Project Management Successes with Global Teams

Project Management Successes with Global Teams

PresentersPresenters

Glenn Gregg

Senior Project Manager

Life Sciences Engineering Center

IntroductionIntroduction

Executing projects utilizing personnel and equipment resources distributed across the globe is becoming a common practice. This workshop will address some of the key project controls considerations.

Emerson has mastered issues with language, time zones, and cultural differences across virtual teams. This workshop however will focus on the project controls necessary to ensure security of confidential information, control of documentation and applications configuration as it relates to this distributed project execution environment.

Project BenefitsProject Benefits

Labor – use of BCEC Labor – global talent pool Labor – Ability to quickly meet resource demands Schedule – shortens review cycles Schedule – allows work 24 Hours/day Quality – Protection of Confidential Information

Comment on TechnologyComment on Technology

Availability of applicable technology is plentiful – applying it effectively for your project is the issue.

Shared Web Sites, Blogs, Wiki, RVO, email, Twitter, IM, LiveMeeting, Videoconferencing, VoIP, VPN, etc…

The Project Plan must address the tools to be used. The team must understand – training is required.

Comment on TechnologyComment on Technology

Define a set of tools and their applicability to the project. These tools should facilitate more frequent and more personal communications among the team, including:  – A networking site to bring the team together to improve the

visibility of individual and team expertise  – A team startup kit that defined roles, responsibilities, and

best practices to improve dispersed teams’ interactions and alignment 

– A blog to allow sharing of ideas in an informal manner – Use of RSS and Alerts to keep the team synchronized

Language, Time Zones, and Cultural DifferencesLanguage, Time Zones, and Cultural Differences

Communication/Collaboration– Development of goals, schedules, protocols, and shared

processes – Organization with Roles and Responsibilities– Cross-cultural liaisons. Team members with these cross-

cutting roles are able to transfer contextual information as they bridge subgroups

– Frequent and inclusive communication– Stimulate sharing of knowledge – brainstorming, problem

solving, shared experiences

Project ExampleProject Example

Atlanta Energy Projects– Rotate BCEC Engineers– Local Lead, Work Package Definition and Execution

Document ControlDocument Control

Management– Storage structure– Clear identification of the “current working” document– Creation, editing, review processes– Numbering/naming - conventions

Predefined content templates Glossary, Abbreviations Document Control List/Database

Project ExampleProject Example

SharePoint Emerson PMO Project PMP

Security of Confidential InformationSecurity of Confidential Information

Plan– Repository Organization– User Groups, Access

Team Training– Confidentially Agreement– Transmittal Process

Project ExampleProject Example SharePoint Group/User/Folder Structure

Training

Application Configuration/SoftwareApplication Configuration/Software

Plan– One development system– Access control– Change Control and Backup strategy

Global Team Strategies– Remote Access Strategy– Work Partitioning– Usage/Maintenance Schedules

Project ExampleProject Example

Lessons Learned– Configuration Control– Maintenance of multiple systems– Systems Backup

Remote Testing– Partner Networking– Remotely test on target system

SummarySummary

Emerson effectively deploys global teams in the virtual environment. Integration of global standards, best practices and processes. Team training on the tools and processes is necessary.

Key benefits include reductions in labor costs and perhaps of more significance, the ability to shorten the implementation schedule.

Where To Get More InformationWhere To Get More Information

Emerson Process Management Project Management Office

Google “Global Virtual Teams”