stepUP transitions' Services - Project Management

Business Project Management defined:
Increasing effectiveness and/or efficiency are typical goals of a project manager. Basic steps in the business project management process include problem identification and project definition, the creation and scheduling of work breakdown structures, preparing budgets and allocating resources, monitoring progress and reporting, and eventually project evaluation. In addition to understanding and employing project management thinking and strategic planning, the project manager must possess the ability to minimize risk and maximize human relationships essential to lead the team through initiation, implementation and termination of the project.

To discuss your project proposals, contact
Charlene de Haan
Email: charlene@stepUPtransitions.ca

stepUP to Success

For a backdrop of insight into Charlene’s project management capabilities, step inside the following scenarios.

Training for Excellence

As Field Administrator, supervising provincial representatives across Canada, Charlene introduced the nationalization and standardization of training conferences for volunteer leaders working with children in weekly programs. Organizing 12-15 annual training venues from Victoria to Halifax, creating a national promotion strategy, developing a database capable of handling national registration procedures, and coordinating conferences staffed with volunteer presenters were all part of the challenge. Writing adult teaching curriculum, recruiting instructors, where Charlene was the key presenter at almost every conference, was an innovative accomplishment. Yes, national training standards were established, a more targeted audience was reached in a broader geographic range, and attendance increased. Company subsidies were eliminated and some service costs were absorbed through conference fees, contributing valuable income to the organization.

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A Service Transition

Working as Director of Education and Customer Service, Charlene initiated a national call centre following careful research, reading, and personal training that laid the groundwork prior to presenting the dream to management staff and board. Observing the attrition of field staff and the potential for offering customer service by phone, with the added value of initiating phone-marketing, the development and implementation of a computer database supported the department and permitted supervision through electronic workload distribution. A step-up plan was established to grow the department one staff member at a time, introducing bilingual service and secretarial support, enabling the national client base to adapt to the change with the least possible resistance. Staff were empowered through regular team meetings focused on departmental and personal goal-setting, training, and accountability. The company successfully transitioned from field staff to phone service, growing the client base and winning compliments from the constituency for more timely customer support.

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Expanding the Product Line

During her tenure as Executive Director of a non-profit company, Charlene directed a major transition within the national organization. Collaborating with Canadian and International Boards of Directors, developing and implementing a national marketing strategy with frequent evaluation points, training and empowering staff through the transition to accept the change and respond positively to customer concerns, the product line was expanded from four to twelve divisions. Within the first year, 50% of the clients added new divisions. Over several years, the constituency doubled membership and the company’s national reputation was strengthened.

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A New Initiative

Functioning as a Regional Representative, Charlene established a provincial camping initiative in Western Canada. Recruiting a board of directors, outlining a three-year strategic and marketing plan with fund-raising, were all involved in laying the foundation. Spreading the vision to groups in the province, while training leaders in camping philosophy and outdoor skills, and finding a campsite-to-rent were part of phase two. Organizing the summer program, recruiting counsellors and staff, and attracting campers led to the debut of the camping program. Charlene served as Camp Director for the first two years while evaluating and planning for improvement. She experienced a successful launch with a trained successor and sustained program. Repaying the loan following the first year of operation was incidental to observing the life-changing impact in the lives of youth and adults.

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The Impact of Communication

While Manager of Human Resources for a globally focused company, Charlene strengthened organizational communication both nationally and internationally. This enhancement was achieved by contributing to a quarterly communication vehicle for the national constituency, initiating monthly updates to volunteer groups across Canada, coordinating conference planning, and collaborating with a team of representatives and their committees in strategic Canadian centres. Charlene established a database to track enquirers and promote international opportunities, re-wrote application papers and improved best practices in member care and crisis-management, while liaising with international partner entities. A coordinated team-communication-strategy involved coaching candidates prior to deployment, providing international member logistical support services and debriefing on re-entry to Canada. By the end of the first year, the number of short-term applicants doubled; long-term membership doubled within three years. Regular international business travel informed Charlene’s communication on a continuing basis and established a feeling of community for Canadian expatriates and the national constituency.

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