The document discusses a large distributed agile program for a pharmaceutical wholesale company aiming to build a web ordering solution for pharmacies, modeled after Amazon. It highlights the program's structure, team composition, and the challenges faced due to diverse locations and limited agile experience. Key motivational strategies and the importance of trust in remote teamwork are also emphasized.

1. PMDAY 2020 – Kyiv, Ukraine
Practical Examples of Working
on a Large Distributed Agile
Program
Mike Palladino, PMP, CSM
- Director, Agile Center of Excellence, Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Adjunct Professor, Villanova University
- Author, Data Management University
- Past President, PMI-DVC chapter
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2. Program Background – Pharmaceutical Wholesale
• Buys from pharmaceutical manufactures
• Sells to pharmacies and hospitals
• $153 Billion revenue
• #9 on the Fortune 500 list of largest
companies in the world
• #1 Walmart
• #2 Exxon
• #3 Apple
• #5 Amazon
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3. Program Background – Business Goal
• Build a web ordering solution for Pharmacies
• i.e. Build the “Amazon.com” platform for Pharmacies
• Features include
• Ordering
• Returns
• Safety data information
• Inventory
• Payment information
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4. Program Background –
• Web-based Java solution
• SAP Hybris eCommerce & Customer
Relationship Mgmt (CRM) solution
• C/4 Hana and other SAP modules
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5. Program Background – Team
• 200 people in 9 teams
• $120 Million
• 4 Vendors: SAP, IBM,
and 2 others
• 9 Location: USA (PA, MA,
TN, NY, CA, LA), Toronto,
Dublin, Hyderabad
• 5 time zones
• 13 1/2 hour time
difference
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6. Program Background – Program Structure
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Sponsors, Stakeholders + team
below
Product Manager, Product Owners,
Scrum Masters, Dev Lead, Test Lead
Team
1
Team
2
Team
3
Team
4
Team
5
Team
6
Team
7
Team
8
Team
9
Vendor Leads

7. Program Background – Sample Team structure
• Product Owners x2
• Business PO and IT PO
• Scrum Master x1
• Business Analyst/Testers x5
• Full Stack developers x7
• Hana developers x5
• User Experience (UX) x2
• Total: 22 people in 7 sites, 5 time zones
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8. Program Background – Agile Experience
• Little to no Agile Experience
• Initial training
• All 9 teams
• 2 Agile Coaches
• 4 Scrum Masters
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9. Program Background – Tools
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10. Retention of Information
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• Retention of Information
• 10% of what we read
• 15% of what we read and see
• 80% of what we do
• Visual, fun,
hands-on

11. Remote Sponsors and Team Members
• Become the local eyes and ears for sponsor
• Keep Sponsors in the loop more than normal
• Formal and informal conversations
• Concerns, worries, early warnings for future problems
• Use video where applicable
• But, beware if video becomes distracting
• Rotate who speaks first
• Call on people from all sites
• Laptop Closed
Mastering Project Management 11

12. Trust - Getting to Know Each Other
Initial Introductions
Thank you card
Thank you at work
Team “group photo”
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13. The Team!
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Name
RoleName
Role
Name
Role
Name
Role
Name
Role
Name
Role Name
Role
Name
Role
Name
Role
Name
Role

14. Retrospective
Single most valuable ceremony
Builds Trust
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Increased Velocity 400%
in 3 ½ months
No evenings, weekends
or overtime

15. Trust  Motivation
• Improves team performance
• Highly motivated team will always outperform a poorly motivated team
• Infectious (in a good way)
• Reduces external problems
Mastering Project Management 15

16. Question and Reference
• Treating people Fairly or the Same?
• “First Break all the Rules” by Marcus Buckingham
• What makes a great manager/leader?
• Great managers treat their staff the way they want/need to be treated. They do NOT
treat everyone the same.
• i.e. more independent vs needs support
Mastering Project Management 16

17. Motivational Strategies
• Strategies reminder – samples from the material
• Command and Control – Do what I say
• Carrot and Stick – Reward if good, punishment if bad
• Achievement – Want to accomplish something
• Affiliation – Be part of a group
• Power – Ability to influence others
• What motivates you? What style do you prefer?
• What style is least motivating?
• What style do you use to motivate others?
• Do you find it easy or hard to motivate others?
Mastering Project Management 17
“Motivation is a fire from within. If
someone else tries to light that fine
under you, chances are it will burn
very briefly.”
-Stephen R Covey

18. Motivating and Trust
• Motivating people
• The Baseball coach Billy Bean is trying to motivate an
older player
• “Need you to set the example. Others will look up to you
as a leader”
• Trust
• Build early and often
• Able to rely on trust during the stressful times
Mastering Project Management 18

19. Bonus – When Everyone Works From Home
• Schedule breaks
• Schedule family time in your calendar
• Talk a walk
• Play cards
• Cook together
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20. Conclusion
• Working remote is becoming more common
• Senior leaders are experiencing Work from
Home and see the benefits
• Try new ideas
• Experiment
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21. PMDAY 2020 – Kyiv, Ukraine
Thank you!
Questions ???
Comments ???
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