3 minute read 12 Oct 2021

Our survey explores the impact of COVID-19 on project management and how to cope with the new way of working.

Three tips to manage your digital transformation project in a hybrid way

Authors
Anne Moreau

EY Belgium Consulting Executive Director

Really passionate in steering International Company's complex transformation or strategical changes.

Celine Rossavik

EY Belgium Consulting Manager

On a mission to create empowered teams and deliver remarkable technology projects.

3 minute read 12 Oct 2021

Our survey explores the impact of COVID-19 on project management and how to cope with the new way of working.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for technology transformations and forced companies to re-think their way of working. IT strategies were adapted to sustain their business strategy and goals while considering the new normal, and the future normal. Project management methodologies had to follow the same trend: enabling the increased amount of technology transformations, yet in a hybrid way of working.

Hybrid project management

The concept of “hybrid working” is clear for everyone: you can work both remotely from home and at the office, and all meetings and communication tools are adjusted to that. Today, it’s not a matter of getting used to working from home anymore, but of getting used to going to the office again. Taking the time to connect with colleagues is valuable, yet you need to sacrifice precious time by commuting to the office (incl. Belgian traffic jams), in a world where the work-life balance is more important than ever.

We conducted a survey with 100+ EY Belgium senior executives about the impact of COVID-19 on project management, and how we will be able to cope with this new way of hybrid working. Based on the results, we have put together these tips on how to manage your digital transformation project in a hybrid way.

Tip 1 – Find the right balance

 Over 60% of participants believe physical presence or meetings will be fundamental for project success, although more than 50% believe their team will never be fully present anymore. What does this contradiction mean for project management of large digital transformations?

Every project team needs to decide which meetings they should physically attend, and which meetings are perfectly effective remotely. It’s about finding a balance between what works for the project, the client, the entire project team and the project team members.

Tip 2 – Use several communication channels

During any technology transformation, everyone needs to be aligned on what the goals of the transformation are and how it is linked to the overall business strategy. But how can you get everyone completely on the same page if you're never at the same place?

68% of our executives agreed that COVID-19 has forced them to communicate better with their team as a project manager. No less than 95% agrees virtual communications tools will become inevitable in every future project. The challenge lies in including both the team members working remotely, and working on-site. Communication tools will need to be better organized and used for hybrid working to really reach its full potential.

Tip 3 – A strong TMO as the backbone of your hybrid workforce

70% of the respondents agree COVID-19 will have an impact on the use of project management methodologies: in large projects such as digital transformations, more flexibility and agility will be needed in order to maintain project success in a hybrid way of working. Implementing a PMO (project management office) and assigning a project manager will not be enough to ensure project success in the long term, but is a crucial start. Beyond a PMO, a TMO (transformation management office) can act as an independent transformation partner, designed to govern and drive your transformation journey, assuring quality and overall success of the project. A human-centric entity, focusing on strategy alignment and quality assurance, can ensure your transformation is delivered in the right way, within a correct budget at the right time.

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Summary

In this post-pandemic age, digital transformation is on the agenda of each large organization. It is a known fact that shifting towards the digital age is harder than it sounds. And now, with COVID-19 and the hybrid way of working, managing large digital transformations becomes even more challenging. Implementing a TMO means you have an integrated entity that gives proactive and hands-on direction to ensure a successful delivery of your transformation. A TMO will not only act as the steering wheel for your digital transformation, it will also be the roadmap and the compass, maximizing business outcome by getting you where you need to be.

About this article

Authors
Anne Moreau

EY Belgium Consulting Executive Director

Really passionate in steering International Company's complex transformation or strategical changes.

Celine Rossavik

EY Belgium Consulting Manager

On a mission to create empowered teams and deliver remarkable technology projects.