Ken Cregan, Unum, Head of Innovation

Ken Cregan, Unum, Head of Innovation

“Resourcing decisions force managers to balance risks and benefits …. and the effects those decisions will have on other processes and projects.”

One of the biggest challenges business managers face is deciding where to focus key projects, budgets, and time to best align with the business’s strategic position in the market. These decisions are difficult because resources are always limited and business realities are always changing.

Resourcing decisions force managers to balance risks and benefits. When resources are limited, managers have to evaluate whether a particular need can be addressed in the short term or will require a longer-term resource commitment that could evolve into scope creep. They must also consider the effects those decisions will have on other processes and projects. Will a particular action solve multiple problems, or will it create new ones?

Answering these questions requires continuous discussion about risk management, resource management, and scope management. It requires looking forward and anticipating change, something that must be done with the delivery teams and key stakeholders. Even then, however, the unexpected
happens. When they do, detailed impact analysis and planning across project portfolios and across the business are needed.

 

This is an excerpt from 7 Experts on Improving Enterprise Agility to Create a Competitive Edge. The eBook was generously sponsored by Sharktower.

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