Leadership & Program Management

Today's projects are much more than tasks on a project plan. With the evolution of digital and omni-channel capabilities, projects are more complex than ever

With more than 80 years of collective experience, our program and project managers have delivered it all and whether using waterfall, agile scrum or a hybrid approach, they know how to get the job done on time and within budget

IT project delivery management and program leadership requires business and IT experience

Our team has held leadership positions in their prior careers, they understand the challenges facing your business and IT organizations.

Kona Kai Corp excels at project delivery incorporating whatever project scope necessary to achieve success and will partner with you to establish a structured governance model to ensure all stakeholders have the right level of communication at the right time.

Our delivery approach is built for adaptation to meet delivery timelines necessary without risking key functionality.

We will partner with you to enable engagement leads and project managers by working together with your company delivery methodology.

Customers, whether inside your organization or external,  have become accustomed to fast turnaround and this has put pressure on organizations to deliver projects faster than ever.

Organizational PMOs have been faced with adopting iterative agile practice in place of the traditional waterfall methodology.  Whether new to agile delivery methodologies or well versed, Kona Kai will partner with you to establish a project steering committee and governance model that will facilitate success

Concerned with giving up control?

Kona Kai believes in partnership and transparency through all project phases.  In addition to detailed project status sessions, you will have full visibility every step of the way.

Concerned with risk management?

Concerned with change management?

Sometimes being an outsider is advantageous, we can bring all stakeholders to the table to identify impacts, risks and definitions of success.  We will ensure your stakeholders are on board and supportive from project inception.

1

We need outside expertise, but how will we know what is going on?

our solutions:

> Partner with you to enable engagement leads and project managers by working hand-in-hand with your company delivery methodology.

> Provide weekly project engagement status reports, indicating key targets and sprint deliverables. 

> Track tasks individually and place ownership with the appropriate groups/teams and individuals.

> Provide a structured governance model supported by status reports that keep all stakeholders informed on key deliverables, milestones, issues, and risks.

2

Identifying dependencies is a challenge, and we want to be prepared.

Our solutions:

> During the prioritization and user story creation, we identify any dependencies that would otherwise preclude us from moving forward. 

> Typically, needs and strategies are discerned and identified during our initial Discovery phase.

3

How can we stay on top of costs and know we are on budget?

OUR SOLUTIONS:

> Weekly updates provide context into how the overall project is progressing. 

> Items logged and prioritized to ensure that deliverables are meeting the necessary functionality and staying within the allocated budget.

> “Burndown” reporting provides insight into both spent and remaining budgets

4

We want to expect the unexpected. What happens when we get off track?

our solutions:

> Our delivery approach is built for adaptation in order to meet delivery timelines necessary without risking key functionality.

5

What are the risks and and how do we mitigate them?

Our solutions:

> Initial risks are identified in the initial discovery phase, and post-discovery at-risk items are communicated through normal scrum stand-ups and through project management weekly updates.

> Risks are identified on an on-going basis, and they are discussed and prioritized as the project progresses. 

> Through agile delivery, we understand daily what risks need to be prioritized. We also work with respective development and business teams to work through those risks.

6

Who will own the changes and deliverables?

OUR SOLUTIONS:

> We run a RACI  documentation exercise to identify key individuals that will either be responsible, Accountable, Consulted or Informed. This documentation is then approved by the business or IT departments.

> Enable program managers and engagement leads with direct sight into the work that is created and approved.

> Based upon the RACI created, we partner with client teams who own certain components of the overall solution. The shared assets each have a program owner with dependencies as defined in the program plan and RACI.   

7

We are a large organization and need an expansive view on the impact of changes and even a way to see around the corner.

OUR SOLUTIONS:

> Our team embeds within the various business units during the entire project timeline. 

> Define dependencies and align cross functional activities to provide a view into the total program. 

8

Historically, we have struggled to bring all teams to the table.

OUR SOLUTIONS:

> Define all stakeholders up front and identify their role in the program using RACI (responsible, accountable, consulted, informed) tools. 

> This informs the governance model participation for ongoing communications.