a whim; we’ve spent the last 4 months meticulously assessing, planning, and preparing for this team to be successful, and we truly believe we have everything we need to make this initiative a success. But it won’t work without you.”
Lucy could have sworn Maggie looked directly at her and smiled.
“Each and every one of you plays an integral role in the project’s success. This project will not be without its challenges, but as long as we stay true to our mission and our culture, I strongly believe we will prevail. This project will not only benefit the company, but it will benefit each of you as well. So, if you have any concerns or need anything at all, my door is always open!
“By the time we reach go-live, we will be positioned to grow and scale not just in North America, but beyond. Let’s shoot for the stars and show the world, this is how you Unleash Your Dreams!”
The room erupted in applause, and, despite her initial misgivings, Lucy found herself clapping along, cautiously optimistic. It was encouraging to hear Maggie acknowledge many of the challenges she herself had raised to the leadership team on behalf of her overwhelmed and often underappreciated operations team. After feeling like a majority of her concerns had fallen on deaf ears over the past year, it felt good to see someone taking action. She only hoped it would last and not fizzle out like so many other initiatives.
The Power of Realistic Goals as a Team Motivator
As the applause died down, Maggie continued. “I want to invite Jared Spinner, our project manager, to share some more details about the project timeline and goals.”
Over the next thirty minutes, Jared – a lanky man in his thirties with glasses and a confident voice – shared a slide deck presenting the project’s details. Lucy grabbed a pen from the middle of the table – purple, with the words “Project Pulsar” embossed along the side – and jotted down notes.
- The Project: End-to-End Forecasting, production, and delivery time
- Timeline: 15 months
- Objectives:
- Improve accuracy of demand forecasting by 20% over 12 months
- Reduce avg. delivery time by 25% over next fiscal year
- Ensure 30% increase in promised inventory availability over next fiscal year
Underneath it all, Lucy wrote, “Who’s going to be doing all of this? My team??“
“By meeting these objectives,” Jared continued, “We will reduce stockouts and overstock situations, optimize inventory levels, and increase our customer satisfaction and loyalty. This will position GGI to scale globally, not just nationally, and ensure that when the demand is there, we will be ready and waiting.”
After Jared finished giving an overview of the comprehensive project management plan – including the project scope, methodology, and known risks – applause once again filled the conference room.
Lucy turned to Jonathan, seated next to her, and raised her eyebrows with a smile. “It seems like they’ve thought of everything,” she remarked as the lights turned back up and the room began to hum.
He nodded. “They’ve sure tried to, anyway. I know Maggie and Jared have spent a lot of time preparing for this project.”
“Do you think it will actually work?” Lucy asked.
Jonathan shrugged. “Considering all the work that’s already gone into preparing for it, I think there’s a good chance it will.”
“I guess we’ll find out either way, won’t we?”
Transformation is not easy, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Take control of your project’s success today and schedule a free 30-minute consultation to find out how Victoria Fide can equip you for transformational success.
Setting the Tone: Details that Drive Project Kickoff Success
After the presentation, Lucy and the project team joined the rest of the company employees for an organizational-wide kickoff meeting. The event provided a pizza buffet and “Project Pulsar” goodie bags filled with t-shirts, stress balls, candy, and other branded items. The CEO, Kari Schultz, gave a speech that highlighted Project Pulsar as an organizational priority and enlisted everyone’s support to build a bright future for their growing company. Overall, the event was a success: most people were excited and eager to support a solution for the day-to-day challenges they faced.
Change is highly personal. Every employee wants to know WIIFM, or, “What’s In It For Me?” In Lucy’s case, she is also highly protective of her team, which bears the greatest burden in implementing these changes and faces the most consequences if they fail. However, throughout the event, Lucy notices certain details that prove that the company is genuinely addressing her concerns and is deeply committed to making this project a transformative success rather than just a temporary fix.
A project kickoff meeting is instrumental in setting the tone for the project, fostering community, and ensuring alignment around project scope, responsibilities, goals, and more. As we continue to follow GGI’s digital transformation journey, we’ll keep an eye on Lucy’s concerns, Maggie’s focus, Jared’s project management skills, and more. Join us and subscribe to see how the story unfolds!
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