Autor: Cristian Sánchez
Project management is an art form.
It's like conducting a philharmonic orchestra for a concert, where each member plays a role by playing their respective instrument. However, coordinating the sequence of interpretation, instructing each member to play their instrument at the precise moment, ensuring that everyone has the musical scores for the pieces to be performed, and verifying that they know how to interpret them—all of this, the organizer, the audience, and the musicians attending the event have a clear understanding of which works will be interpreted, the date of the event, the schedule of the performance, and its end.
In the end, the concert must be flawless, and the audience pleased with the performance.
This analogy reflects what happens when managing any analytics project because the client requires the knowledge that their data provides to make decisions.
In this case, as for the orchestra, I must have a team of skilled professionals capable of executing projects, from accompanying the client to define their needs to putting the development into production.
It is necessary to know which "instruments" engineers play and determine which ones suit the client's requirements, so assigning them to projects should be based on the tools each one handles best.
They must be coordinated with the "audience," "what do they want to hear?" For this, meetings are held with the client to understand the need, define their requirements based on the needs, and thus, with the development team, understand what needs to be done for each project.
"The scheduling of the event" is fundamental for development, so it must be defined with the client the time it will take to develop their product. This is the project planning, with which we can define:
- Delivery dates of the functional product (deadlines).
- Functional product: This is the best measure of progress in an analytics project
- BI platform or tool where the dashboard will be created.
- The methodology.
- Communication channels.
- Roles.
- Sources of information.
- Data sources.
- Handling changes that may occur during project execution, among others.
- Putting the product into production.
With the project details clear, developers will know when to "interpret" the works in the best way possible.
In a project, the goal is to achieve the best possible communication, allowing all stakeholders to express their opinions and what they expect before, during, and after the project, as effective interpretation and communication are essential for informed decision-making.
In case the client or the user requests a change in the song being played during the project's execution, it should be considered that, depending on the methodology, new requirements can be included before "lowering the curtain." Clarifications or clear visualizations and concrete examples are used to illustrate what is required.
In summary, managing analytics projects shares surprising similarities with conducting an orchestra, where each member plays a crucial role in achieving a harmonious result. Coordinating multidisciplinary teams, defining requirements precisely, meticulous planning, and adaptability to emerging changes are essential elements for success in both scenarios.
Understanding that the customer is at the center of attention and that their needs guide every step of the process is fundamental. Just as a musical conductor strives to satisfy their audience, in analytics project management, delivering a functional and valuable product is the ultimate measure of progress. The choice of tools and BI platform, defining roles and responsibilities, and maintaining seamless communication with the client and within the team are critical aspects that drive the process forward.
Ultimately, effective analytics project management requires the ability to lead, collaborate, and execute harmoniously, thus achieving results that exceed expectations. By recognizing the importance of each involved element and facing challenges with determination, project management professionals can create their symphonies of success in the analytics world, leaving a lasting impact on decision-making and business outcomes.
Common Challenges in Analytics Project Management