What to Expect When Working Together
Process improvement projects work best when everyone understands what to expect. This overview walks through the typical phases of an engagement, what happens in each phase, and how we'll work together to achieve your goals.
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Discovery & Analysis
The engagement begins with understanding your organization, current processes, and improvement goals. This involves gathering information from multiple sources and stakeholders to get a complete picture of the current state.
What happens:
Stakeholder interviews with key team members and leadership
Process observation and current workflow documentation
Analysis of existing systems and tools
Identification of pain points and improvement opportunities
Establishment of baseline metrics and success criteria
Your involvement:
2-3 hours of interviews with leadership team
Introductions to key process stakeholders
Access to current documentation and systems
Brief team meetings for project introduction
Deliverable: Discovery report with current state analysis and agreed-upon project scope
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Solution Development & Planning
Using insights from the discovery phase, this phase focuses on developing targeted solutions and creating a realistic implementation plan.
What happens:
Analysis of root causes for identified challenges
Development of process improvements and solutions
Technology requirements assessment (Jira, Confluence, etc.)
Creation of detailed implementation roadmap
Risk assessment and mitigation planning
Your involvement:
Review sessions for proposed solutions
Input on resource availability and constraints
Priority setting for implementation phases
Approval of final project plan
Deliverable: Implementation plan with process designs, technology requirements, and project timeline
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Foundation Building
This phase establishes the technical and organizational framework needed for successful implementation, including tool setup and documentation preparation.
What happens:
Technology platform configuration (Jira workflows, Confluence spaces)
Documentation template creation and standards development
Communication framework establishment
Training material development
Quality assurance system design
Your involvement:
System access and permissions coordination
Review of documentation templates and standards
Feedback on training materials
Identification of internal project champions
Deliverable: Configured technology platform with templates, workflows, and training materials
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Systematic Rollout
Implementation occurs in planned phases, starting with pilot groups and expanding based on feedback and results.
What happens:
Phased implementation beginning with pilot groups
Regular progress monitoring and check-ins
Issue identification and resolution
Process adjustments based on real-world feedback
Performance tracking against established metrics
Your involvement:
Active participation in pilot phases
Regular feedback and issue reporting
Support for change management efforts
Team engagement and communication
Deliverable: Fully implemented processes with documented procedures and performance tracking
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Training & Change Management
This phase focuses on ensuring successful adoption through comprehensive training and change management support.
What happens:
Training delivery for all affected team members
Change management support and resistance handling
Individual coaching and support as needed
Process refinement based on usage patterns
Documentation finalization and organization
Your involvement:
Support for training participation and engagement
Reinforcement of new processes and expectations
Feedback on adoption challenges and successes
Active participation in knowledge transfer
Deliverable: Trained team with comprehensive documentation and established ownership
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Continuous Improvement Setup
The final phase establishes frameworks for ongoing optimization and builds internal capability for continued improvement.
What happens:
Performance review and success measurement
Development of continuous improvement processes
Internal capability building for ongoing management
Planning for future scalability needs
Follow-up support and guidance (30-90 days)
Your involvement:
Performance data sharing and analysis
Planning for future improvements
Team development and capability building
Long-term strategic alignment
Deliverable: Self-sufficient team with continuous improvement framework and optimization roadmap
Communication & Quality Standards
Throughout Every Phase
Weekly progress updates via email and shared dashboards
Bi-weekly stakeholder meetings for alignment and feedback
Monthly executive briefings on progress and outcomes
Real-time collaboration through shared project spaces
Prompt response to questions and concerns
Quality Assurance
Multiple validation points at each phase
Stakeholder review and approval before phase transitions
Comprehensive documentation of decisions and changes
Proactive issue identification and resolution
Continuous tracking of success metrics
Time Investment Expectations
Leadership Team: 2-4 hours per week for strategic input and decision-making
Process Owners: 4-8 hours per week during active phases for collaboration and feedback
End Users: 2-4 hours per week during training and adoption phases
Total Impact: Designed to minimize operational disruption while ensuring meaningful engagement and results
Getting Started
This process framework adapts to your organization's specific needs, timeline, and constraints. Timeline ranges shown reflect project scope variation - smaller assessments may complete phases more quickly, while comprehensive transformations require extended timeframes. Every engagement is customized based on your unique situation and goals.
Questions about the process? Contact me to discuss how this approach would work for your organization.