BACKGROUND

I’ve worked with multiple project management tools to create project plans, provide status updates, present reports and share resource availability and allocation. I was given the challenge to analyze the different softwares solutions available with the main objective to provide visibility up the chain and keep the costs within the budget.

I researched, reviewed demos, tested softwares, used my network of professionals for feedback, gathered my findings and presented the different project management software solutions to director and VP stakeholders. With my recommendation to move forward with smartsheet, I developed a new project management process and dashboard, and then demonstrated the capabilities to directors and VP stakeholders. The dashboard provided automated reporting and notifications with the objective for all stakeholders to have real-time visibility of project status, risks and individual resource capacity.

Once the templates were created and the process was documented, I presented and trained the team of project managers and marketing managers. I worked with each team member to develop a transition plan to successfully move to the new smartsheet process.

STAR Method

SITUATION

We were using Microsoft Project and not all stakeholders had access, nor did they understand the project plan they were looking at.

TASK

I was tasked with researching and developing a new project management system that would make it easier to provide status updates that all stakeholders to access without a license.

ACTION

After researching and speaking to various project management companies, we decided to go with smartsheet. I transferred over existing project plans, built out templates, attended webinars and built out a dashboard and How To document.

RESULT

Project plans and reports are now online and accessible off the network by all stakeholders. I created automated notifications to assist product and marketing managers with various tasks. It has eliminated unnecessary meetings and real-time status updates.

Benefits to Project Management Experience

Project management experience enhances the effectiveness of UX/UI by providing the skills and strategies needed to deliver successful features and experiences that meet user needs, business objectives, and project requirements.

01 Strong Organizational Skills

Project managers are adept at organizing tasks, resources, and timelines to ensure projects are completed efficiently and effectively. This skill translates well into UX/UI work, where there are often numerous design tasks, research activities, and stakeholder communications to manage.

02 Effective Communication

Project managers are skilled communicators, adept at conveying complex ideas to various stakeholders and ensuring everyone is on the same page. In UX/UI, clear communication is essential for understanding user needs, aligning with business objectives, and collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

03 Adaptability & Flexibility

Project managers are accustomed to working in dynamic environments where priorities can shift rapidly. In the fast-paced world of UX/UI design, this ability to adapt to changing requirements and timelines is essential for success.

04 Risk Management

Project managers are trained to identify and mitigate risks that could impact project success. In UX/UI, this skill is valuable for anticipating potential design challenges, addressing usability issues, and ensuring the final product meets user expectations.

05 Resource
Allocation

Project managers excel at allocating resources efficiently to maximize productivity and meet project goals. In UX/UI projects, this skill is crucial for managing design resources, tools, and budgets effectively to deliver high-quality design solutions on time and within scope.

06 Client & Stakeholder Management

RESUME

DASHBoARD BREAKDOWN

Understand the different sections and the benefits provided with the additional visibility to team members and stakeholders.

Resource Allocation

I developed a real-time report and worked with the Director of Marketing to assign and manage team resources with availability in a manner that supports the organization’s strategic goals.

During the pandemic, we needed to update all industries of the Alsco website to include new, pandemic-related products available to customers in a timely manner. By reallocating project team resources to prioritize website development over maintenance tasks, we aimed to reduce time-to-market for our new release by 20% compared to the previous quarter.

Because I had created this report, we were able to view current resource availability, shift priorities and resources, and measure results linked to the allocation of team resources to specific outcomes (reduced time-to-market and maintaining quality and satisfaction levels) within a defined timeframe. It provided a clear metric for evaluating the impact of the resource allocation decision on project outcomes.

Project Plans

I provided project management, leadership and direction for corporate marketing, sales, IT, and operations projects. Using multiple tools, including Microsoft Project, Jirra and smartsheet.

Learning a new software, creating templates for the team, and pulling the project plans into a report provided visibility and access outside of the network for stakeholders.

Project vs. Scope End Date

This report showed all of the projects for the individual departments I worked with. This provided a quick visual and detail for "On Time/Behind" projects based off of what the project “End Date” is calculating to and the planned “Scope End Date” difference.

I was able to provide historical data that we could compare monthly, quarterly, and yearly. This level of detail was available to directors for yearly reviews and bonuses.

At Risk Tasks

This report was broken down to the "task" level within a project by individual team resources. We were able to view and provide notification alerts on how many "tasks" are behind/past the “Duration End Date.”

I was able to mitigate the risk associated with the delayed completion of multiple projects through this report. Because notifications were set up, my measurable result was to develop and implement a revised project plan within the following days, outlining clear milestones and resource allocation adjustments. Typically, I was able to reduce the projected delay by 50%, ensuring that the "At Risk" tasks were completed no more than two weeks behind the original schedule. Progress towards this goal was tracked through weekly status updates and progress reports.

This measurable result set a clear objective for addressing the risk of a delayed task, specifying the actions to be taken (developing a revised project plan) and the desired outcome (reducing the projected delay by 50% and ensuring completion within a specific timeframe). It also established a monitoring mechanism to track progress and ensure accountability for addressing the risk.

Project Health

This report shows the overall “Health” of the specific project. If multiple tasks are behind/at risk, it will provide yellow, orange and red indicators.

This dashboard report was a favorite for stakeholders, they were able to immediately identify if a specific project was behind and take action if needed.