About this Presentation
IT projects are inherently unpredictable, with task duration and scope uncertainty exacerbated by multitasking due to code bugs, maintenance, technical debt, and other competing priorities. While Agile frameworks like Scrum and Kanban help manage these challenges with minimal overhead, they often foster a cost-focused mindset—optimizing local efficiency at the expense of overall project flow. As a result, companies struggle with limited visibility into project timelines, leading to delays, missed market opportunities, and slower growth.
Despite the proven benefits of Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) in improving project execution, its adoption in IT remains low due to the deep-rooted reliance on tools like Jira—used by over 300,000 companies and 57.5% of developers—which lack built-in CCPM support. The key to unlocking CCPM’s potential lies in seamlessly integrating it within these existing platforms. By automating schedule creation, embedding proper buffers, and enabling real-time project tracking, teams can gain CCPM’s advantages while continuing to work in familiar environments with minimal disruption.
This session will explore how CCPM can be effectively implemented within Jira and similar tools to enhance project visibility and execution. Additionally, it will highlight how pairing technology with TOC/CCPM expertise can accelerate adoption, making CCPM a scalable solution for IT project management.
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.
Instructor(s)
Vlad Babarykin
Vlad Babarykin is a seasoned entrepreneur, IT professional, and passionate advocate for the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM). With over two decades of experience in the tech industry, Vlad has successfully combined his technical expertise with TOC principles to drive innovation and efficiency across multiple ventures.
Vlad's journey with TOC and CCPM began during his tenure as the founder and CEO of AITOC, Inc., an offshore software development company with a team of approximately 50 employees. By adopting CCPM, he enabled AITOC to effectively manage dozens of simultaneous client projects, significantly improving project delivery and operational efficiency. Later, leveraging TOC Thinking Processes, he transformed AITOC from a traditional development shop into a market leader in Magento e-commerce extensions, ultimately leading to the successful sale of the company’s e-commerce business.
Since then, Vlad has co-founded several companies, served as a fractional CTO, and held various technical leadership roles in venture-backed startups such as Modelo.io. Most recently, he served as Head of Engineering at Customers.ai, where he continued to champion the adoption of TOC Thinking Processes and CCPM principles to streamline operations and drive results.
Currently, Vlad is expanding his mission to bring TOC and CCPM to the IT and software development industries. He is the creator of AgileCCPM.com, the first native CCPM extension for Jira. Through this innovative solution, Vlad aims to empower over 300,000 IT companies and nearly 60% of developers worldwide to embrace CCPM and drive its mass adoption.
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.