How do you encourage innovation in network project management?
Network project management is the process of planning, executing, and controlling network-related tasks and resources to achieve specific goals. It involves technical, organizational, and interpersonal skills to coordinate the network design, installation, configuration, maintenance, and security. Innovation is the ability to create or improve something new, useful, or valuable. It can help network project managers to solve problems, optimize performance, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. But how do you encourage innovation in network project management? Here are some tips to foster a culture of innovation in your network projects.
Before you start any network project, you need to have a clear understanding of the problem you are trying to solve and the goal you are trying to achieve. This will help you to identify the scope, requirements, constraints, and risks of the project. It will also help you to communicate the purpose and value of the project to your stakeholders, team members, and customers. By defining the problem and the goal, you can set the direction and the criteria for innovation.
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Over and above project management itself, an organization needs an innovative mindset and culture. People should come to work every day to be innovative in order to satisfy customers and all stakeholders. With such a sustained 24/7 culture, the innovative mindset will naturally overflow into any and every project.
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Problem framing is one of the best tools that a design leader has in their toolkit to bring about lasting change and innovation Use the pre-discovery phase to understand the problem using a 360 degree lens What are customers/users/service beneficiaries and the workforce saying about the problem? Hold off from any solutionising at this stage - as too early, and you risk solving the wrong problem and not having a full understanding of needs and requirements. It is human to try and fix as soon as possible (such as the ‘quick wins’ or the ‘low hanging fruit’) but this must be guarded against until you have been through discovery and definition. Even then it is time for prototypes and looking at a range of possibilities rather than one
Network projects are often complex and require collaboration and coordination among different people and roles. Therefore, it is important to involve your team and stakeholders in the innovation process. You can do this by soliciting their input, feedback, and ideas, as well as by empowering them to make decisions and take actions. By involving your team and stakeholders, you can leverage their diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences, as well as increase their engagement and ownership of the project.
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One thing I find useful in any technical work such as network projects is understanding your audience/stakeholders. For example The Finance officer doesn't need a full run down of the VLANs, the network diagram, backhaul speeds. They need to know risk and costs and benefits, timeframes for example. So involve people yes you need too, but at the right level and the level of detail relevant to their role.
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This is the time for stakeholder mapping and understanding who and what groups are in the ecosystem This should include views and perspectives from a 360 degree view including customers/users/service beneficiaries, the workforce and delivery partners Include them as early as possible- and use participative methods such as codesign or coproduction if your timeline allows Ask them how much they want to be involved and what level of decision making that they would require to be fully engaged Ignoring stakeholders will limit adoption - the best solution in the world will be ignored if engagement has been low Remember the IKEA effect - people are more likely to value something that they have been involved in building
Innovation is not a linear or predictable process. It often involves trial and error, learning from failures, and adapting to changes. Therefore, you need to create a space for experimentation and learning in your network project management. You can do this by adopting an agile or iterative approach, where you deliver small increments of value, test them with your customers, and learn from the results. You can also use prototyping, simulation, or testing tools to validate your assumptions and hypotheses. By experimenting and learning, you can discover new opportunities, improve your solutions, and reduce your risks.
Creativity is the ability to generate novel and useful ideas. Diversity is the recognition and appreciation of different backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints. Both are essential for innovation, as they can help you to challenge the status quo, explore new possibilities, and find better ways to do things. Therefore, you need to encourage creativity and diversity in your network project management. You can do this by providing your team with time, resources, and incentives to think creatively, as well as by creating a safe and supportive environment where they can express their opinions, share their insights, and learn from each other.
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Allow time and space for everyone involved to ideate. Ask people to look at the worst possible solution to the network project as this ironically often unlocks the best as well as innovation Children when asked about what they can do with a paper clip can come up with endless possibilities- whilst an adult in analytical mode can come up with less than 5 Make sure your groups have as diverse perspectives and voices as possible. Unlocking a problem for someone with specific life challenges can often hold the key for wider useage and adoption. Avoid ‘tokenisation’ when you do this and use questions using the Socratic method in which everyone is able to give an answer from their own experience
Network technology is constantly evolving and changing. New trends and technologies can offer new solutions, challenges, and opportunities for your network projects. Therefore, you need to keep up with the trends and technologies in your field and industry. You can do this by reading blogs, magazines, journals, or books, attending webinars, conferences, or workshops, joining online communities or forums, or taking courses or certifications. By keeping up with the trends and technologies, you can stay relevant, competitive, and innovative in your network project management.
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