About this Presentation
In this presentation we will see how to bring together the best of Critical Chain Project Management, agile and project portfolio management through a novel approach called TameFlow. As well as describing the development and process of TameFlow, the presentation will be illustrated with examples from three projects from Wolters Kluwer, William Hill & Bosch. Like Agile, TameFlow is rooted in empirical processes control, wherein short feedback loops and iterations create frequent opportunities for reviewing the process and changing direction in due course. Agility, in fact, can be considered as the capability to change direction at speed and at scale. In the TameFlow approach, knowledge work is considered as a stream of ideas that undergo successive refinement. The overarching flow of ideas through the system is managed with manufacturing metaphor, just like the raw material flow through a manufacturing process; yet space is made for very frequent inspection and adaptation. Ideas are grouped in small collections which are considered as mini-projects, and thus can be handled with techniques of CCPM. The small size of the mini-projects allow for the iterative and frequent dynamic of inspection and adaptation which is typical of Agile and missing in conventional project management. The TameFlow Approach combines elements from all these approaches, to deliver superior project/portfolio performance.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
The Tameflow approach is a method that primarily pertains to knowledge work and particularly to software development, aiming to accelerate business performance without compromising sustainability, quality or humanity.
Alexandrian patterns and pattern languages can be used to continuously improve what an organization is doing, by identifying problems in a context and applying solutions to them, and then repeating this process.
Flow time distribution and buffer management are key to managing time and scope in projects, allowing for continuous improvement in execution times and effective handling of multiple workloads.
Instructor(s)
Steve Tendon
Steve Tendon is the Managing Director of TameFlow Consulting Limited. He is the creator of the "TameFlow Approach:" a pragmatic systems-thinking approach that delivers superior business outcomes in knowledge-intensive digital businesses, without compromising sustainability, quality or humanity. Steve's expertise covers: organizational performance; large scale IT/Digital/Agile transformations; engineering/knowledge-work management; decentralized organizations; organizational design and more. In his most recent book, "Tame your Work Flow," Steve focuses on how to apply the Theory of Constraints to knowledge-work, and in particular how to handle coordination, synchronization and prioritization in so called "PEST" environments: environments where you have multiple Projects or Products; multiple Events or deadlines; multiple Stakeholders; and multiple Teams. His techniques provide business with the agility to change direction at speed and at scale by dramatically improving performance even in extreme VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) conditions. Steve is furthermore a world-class expert on Blockchain Technologies, providing strategic advisory services to startups, multi-nationals and governments.
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.