You're leading a tech project with tight deadlines. How do you ensure it paves the way for future innovation?

Innovation is challenging with overly tight deadlines, especially if the time scale is weeks. That being said, in the short term, build features with a clean design (visual and backend) and leave a wide berth for extensibility at the API layer and beneath it too. Incorporate testing and feedback quickly (agile). Significant innovation - the game-changers - are usually on longer timelines. It is a craft, and not a race to ship. The greatest innovative product owners is that they have a knack anticipate what the market will need BEFORE the market even knows it's needed. Voice of the customer only goes so far. Big transformative products need time for the team to fully bake big innovations, test them, market them. Tougher to do short-term..

Conduct regular retrospectives at the end of each sprint to evaluate what went well and identify areas for improvement. This continuous feedback loop allows your team to refine processes, address challenges promptly, and maintain a high level of performance throughout the project.

Agile approach fosters innovation even when projects are on a tight schedule. Modular sprint approach allows to learn from mistakes lot sooner avoiding waste. When efficient estimation and prioritization tools are included in the process along with productive retrospective, Agile can enable most creative projects within limited resources.

It’s not easy with continuous change in delivery lifecycle. Agility is one of the strongest mindsets to adapt the change and improvise

En mi experiencia es importante saber adaptar el enfoque ágil de proyectos a la idiosincrasia y la cultura de cada organización. La customización y la simplicidad en su aplicación son clave para generar confianza y disponer de herramientas de gestión versátiles que generan valor añadido sobre todo si estamos en procesos de innovación y con equipos que deben ir asimilando rápidamente en su ADN las bases de la agilidad.

Schedule regular innovation sessions where team members can share new ideas and technologies in an open, collaborative environment. This practice encourages creative thinking and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Estive a frente de um projeto para prover tecnologia para um novo produto a ser lançado pela empresa. Em meio às discussões, surgiu a possibilidade de resolvermos uma série de gaps tecnológicos (Ferramentas, processos e pessoas). Defendemos essa ampliação de escopo, porém nos comprometendo a não impactar o lançamento do produto, realizando pequenas entregas suficientes para as necessidades básicas ao lançamento. Assim fizemos e depois tivemos a oportunidade de dar continuidade com as melhorias necessárias. Se tivessemos utilizado o pensamento comum provavelmente teríamos incorrido em custos maiores e com entrega de menor valor para a instuição.

Fomentar la creatividad en tu equipo es esencial para liderar proyectos tecnológicos exitosos. Crear un ambiente donde se valoren las ideas innovadoras y las sesiones de lluvia de ideas es fundamental. Dedicar tiempo para que los miembros del equipo exploren nuevas tecnologías o soluciones puede mejorar significativamente el proyecto. Al valorar y promover la creatividad, no solo se resuelven problemas inmediatos de manera más efectiva, sino que también se cultiva una mentalidad innovadora dentro del equipo. Esta mentalidad puede conducir a avances significativos en proyectos futuros, asegurando un enfoque proactivo y dinámico en la gestión de proyectos tecnológicos.

En los procesos que he liderado, siempre me ha resultado útil involucrar personas con diversas ópticas y entendimientos del problema. Esto me ayuda a repensar las soluciones desde ángulos diferentes, que de hacerlo solo, no serían posibles para mi. La creatividad es un proceso colectivo, almenos cuando de llevar organizaciones al siguiente nivel se trata.

For projects on tight schedule, recent similar projects closing documents or retrospective reports can help to shape creative initiatives. Lessons learnt from similar projects reduces the cost of innovation.

Implement a process for continuous reassessment of priorities throughout the project. This allows for flexibility and adaptation to changing requirements or new insights, ensuring that the project remains aligned with its objectives and timelines.

It is always wise to follow "One thing at a time approach" for dealing such situations. Prioritizing wisely can make the entire process specific and convenient for the team. All the personnel will know to what extent they will have to perform to complete the task within the specified deadline. Overall, it will immensely help to complete the task without any procrastination or delay or anxiety of missing deadlines 👍

Did you know that 24% of project failures are due to inadequate resource management? [PMI, 2020]. Prioritization is not just about doing things right but doing the right things. Start by identifying tasks that have the highest impact on your project's goals and align with your long-term vision. Teams that prioritize their tasks effectively are 2.5 times more likely to deliver projects on time [McKinsey, 2021]. Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance. Focus on high-impact areas first, ensuring your efforts drive significant progress toward your ultimate objectives.

Bring to the table the In-progress and to-do tickets together with primary stakeholders to align on the priority of the projects. The resources are often limited and cannot be scaled in a short time, so the team needs to be clear on where they should focus first.

To lead a tech project with tight deadlines and ensure future innovation, prioritize wisely. Identify and focus on the most critical tasks first, ensuring essential features are developed early. Use an agile methodology to break the project into manageable units and work in short sprints. Regularly gather feedback and adjust the project plan flexibly. Empower your team to take ownership and continuously improve. Utilize tools like Jira or Trello for efficient task management. Prioritizing wisely ensures the project stays on track, meets user needs, and paves the way for future innovation.

Clear communication is crucial in a tech project with tight deadlines. Set clear objectives and ensure everyone understands their roles and the project goals. Hold daily stand-up meetings for progress updates and use tools like Jira or Trello for tracking tasks. Maintain transparent documentation and encourage open communication through platforms like Slack. Schedule regular feedback sessions and provide clear instructions. Use visual aids to illustrate progress and practice active listening to address concerns. Prioritizing clear communication keeps the team aligned and focused, ensuring timely delivery and fostering future innovation.

La comunicación es el factor más importante dentro de un equipo y esto sucede en todo tipo de sistema. La comunicación clara y eficiente hará que el equipo pueda entender mejor el contexto y adaptarse más rápido al proceso o producto. Incluso, tenemos que saber que todos tenemos diferentes formas de entender y comunicar. Un estilo nos define y nos ayuda a recibir y entregar mejor los mensajes. Busquemos herramientas para hacerlo y seguro nuestro día a día mejorará con nuestros equipos.

En nuestros proyectos tecnológicos involucramos la comunicación oportuna en todos los niveles, garantizando al máximo posible que cada parte del equipo sepa que debe hacer y para quien lo está haciendo, entendiendo que dichos servicios son provistos en un ambiente B2B pero son usados, entendidos e impulsados por personas. Así las cosas, comunicar, como eje fundamental del relacionamiento humano, se vuelve una herramienta poderosa para ser oportunos, relevantes y crear valor en el entorno tecnológico que desarrollamos.

Clear communication is the backbone of any successful project. Miscommunication costs companies an average of $62.4 million per year [SHRM, 2021]. Establish a robust communication plan that includes regular updates, feedback loops, and transparent reporting. Teams that communicate effectively are 4.5 times more likely to complete projects successfully [PWC, 2020]. Implement daily stand-ups, weekly progress meetings, and utilize collaboration tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams to keep everyone on the same page.

Communication is an important skill to ensure everyone is on the same page. It is not only to communicate clearly from the beginning but also to communicate clearly during the development process. Clear communication is also a way to identify and mitigate risks.

When deadlines are tight we tend to rush through some deliverables. If I could choose 2 important ones that really make a difference, those would be: 1) Technology Scalability and 2) Documentation. I've lived the pitfalls of good technology with messy backend that no one can further untangle. Whether it's cloud infrastructure or modular code, investing in scalable tech ensures that your project can evolve and support future innovations without starting from scratch.

El foco de todo proyecto de innovación tecnológica es contribuir con la competitividad de la organización, y en ese sentido una innovación exitosa más allá de los beneficios que puede aportar en el corto plazo debe asegurar su naturaleza replicable (extensión de uso a otros ámbitos de la compañía) y su naturaleza escalable (extensión de uso a crecimiento futuro) al mínimo coste con el fin de tener un impactado incremental y sostenible en el ROI. No se debe olvidar que no se trata innovar por innovar, debe asegurarse una sostenibilidad en el proceso para no limitarlo a una mejora tecnológica puntual.

Innovation thrives on scalability. According to a survey by Deloitte, 87% of executives consider scalability critical for future growth [Deloitte, 2020]. Design your project with the future in mind, ensuring it can adapt and grow as your needs evolve. Scalable projects are 3 times more likely to drive innovation within an organization [Gartner, 2021]. Utilize modular designs and microservices architecture, which allow your project to evolve without a complete overhaul. This approach not only saves time but also ensures your tech solutions can handle future demands.

Feedback is the compass that guides innovation. Did you know that companies actively using feedback loops improve their performance by up to 12%? [Harvard Business Review, 2022]. Encourage team members to share insights and constructive criticism throughout the project lifecycle. Teams incorporating regular feedback cycles are 2 times more likely to innovate successfully [Forrester, 2021]. Implement tools like Jira or Trello for continuous feedback and issue tracking. Conduct retrospectives at the end of each sprint to gather insights and apply learnings to future projects.

Es increíble ver que aún hoy en día, en muchas organizaciones el Feedback es un "Monstruo" muy temido. Tenemos la responsabilidad de romper el patrón del Feedback no oportuno y comenzar a tomar las mejores prácticas de las técnicas disponibles, ya sean reuniones de equipo semanales, sprints, reuniones de agilismo al iniciar el día, o se usen herramientas como Kanban o Lean, debemos dar Feedback oportunamente, para ajustar la marcha, para mejorar la calidad y asegurar que todos saben bien que hacer. Es también una responsabilidad de los líderes de proyectos tecnológicos promover que sus equipos de trabajo provoquen y valoren los entornos de feedback, que no teman alzar la mano y señalar mejoras, aún en el proceso de liderazgo.

Document Everything - keep records of your processes, decisions, and challenges. This documentation serves as a knowledge base for future projects, helping teams understand what worked, what didn't, and why. It’s a time-saver that prevents reinventing the wheel.

We need to have ways to listen to people's opinions and feelings about participating in projects with tight timelines. What does the team have to trade to win the timeline, what do they need to restore energy. Is there anything needed to be better prepared for a similar situation?