Introduction

 

In the digital age, having an effective and user-friendly website is crucial for any organisation, especially in the public sector. OneFamily, a financial services provider, recognised the need to replace their outdated website with a new, robust Content Management System (CMS) that could better serve their clients and stakeholders. To achieve this, they required an experienced Project Manager to oversee the entire process. I was brought in to lead the project, leveraging my expertise in website development, implementation, and agile transformation to deliver a successful outcome.

 

Overview

 

The primary goal of this project was to define, document, and implement a new CMS website for OneFamily, ensuring it aligned with their strategic goals, budget, and timeline. The project involved coordinating multiple stakeholders, managing suppliers, and leading a cross-functional team to deliver a website that not only met but exceeded expectations. Additionally, an agile approach was adopted to ensure flexibility and responsiveness to changing requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

 

Project Execution

 

The project was executed through a series of well-defined phases, each focusing on critical aspects of website development and agile transformation.

 

Key phases of the project included:

 

1.  Project Initiation and Planning:

    •  Requirement Gathering: I initiated the project by working closely with stakeholders from IT, Marketing & Communications, and other departments to gather detailed requirements. This phase was crucial in ensuring that the new website would meet all user needs and organisational objectives.

    •  Project Documentation: I produced all necessary project documentation, including the Project Initiation Document (PID), project plan, and risk management plan. These documents were submitted to the Project Board for approval, ensuring all parties were aligned on the project’s scope and deliverables.

2.  Supplier and Stakeholder Management:

    •  Contract Management: I managed both internal and external suppliers, facilitating strong relationships between the project team and suppliers. This included day-to-day contract management and ensuring that all suppliers delivered their services on time and within budget.

    •  Stakeholder Communication: Regular updates were provided to the Project Sponsor and Project Board, ensuring transparency and proactive management of any issues that could impact the project’s success.

3.  Agile Transformation:

    •  Adopting Agile Practices: One of the key challenges was to transition OneFamily’s Marketing team to an agile way of working. I led this transformation by introducing agile methodologies, such as Scrum, and tailored them to fit the team’s specific needs. This involved sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and regular sprint reviews to ensure continuous delivery and improvement.

    •  Team Training and Buy-In: I worked closely with the team to gain their buy-in for the new agile processes, providing training and support to ensure a smooth transition. My hands-on approach helped in understanding individual workloads and translating them into an agile setting, which was critical in achieving a quick and effective transformation.

4.  Website Development and Implementation:

    •  Development and Testing: I oversaw the entire development process, ensuring that all features were built to specification and rigorously tested. This included managing the build of processes and interfaces to ensure seamless integration with existing systems.

    •  Launch and Post-Launch Support: The website was successfully launched on schedule, with all key functionalities operational. Post-launch, I implemented a roadmap for ongoing improvements and provided support to ensure the site continued to meet user needs.

 

Outcome and Impact

 

The project was a resounding success, delivering a modern, user-friendly website that significantly improved OneFamily’s digital presence and service delivery.

 

• Successful Agile Transformation: The transition to agile working was achieved swiftly, with the Marketing team fully embracing the new methodology. This transformation enabled faster delivery of marketing campaigns and better alignment with business objectives.

• On-Time, On-Budget Delivery: The website was delivered on time and within budget, meeting all project goals and stakeholder expectations.

• Improved User Experience: The new website provided a vastly improved user experience, with enhanced functionality, better navigation, and a more engaging design. This has resulted in higher user satisfaction and increased engagement with OneFamily’s services.

 

In conclusion, the project not only delivered a successful website implementation but also set a new standard for how OneFamily approaches digital projects. The agile transformation of the Marketing team was a key factor in the project’s success, enabling the organisation to be more responsive and adaptive in its digital strategy.