- Digital transformation projects
can attract a lot of attention.
Sometimes that helps
but sometimes it's a problem.
Let me share some of the factors
that you should consider
as you think about positioning your project for success.
Projects sometimes involve experimentation,
learning and failure.
And it can be hard on the organization
and on the project team
if our failures have a high profile
but sharing information about transformation projects
can also be a great way to build trust
and prepare your stakeholders
for the changes that your project will produce.
So we really need to use a lot of judgment
when we think about how much visibility
a project should have.
Here are three reasons we might decide
to keep a low profile for our project.
First, if you think there's a lot of uncertainty
and a high risk of failure.
Even small failures or delays
can send the wrong signal to your stakeholders
and to your project team.
Being involved with a project that failed
can also create professional baggage for your team members.
Second, if it involves confidential intellectual property.
You might actually be developing a solution
that your company wants to protect
as a trade secret or even with a patent
but you can't protect information
that's been made available to the public,
so in order for your company
to protect the information legally,
the people on the team must keep it confidential.
Third, some projects have opponents or detractors.
There can be lots of reasons for it
but at the end of the day,
there are situations in which people will push back
against a project or even try to sabotage it.
For example, you might be leading a project
to automate someone else's job.
Even if it's the right move for your organization,
the person's whose job is being eliminated
might not be too happy about it.
One way to protect a project
from opponents is to keep it a secret.
Now let's look at three reasons
that you might want your project
to have a high profile.
First, having a lot of visibility
can be a strong motivator
for everyone involved.
Knowing that people are watching
and holding your team accountable
creates a sense of purpose and urgency.
It can also provide momentum
to help overcome challenges and obstacles.
Second, having greater visibility
often means you have access to more resources.
From money to team members to facilities,
you're more likely to get the things you asked for
when your project has a high profile.
Third, having a high profile
can be useful for change management.
Keeping your stakeholders in the loop
can help them prepare for the future
and reduce the chance of surprises.
It can also build trust and goodwill,
and when the project is complete,
it can provide your team members
with career momentum
because everyone understands what they helped to achieve.
Keep in mind that every project is different
and circumstances can change over time.
That makes it hard to lay down rigid rules
about how we should manage the visibility
of our projects.
Understanding the trade-offs that come with visibility
can help us meet the needs of our team members,
keep our stakeholders properly engaged
and maximize the benefits
that we gain from every project.