Lean Project Management: Implementation in a PM Consultancy Report

This report provides a comprehensive overview of Lean Project Management (LPM), focusing on its benefits, critical success factors (CSF), and implementation strategies within a Project Management (PM) consultancy. The report begins by outlining the initial reasons for implementing LPM, emphasizing its role in efficient project completion and improved organizational structure. It then details the various benefits stakeholders gain, including improved team complexity management, increased productivity, cost reduction, and enhanced team morale. The report identifies five critical success factors: commitment to the lean program, proper workforce training, a well-defined plan with follow-up, proper resource allocation, and the utilization of lean methods and tools. It then describes steps to ensure these CSFs are in place, such as financial capability, risk analysis, understanding of lean concepts, and resource selection. The report also discusses achieving the LPM mindset, emphasizing the importance of understanding the benefits and addressing related issues, with a focus on stakeholder opinions. Furthermore, the report highlights training requirements for individual staff to successfully implement LPM within the consultancy. This analysis aims to provide a practical guide for implementing LPM and maximizing its benefits in a PM environment.

Running head: LEAN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Lean Project Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

Memo
To: Board of Directors
From: Name of the Student
cc: CEO
Date: 16/05/2019
Re: Introduction of the Lean Project Management
Introduction:
Lean project management is an important concept in the aspects of successful and
efficient accomplishment of the projects. This principles of lean project management is crucial
for management of the major future projects (Sunder, 2016). Governmental works can be easily
managed through the implementation of the concept of lean project management. With the
governmental works the lean project management will be beneficial for the many of the business
organizations and regarding this discussion will be done in the following sections of this
document.
It has been assessed that the enactment of the lean project management will be crucial for
tackling the complexities which most of the governmental project consists (Brioso, 2015). From
various of studies it has been assessed that lead project delivery system model is capable of
managing the issues which is faced in every phases of the project and this is actually very much
useful for the organizations. The lean project management mainly consists three important
concepts which includes lean assembly, lean design and the lean supply. All of these three are
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important for managing of the government based projects. One of the main benefit of this lean
project management is that the production related area can be improved heavily (Oakland &
Marosszeky, 2017). The project deliverable transformation is possible to manage through the
utilization of lean project management concept.
Following the aspects of the lean project management this memo is comprising some
important concept regardign lean project management which are important for the organizations
to successfully complete a project. With that the memo will also discuss important benefits
which are gained by stakeholders during the project execution. There are several of steps which
are significant for the successful employment of the lean project management. Through this
memo all of these steps will be conveyed to the broad of directors of the organization. It has been
assessed that for a successful implementation of the lean project management proper training of
the employees is very much important which will be discussed through this memo. Important
reasons behind applying the lean project management will be also discussed in this case.
Initial Reasons for Implementation of the Lean Project Management:
There are several of reasons for applying the lean project management and in this aspects
one of the main important reason is successful completion of the project. With that it has been
also assessed that the principles of the lean project management is crucial for almost every
organizations for improvement in efficiency and productivity of the stakeholders (Ansah,
Sorooshian & Mustafa, 2016). From the statement of many researchers it has been assessed that
decisions within the organizations can be improved significantly by utilizing the principles of
lean project management. Lean project management is also important for improvements in the
structure of the organizations. The lean project management is not only limited within that but
also the lean project management can provide greater visibility to a project which is executing
currently (Dabestani et al., 2017). With that an improved control over the project is also provided
by the concept of lean project management. Executions of the project also becomes faster due to
the application of the lean project management.
Due to all of the above identified reason the lean project management holds a greater
importance to the organizations and the businesses. Thus due to all the above identified reasons it
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is important to implement the idea of lean project management for successful completion of the
projects.
Benefits gained by the Stakeholders by Implementing LPM:
In an executing project there are several areas of improvement through which the
stakeholders of the project can gain some major benefits. This improvements will be not only
beneficial for the stakeholders but this is actually beneficial for all the aspects of project
management procedures. It has been assessed that the lean project management is one of the
main ways for gaining this improvement area which should benefit the stakeholders of the
project. The first area which can be improved through applying the lean project management is
management of the team complexity (Sohi et al., 2016). Through utilization of the lean project
management complexity of the team or the processes of the project management can be managed
through which actually the stakeholders get benefitted as managing the stakeholders becomes
very much easy. It has been assessed that through implementing the concept of lean project
management business processes becomes more efficient and again through this all the assets
related with that particular project gets benefitted and stakeholders of the project is also
benefitted in this case as they are the important part of the executing project. Increment in the
productivity of the team is another benefit aspect which is gained through the implementation of
lean project management (Elias, 2016). As the efficiency of the team will be enlarged it is very
much obvious that the overall project will be also benefitted due to this factor and in this aspect
the stakeholder of the project will be also benefitted.
With all of these factors the lean project management is also capable of decreasing the
overall cost of the project (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017). As the cost of the project is decreasing it is
beneficial for the whole project and indirectly this is also benefiting all the stakeholders of the
project. With saving financial assets of the projects the lean project management is also capable
of increasing the overall morale of the team. As the morale of the team is increasing it is obvious
that the team will be more motivated towards their work thus productivity of the project will be
improved and due to this factor stakeholders of the project will be benefitted. While a project is
being executed there can be various of changing priorities within the project. This changing
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priorities need to be managed in a proper way so that the executing project does not get
hampered. By the application of lean project management this changing priorities of the project
can be managed very efficiently thus proper execution of the project can be maintained. As the
execution of the project will not be hampered in this it will be actually beneficial of the projects
and the stakeholders of the project. There are also several of other benefits that is provided by the
lean project management to the project stakeholders but the above discussed benefits are the
main benefits that is provided by the implementation of lean project management to the
stakeholders of the project.
Critical Success Factors:
In this case also there are several of critical factors which are crucial for the deployment
of the lean project management for some executing projects. It has been identified that are
mainly five critical success factors which need to be followed for the successful deployment of
the lean project management. In this aspect the first critical success factor is commitment to the
lean program. It has been assessed that for the successful implementation of the lean project
management managers need to participate proactively with employees of a particular project or
organization (Laureani & Antony, 2018). Through the active participation communication
among the managers and employees will be improved and with that relation between the
employees and the mangers will also improve and this create a clear path for the application of
the lean project management.
Proper training of the workforce is also very much important aspect which is needed for
the successful implementation of the lean project management. A appropriate training need to be
provided to the workforce of the project regarding the procedures of lean production. It
important in the aspects that without proper knowledge of lean a project is not going to be
succeed in the application of the lean project management (Abu Bakar, Subari & Mohd Daril,
2015). One important aspects in this case is that the managers need to first gather knowledge
about the concept of lean so that they can provide a proper training regarding the lean project
management so that successful deployment of the lean project management can be gained.
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The next critical success factor in this case is a proper plan and follow up of it. A perfect
plan need to be created regarding a proper implementation of the lean project management and
the vision need to be set where the organization should be with the implementation of lean
project management (Netland, 2016). It has been assessed that the overall plan need to be
divided within several of steps. The performance which has been set in this case need to be
monitored perfectly and also follow up must be taken regarding the ongoing projects. Through
following this aspects of the project management, the lean project management can be
implemented successfully.
Resource allocation in a proper way is important aspects for the implementation of the
lean project management. This is important in the sense that the employees need their required
resources for completion of their daily otherwise there will be deficiency in their daily
performance (Alhuraish, Robledo & Kobi, 2017). In many cases extra resources can be provided
to the employees for motivating them more. Thus this is one of the most crucial critical success
factor for deployment of the lean project management in a proper way.
The last critical success factor for implementing the lean project management is the
utilization of the lean method and tools. It has been assessed that the application of the lean
methods and tools is very much important in this aspects. From the brief analysis of this tool it
has been assessed that specific of these tools are capable of reducing the wastages in projects and
with that it is also capable of problem visualization, daily management and continuous
improvements. Considering all of these factors utilization of the lean methods and tools becomes
very much important for the implementation of the lean project management.
Steps of Ensuring CSF are in place and Achieving the LPM mindset:
It is very much important to ensure that the CSF are in the perfect place so that successful
application of the lean project management can be gained. To ensure that there are several of
steps which need to be followed. In the following discussion these steps are discussed which are
important for ensuring CSF are placed correctly.
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 Financial capability is important to ensure that project is going through right tracks. Thus
financial capability need to be ensured of the management team so that every
requirements of the employees regarding the project can be satisfied which is one of the
most important step for ensuring that the CSF are placed within the organization
perfectly.
 Project execution procedures need to be analyzed in this case for ensuring that there is no
risks while the lean project management is being implemented for the project.
 Understanding of the lean concept is crucial for ensuring implementation of the lean
project management (Dulaimi & Ellahham, 2016). Thus in this aspects one of the most
important steps for ensuring that the CSF are placed is stakeholder of the project must
understood lean principles.
 Important constraints of the project, directives, pre-requisite and important resources
required for the project must be selected as per the expertise area.
It has been assessed that achieving the lean project management mindset is extremely
significant for the employment of the lean project management successfully. Also this mindset is
having important impact on the progression of the project. To achieve this mindset of the lean
project management benefit of the lean project management and issues regarding it need to be
understood properly. Each of the stakeholder is important in this aspect and with that their
opinions regarding the project is also very much important for the development of the
organization and development of the individual employees (Cohen, 2017). Here mindset can be
two types, one is the fixed mindset and another one is the growth mindset. Here both of the
mindset is important for the successful implementation regarding lean principles for the project.
The lean mindset comprise the concept of flow, pull, value, perfection and value stream. Thus
individual’s mindset need to have idea regarding these concepts for achieving a successful lean
mindset.
Training Requirements for each of the Individual Staffs:
Within a consultancy firm for the operation of the lean project management there are
various of requirements which must be satisfied in this case. In this case, one of the most
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important requirement is proper training of individual staffs of the organization. Some of the
important steps need to be followed so that good training can be delivered to the individual staffs
of the organization (Hanaysha, 2016). While considering this training requirement onboard
training is one of the most important training requirement for perfectly adopting the lean project
management within the consultancy organization. The onboard training is mainly required for
clearing the misconception among the employees for the adoption of lean project management.
In this aspect following the onboard training technical training is also having great
importance. There are various of technical equipment within an basic consultancy firm and with
that for the implantation of lean project management the technical knowledge is important. Thus
in this aspect training regarding the technical knowledge is very much required.
Service related training and product related training is also very much important in this
case. Thus in this aspect proper training must be provide to the employees of the organization. In
this aspect detail deployment of the lean project management is understood by the employees of
the organization. With that detail implementation procedures for the lean project management is
conveyed to the other stakeholders of the project.
Development of the soft skill is also important in this case. Thus in this case soft skill
development training must be provided to the customers. By development of proper soft skill a
steps can be taken forward for the employment of lean project management within the
organization (Hanaysha & Tahir, 2016). The main aim of the soft skill development is improving
the communication skills, emotional intelligence, leadership skills, problem solving skills and the
presentation skills of the employees which are crucial for deployment of the lean project
management. Thus soft skill training for the employees is an important step for perfect execution
of the lean project management within the organization.
The time regulation training is also important in this aspect for the employees. Through
the time regulation, employees will be trained regarding management of the time while working
in an organization. This training is not specifically meant for the consultancy organization but
also this training procedures is applicable for all of the organizations for implementing the lean
project management. Maintaining the time is important for proper implementation of the lean
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project management. Thus training of maintaining the time regulation must be provided to the
customers for successfully implementing the lean project management.
Methods of assessing sufficient adoption of the LPM approach:
There are some specific methods which need to be followed to assess that the consultancy
organizations has successfully adopted the approach of lean project management so that they are
able to tender for government work. In this aspect some assessment is very much important so
that it can be ensured that the consultancy organization is ready for tender different of
government works. In the following section methods for the assessment procedures will be
discussed briefly.
In this aspect it has been analyzed that the first method of the assessment is analyzing the
commitment of the employees. For a successful adoption of lean project management it is
important to ensure how much the employees are committed towards their work (Anitha, 2016).
It has been assessed that the employees need to be motivated towards their work for following
proper lean project management principles and with that it is also very much important for the
tender of governmental works. Thus the organization need to ensure that employees of them are
committed towards their works.
The second method in this case is assessment of the training of the employees. As
previously discussed proper training of the employees is crucial for the organization to
implement the lean project management. Thus in this case the organizations need to assess
whether their employees are properly trained or not. The training level of the employees will
give the idea about whether the organization is ready for tender the government works or not.
Management of the resources is important for aspects of the lean project management.
Through the application of the lean project management resources can be managed easily within
the organization. Management of the resources is also very much important aspects for the tender
of the government works (Harrison & Lock, 2017). Thus consultation organization need to
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assess whether they are able to manage the resources in a perfect manner or not. If the
organization is capable of managing the resources in well-manner then it is quite obvious that the
organization has sufficiently adopted the lean project management and now able to tender the
government works.
Conclusion:
The above discussion regarding the lean project management has successfully provided
the ways of executing the lean project management. In this case from the brief assessment of the
lean project management it has been assessed that adoption of the lean project management is
beneficial for the consultancy organization. This memo is consisting various of important
information regarding lean project management. Thus this details of lean project management
will be beneficial for the whole organization, mainly for the employees and the staffs of the
organization. Various of important aspects regarding lean project management has been
discussed here including importance of LPM, critical success factor for LPM and training
requirement for employees for the LPM implementation which will be helpful for the
organization.
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