Another webinar delivered! On 12 Mar 2024 James addressed 330 delegates (a personal record) in an APM webinar ‘Real World Project Management Series - Transforming Project Delivery with Data Science’.

Some feedback:

“I can truly relate with James - he is a a fantastic example at showcasing and applying the true potential of data driven systematic workflows.”

and:

“Enjoyed the content immensely”

Here are some highlights!

Thinking like a Scientist

Generating reliable (testable) predictions on project evolution is hard because:

• The core science is still being developed
• We don’t “write up” and publish our projects - “commercially sensitive”
• We think that all projects are unique - “apples versus oranges”
• Our project universe contains people
• Few stakeholders have skin in the game - “it’s not my money”

How can we get better at predicting project outcomes?

Data Science in Action

We can track our own LinkedIn social media page impressions. Here’s an example using some data I’ve collected:

We can use this information to:

• Predict the total number of impressions our post will get time
• Improve our ability to predict this number earlier
• Determine when the best time to post is
• Compare the performance of different posts, and use this to work out what makes a post successful - just like a project!

Beneficial Feedback Loops

• The magic begins when organisations and teams see the connection between data and performance.
• Data is not for reporting, but for those closest to the action who stand the best chance of making improvements.
• Design measures that work for your team - value-pull.