Technology Projects: Organizational Design

When conducting a health-check or a lookback on a technology project, it's important to assess the organizational design and legacy aspects of the project. Organizational design refers to the structure, roles, and responsibilities within the organization, while legacy pertains to the impact of the project on existing systems and processes. Many technology projects are encumbered with legacy organizational issues: Who will own the new process? The master data requires a clen-up. Who will clean-up the data? The interfacing applications are not compatible and require an upgrade. These issues encroach upon and jeopardize the health of the project. As such, they are best dealt with prior to, if possible, or as stand-alone projects running in parallel with the project.

Here are some key organizational design and legacy questions to ask:

1. Organizational Structure and Roles:

• How was the project team structured within the organization?
• Were the roles and responsibilities clearly defined and aligned with the project objectives?
• Were there any gaps or overlaps in roles and responsibilities that affected project execution?
  

2. Change Management and Stakeholder Engagement:

• How effectively were the necessary organizational changes managed?
• Were stakeholders engaged and informed about the project's impact on the organization?
• Were there any resistance or challenges to the organizational changes required by the project?

3. Training and Capability Development:

• Were the necessary training and capability development initiatives provided to support the project?
• Were the skills and competencies of the project team and end-users adequately addressed?
• Were there any gaps in training or capability development that impacted project outcomes?

4. Communication and Collaboration:

• How was communication and collaboration managed within the organization during the project?
• Were there effective communication channels and platforms in place?
• Were there any challenges or gaps in communication and collaboration that affected project success?

5. Legacy Systems and Processes:

• What was the impact of the project on existing systems and processes within the organization?
• Were there challenges in integrating the new technology with legacy systems?
• Were there any disruptions or difficulties caused by the project's impact on legacy systems and processes?

6. Governance and Decision-making:

• How was governance and decision-making structured within the project and the organization?
• Were decision-making processes efficient and effective?
• Were there any issues with decision-making authority or decision delays that affected project outcomes?

7. Organizational Culture:

• How did the organizational culture impact the project's execution and outcomes?
• Was there a culture of innovation, adaptability, and collaboration?
• Were there any cultural barriers or resistance that affected the project's success?

8. Lessons Learned and Improvement:

• Were lessons learned captured and documented regarding organizational design and legacy aspects throughout the project?
• Were the lessons learned shared with relevant stakeholders and future project teams?
• What steps have been taken or will be taken to improve organizational design and legacy management in future projects?