067: Managing Retail Projects Successfully

Retail is challenging and retailers must change or die. If you’re looking to make complex changes or transformations, just “winging it” won’t work. Instead, you’ll need to add more structure in the form of project management. But you don’t want it to be excessively bloated and bureaucratic for the fast paced and highly competitive retail market. So, discover 6 essential elements that your project teams must focus on so they can deliver change and improvement to your organisation.

So, listen in to this podcast episode to uncover:

• The challenge with project management
• A simple lifecycle that everyone can understand.
• The 6 essential elements of managing retail projects successfully.
• What you can do to help equip your team with the skills to manage projects successfully.

 

 

The simple life(cycle)

Project management methodologies have a lifecycle model to guide you through the process of managing a project from start to finish. Unfortunately, many are large or complex, meaning that you need to go through a training programme just to understand what’s being spoken about!

Realistically, this just isn’t going to happen in the world of retail as many aren’t formally trained in project management. But, it’s still critical for stakeholders to understand the project and support accordingly. But, this just isn’t going to happen with a multi-stage, complex lifecycle journey.

However, I see a simple three stage lifecycle

1. DEFINE. Firstly, you must set up the project properly and understand the destination and direction of travel.
2. DEVELOP.  Next, build the contents of the project.
3. DELIVER. Finally, deploy the project and actually make the change happen.

So, using this 3 step lifecycle, it’s easy to explain where project is in terms of it’s lifecycle.

6 essential elements

During the episode, I mentioned 6 essential elements for successful project management in the retail industry. As a reminder, those 6 essential elements are:

1. STRATEGY
2. PLAN
3. BUSINESS CASE
4. STAKEHOLDERS
5. OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
6. DELIVERABLES

These all need to be combined across the lifecycle – at all stages. Also, they are of equal importance. Ignoring just one of these essential elements can cause the project to crumble and fail.

Retail Project Manager Success programme

Finally, I’m delighted to announce the launch of my new online training programme: the Retail Project Manager Success programme. On this course, you’ll discover how the 6 essential elements come to life. Also, find out how to stay on top of each element throughout the lifecycle. Plus, you’ll learn actionable tips and tactics that have been tried and tested in real retail projects.

The course is designed to focus on convenience and on demand learning given our digitally enabled world. In fact, you can fit the bitesize learning videos into your existing schedule to make sure that you finish the course. Also, remember to refresh the learning when projects get to certain pinch points or face adversity.

In fact, you’ll find the programme is:

• PRACTICAL – The Retail Project Manager Success programme is designed for using in the real world, refined from tried and tested ways of working
• EASY TO LEARN – The course is broken down into bitesize videos and you can learn at your own pace – and go back to refresh yourself as needed.
• READY TO USE – With simple but effective templates, you can get started straight away and instantly improve how projects are managed.
• BUILD CAPABILITY – You’ll learn how to approach and deliver projects so you can make successful changes in house without using expensive consultants or contractors.
• ONGOING SUPPORT – Training is only useful if it’s used. With ongoing support, you’ll have an expert on hand to guide and coach you.

Special launch pricing and extras

During February 2020, the Retail Project Manager Success programme will be going through a launch phase. Therefore, I’m keen to get people into the course and I’m including some big discounts and a bonus package that won’t be available again.

So, if you’re looking to equip your teams with better skills and capability so they can be more effective at managing projects, then consider joining the programme or getting your team into the programme. Or, if you have any questions, you can always send them to me at oliver.banks@obandco.uk.