How do you blend project management with other business areas?

1 Understand the business area

The first step to blend project management with other business areas is to understand the context, goals, challenges, and stakeholders of the business area you are working on. You need to research the industry, the market, the customer, the competitors, and the regulations that affect the business area. You also need to communicate with the subject matter experts, the sponsors, the end-users, and the other project team members who have relevant knowledge and experience in the business area. By doing so, you will be able to align your project objectives, scope, deliverables, and success criteria with the business needs and expectations.

3 Manage the project risks and issues

The third step to blend project management with other business areas is to manage the project risks and issues that may arise from the interaction between the project and the business area. You need to identify, analyze, prioritize, and mitigate the potential threats and opportunities that may affect the project performance, quality, and outcomes. You also need to monitor, control, and escalate the actual problems and changes that may occur during the project execution, and communicate them to the relevant stakeholders. Some examples of project risks and issues related to the business area are: regulatory changes, market shifts, customer feedback, technical dependencies, and resource conflicts.

4 Leverage the business value

The fourth step to blend project management with other business areas is to leverage the business value that the project can deliver to the organization and the customer. You need to measure, evaluate, and report the benefits and outcomes of the project in terms of the business objectives, metrics, and indicators. You also need to ensure that the project deliverables are aligned with the business requirements, expectations, and satisfaction. Moreover, you need to capture, share, and apply the lessons learned and best practices from the project to improve the performance and quality of the business area.

5 Collaborate with the business stakeholders

The fifth step to blend project management with other business areas is to collaborate with the business stakeholders who are involved in or affected by the project. You need to establish and maintain a positive and productive relationship with them, based on trust, respect, and communication. You also need to engage and involve them in the project planning, execution, and closure, and seek their input, feedback, and approval. Furthermore, you need to manage and resolve any conflicts, expectations, or interests that may arise between the project and the business stakeholders.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?