Having navigated the theoretical landscape of project management in organizational restructuring and the use of tools in our previous articles, we now turn to the real-world applications of these concepts.
This final installment of our three-part series will look at case studies of businesses that successfully employed project management methodologies and tools during organizational restructures, demonstrating the practical relevance of these approaches.
Case Study 1: Agile Project Management at Work in Spotify’s Squads
When Spotify needed to scale its operations without losing speed or innovation, they turned to an Agile framework. This approach led to the creation of the now-famous 'Spotify model' of Squads, Tribes, Chapters, and Guilds.
Squads are cross-functional teams working like startups, with the autonomy to decide what to build, how to build it, and how to work together while building it.
Project management tools, like JIRA and Trello, are widely used within Squads to manage workflows and enhance collaboration.
Spotify's successful scaling is a testament to the effectiveness of Agile project management in organizational restructuring.
Case Study 2: The Lean Approach in NUMMI
The New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota, exemplifies the successful implementation of Lean project management methodology.
Faced with productivity issues, NUMMI adopted Toyota's Lean Manufacturing principles, focusing on continuous improvement and waste reduction.
Visual scheduling tools and Kanban were used to manage resources and work-in-progress effectively. This led to increased productivity and significant quality improvements, highlighting how Lean methodologies can drive operational efficiency.
Case Study 3: PRINCE2 in UK Government Projects
The UK government has a strong track record of implementing PRINCE2 methodology in its projects, notably in its governmental restructuring initiatives.
PRINCE2 provides a systematic approach to project management, defining clear roles and responsibilities, and dividing the project into manageable stages.
Project management tools, such as Microsoft Project, are used extensively to plan, monitor, and control these stages.
The successful delivery of complex restructuring projects within the government sector illustrates the power of PRINCE2 in handling large-scale transformations.
These case studies—Spotify's adoption of Agile, NUMMI's implementation of Lean, and UK government's use of PRINCE2—underline the significant role of project management in successfully navigating organizational restructuring.
They also highlight how diverse project management tools can streamline these processes, managing resources, tracking progress, and facilitating communication.
While organizational restructuring presents numerous challenges, the strategic use of project management methodologies and tools can guide businesses through these complexities, resulting in a stronger and more efficient organization.
Need help with project or change management of your restructure or transformation project? Our team of experts are hand-picked for each assignment and bring with them a wealth of experience in organisational design and implementation. Reach out for a confidential conversation: jude@judemahony.com
References:
Kniberg, H., & Ivarsson, A. (2012). Scaling Agile @ Spotify with Tribes, Squads, Chapters & Guilds (https://blog.crisp.se/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/SpotifyScaling.pdf)
Adler, P.S. (1993). Time-and-Motion Regained. Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/1993/01/time-and-motion-regained)
Office of Government Commerce (2009). Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 (https://www.axelos.com/store/book/managing-successful-projects-with-prince2-2017)