A keen example has been two new projects proposed: one to develop a strategy to implement needed system interfaces and one to step back and optimize existing clinical documentation systems and procedures.
Why is this related to synergy and thinking like a project manager?
For three reasons:
- COMMUNICATION: Hospital departments tend to work in silos. As staff think more like project managers, considering ALL stakeholders and setting communication as a priority, the opportunities that affect multiple disciplines and departments begin to bubble up and come to light. "Hey, I just learned that xyz could also benefit abc. Let's talk with abc, and get this to the VPs for consideration."
- PROCESS FOCUS: Additionally, a good project manager will always be thinking "PROCESS" - how do we implement projects to improve processes. As projects are implemented, the process improvement focus inevitably unearths more and more opportunities for improvement. "Hey, xyz project just fixed this issue. How many other abcs have the same issue?"
- STRATEGY: Finally, a project management mindset always considers the impacts of projects to the greater organization. This bent toward what is strategic often leads staff to start connecting the dots. Couple this with growing communication and synergy toward tackling strategic initiatives, and good things are bound to happen.
We certainly need to be teaching people how to use processes and tools, but I believe that it is far more important to teach people how to think like a project manager. Synergy comes from a project management mindset empowered by processes and tool.
Mark
