Project: Project planning training and facilitation for a major UK food producer.
Brief: Food producer Ardo UK had an opportunity to move into British peas for the frozen food market. To meet the complex demands of British retailers the product line would require a new supply chain and a range of cross-functional processes. To ensure the success of the diversification, the UK board decided it needed a more coherent project planning approach. The brief was to help the board agree a new project planning process and then facilitate them in writing a project plan.
Client perspective: “The training of the UK board directors in project management was excellent and has paid dividends. Steve used our own business as the basis to learn, making it not only more rewarding, but also useful on a permanent basis.” Simon Baxter, Marketing Director, Ardo, UK
Find an overview of this project in Food Processing Magazine.
Approach: Steve Walker, director at Calibre HR & Training, met with the UK MD to identify the requirements of the project planning process. He also explored with him the existing skills and expertise of board members and the best way to create and instil the new project planning process.
Armed with this insight, Steve then designed a practical and hands-on programme of interventions.
The first step was for Steve to identify a project planning process that would be most suitable for the Ardo UK board. He then organised a half-day workshop with the directors to explain and get buy-in to the different elements of the project planning structure. During the workshop, different headings were tested, agreed and signed off.
Steve then facilitated a second half-day session where the directors began as a team to populate the project plan. This included scoping out an 18-month timetable and agreeing key tasks and outcomes.
Over the next two weeks the directors continued this work in their own departments adding the necessary detail to the project plan.
Steve then facilitated another two sessions to help them complete the plan with the new information. The facilitated format for these meetings allowed the directors to check and challenge each other’s work, clarify deadlines and interdependencies.
In the final session Steve scrutinised the plan and questioned the directors to tease out omissions and ensure everyone was happy with it and confident to put the plan in place.
Outcome: The company now has a detailed plan with which to drive and manage a major project. As well as well-defined internal processes, third-parties also have a clear picture of their involvement and responsibilities. The first peas will be produced in the summer of 2011. In addition, the board now has a project planning template it is confident to use for future projects.
Elspeth’s on-tap expert HR advice gives the senior management team professional support to deal with staff issues. Staff feel supported and we get peace of mind and a level of expertise usually only enjoyed by large corporations.
