Balancing Strategic & Operational Demands

BUSINESS PROBLEM

One of the largest and most recognized producers of blueberry plants in the world, also known for their expertise in plant breeding, production, and sustainable farming practices, was seeking to establish an Enterprise Portfolio Management Office (EPMO) to support prioritization of initiatives across several countries. With a strategy to build facilities in two new countries, scarce resources, and technological limitations in those parts of the world, the organization needed an agile process to ensure the right work was getting done at the right time with the right number of resources.

OUR APPROACH

To increase visibility for the leadership team to both strategic initiatives and operational business needs (i.e. putting out the daily fires), we delivered a prioritization framework, improved data quality, and optimized decision making.

1. Prioritizing the Work

First, we aligned initiatives with key drivers and a simple but effective prioritization model that accounted for resource utilization. For example, a key focus for the company was on sustainability, ensuring their operations have a minimal environmental impact while supporting the agricultural industry. The number of resources contributing to these efforts was unknown and underestimated.

2. Balancing Resources

Once the model was provided, resource utilization was captured, which provided a tool for leaders to adjust and reallocate work to balance resources.

3. Standardizing to Yield Efficiencies

Next, we developed templates for tracking work intake, work planning, and work execution.

4. Enabling Visibility & Transparency

Lastly, a prioritization decision process and supporting reports were developed and delivered, allowing for proactive and iterative planning and execution of initiatives in flight or coming down the pipeline.

SERVICES PERFORMED

Strategy Delivery

PMO Setup & Optimization

Project Evaluation & Rescue

Data & Reporting

VALUE DELIVERED

Aggregated demand. Delivered a tool to capture work intake and prioritization.
Measurable objectives. Standardized business case, initiative cost projections, and benefits planned with tracking for actuals.
Resource management. Introduced a tracking tool for maximizing resource utilization.