Turning Business Strategy

into Projects
How to transform sound business
strategy into a successful project.

Translating Strategy into

Projects-1
Once strategy has been determined and
approved by the appropriate company
executives, everyone must get on board to
realize benefits and meet mutual expectations:

The project manager

The chief executive officer
The chief information officer
Directors
Functional management
Project staff

Translating Strategy into

Projects-2
For a successful transition from strategy to
project, the business must have in place:
Agreement on what needs changing, and why.
This must be clearly supported by the project sponsor.

A common language for analyzing and describing

requirements, based on a shared understanding of
the business processes across the client, as well as
across information systems departments.
Agreed processes involving the users in the design
and selection of systems solutions.
The support of a skilled, experienced technology
project manager.

Translating Strategy into

Projects-3
Each and every project should have some sort
of a mission.
The mission identifies the customers requirements
and clearly defines the purpose of the project.
The mission must be completed for the success of the
project.
Its objectives define the success criteria for the project.
Completing all objectives should accomplish the projects
mission.
Measurable objectives provide a method of quantifying the
results and establishing quality standards to evaluate the
success of a project.

Translating Strategy into

Projects-4
The results of the project analysis must be
captured as a formal expression of business
needs.
This is not easy to do and requires great skill,
creativity and breadth of vision.
It helps to have the necessary knowledge and
experience of the specific business environment to
formulate this strategy.
Consider having an outside, independent third party help in
this formulation to facilitate and document business
requirements.
Alternatively, you can work with strategic alliance partners to
encourage shared-risk and partnership-style relationships.

Translating Strategy into

Projects-5
Suggestions to help executives and
project managers alike attain perspective
on corporate strategy:
Attend seminars and conferences on strategy.
Read publications on strategy.
Join professional organizations.
Study and practice.
Have a mentor.

Translating Strategy into

Projects-6
Senior Management Commitment/Project
Sponsorship:
A mutually acceptable commitment between a project
sponsor and a project team must exist before a viable
project exists.
There must be agreement on the goals and objectives of the
project in terms of the products scope, quality, grade, time to
completion and final cost.
Effective and efficient policies and procedures must be in
place, stating clearly roles and responsibilities, delegation of
authority, processes for managing the scope of work
(including changes, maintenance of quality, and schedule
and cost control).

Translating Strategy into

Projects-7
Executives who are accountable to shareholders tend to
focus on projects that contribute to the following:

Keeping shareholders happy

Increasing market share
Raising revenues
Attracting new clients
Getting higher dividends
Lowering operational expenses
Increasing corporate efficiency
Increasing repeat client visits
Lowering the cost of sales
Making workers more productive
Increasing worker morale

Strategy Basics in the Project

Life Cycle-1
Discovery

Design
Build
Implement
Support

Strategy Basics in the Project

Life Cycle-2
Discovery:
Create the vision
See what is possible
Do future forecasting
Create strategies
Start a project culture
Determine actions

Strategy Basics in the Project

Life Cycle-3
Design:
Design the solution
Blueprint the build
Assess technologies

Strategy Basics in the Project

Life Cycle-4
Build:
Build solution
Test quality

Strategy Basics in the Project

Life Cycle-5
Implement:
Integrate solution
Rollout solution

Strategy Basics in the Project

Life Cycle-6
Support:
Maintain solution
Ensure availability