TRANSFORMATION ATTENUATION:WHAT PROJECT MANAGERS CAN DO TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE

1. PMSYMPOSIUM.UMD.EDU
Richard Wyatt
2021 Project Management Symposium
TRANSFORMATION ATTENUATION:
WHAT PROJECT MANAGERS CAN DO TO
INCREASE THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL
CHANGE

2. PM.UMD.EDU
Transformation Attenuation
The reduction of intent or expectation of the outcome of a
Transformation initiative as it moves down through an organization.
New Tools and Processes
Senior Level
Executives
Front Line
Associates
Function
Management
Business Agility
Function Focus

3. PM.UMD.EDU
Organizational Readiness:
Is the organization ready to operate in a transformed way
Governance
Dependencies
Structure Measurement
Teams

4. PM.UMD.EDU
Organizational Control functions
Shared functions, slower to adapt to new approaches
Teams
Line
Management
Transformation
Management
Finance
Risk
HR
Control
Functions

5. PM.UMD.EDU
You get what you measure
The challenge of measuring the ‘right’ things
Traditional
Review
Cycle
Strategic /
Transformational
Goals
Tactical /
Process
Goals
Line
Manager
Goals
Transformation
Manager
Goals

6. PM.UMD.EDU
You get what you measure
The challenge of measuring the ‘right’ things
Traditional
Review
Cycle
Strategic /
Transformational
Goals
Tactical /
Process
Goals
Line
Manager
Goals
Transformation
Manager
Goals

7. PM.UMD.EDU
Resistance to change
Need to produce during change
Just change a process Changing mindset
Enable Change Relapse Mother of Invention
Non Value-add Frictions Value-add is rewarding

8. PM.UMD.EDU
Disconnected Behavior
Day to day operation is separated from strategy setting
Focus
Organization
Reinforcement
Constant
Support
Conflict
Adverse
Measured
Tasks
Diffuse
Tasks
Flat /
Open
Formal
Hierarchy
Community Chasm

9. PM.UMD.EDU
Project Manager Impact on Transformation
Project Managers are uniquely positioned to amplify intent
• Ensure the organization is ready to operate post
transformation (eliminate dependencies)
• Align control functions or enable mode translation
• Negotiate input in matrixed associate reviews
• Maintain drive for transformation across project
• Communicate and coach to connect project resources to
Transformation strategy

10. PM.UMD.EDU
Questions?
Contact Richard Wyatt
rwyattuk@gmail.com
267-980-2061