Workstream managers are active members of a project management team, using their subject matter expertise to progress the project as a whole, while being responsible for the monitoring and control of the work packages and deliverables that can be best delivered by their workstream.
Workstream manager: the role, the responsibilities, the reality
Achieving operational role and workstream role balance
Approaches for adding value at each project stage
Requirements management planning activities
Workstream team management
Strengthening decision-making
Setting targets and enhancing the overall quality of your workstream
Managing workstream risk exposure
Step-by-step guides for workstream management tools and techniques
Subject matter experts
Functional managers at all levels
Anyone considering a career in project management
2 to 4 people: only extra costs for course materials
5 to 8 people: will likely extend course time by 20%
Attendees return motivated and confident that they can manage a workstream
Understand the project management environment and their role within it
Understand how to achieve operational and workstream balance
Upgrade and acquire new skills, best practices, strategies, ideas and insights
Apply lessons learned to their operational role where appropriate
Earn increased recognition and visibility of their management skills
Increased probability of project success: as active members of the project management team, workstream managers allow the organisation deliver more complex projects than a structure with only one manager. Their subject matter expertise increases the accuracy and quality of the project plans. Their ownership of the monitoring and control of their workstream greatly increases the likelihood of the successful delivery of it's deliverables.
Increased organisational support and risk reduction: when projects reach deeper into the organisation the workstream manager, as a visible representative of both their functional area and their project, becomes a source for colleagues to highlight opportunities and voice concerns, increasing support while reducing risk.
Streamlined interactions with internal and external stakeholders: the workstream manager's subject matter expertise and closeness to the work of their workstream in invaluable with stakeholder interactions.
Increased operational advantage: The upgraded and new skills, best practices, strategies, ideas and insights that a workstream manager acquires, will also add value when applied appropriately to their operational role. The structured approach of workstream management, complements and enhances current management abilities and identifies knowledge areas that can benefit from greater focus.
Experience managing groups, previous member of a project team
Background in the domain related to the workstream: IT, HR, finance, procurement
Strong communication, written, presentation and reporting skills
Upon completion, trainees will have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the workstream manager role to interact proactively with the project and its management team, and act as the manager of the work assigned to their workstream.
Workstream Environment: key project and workstream concepts, organisational and project environment differences, project types, life cycles, outputs, outcomes & benefits
Roles, Responsibilities, Relationships: project workstream manager role, project manager role and team relationships
Working With Workstream Teams: influencing skills, project problem solving tools
Initiation Stage: initial project workstream considerations
Planning Stage: tools for planning, scope, schedules, budgets, quality, risk & comms
Execution Stage: workstream monitoring, controlling and progress reporting
Close Stage: workstream closure and maximising learning
Understand the differences between operational and workstream management
Understand the workstream manger role and know how it adds value to the project
Understand the challenges a workstream manager will face
Know how to achieve operational and workstream balance
Understand the project management tools and techniques available to them
Understand all project team roles and responsibilities
Know how to navigate and understand the project environment
Phone and email follow up as relates to agreed course content for 3 months
Note: it is the responsibility of the project manager to continually develop the project's workstream managers
Management > Project Management > Workstream Management
2 days to 4 days depending on training needs analysis
Onsite: Standard meeting room (during formal training); standard desk during analysis
Offsite: Trinity Street, Dublin; arranged anywhere in Dublin and Ireland
While it is natural that a workstream might be contained within a functional unit e.g. the IT workstream is likely to be mostly contained within the IT department, this is not always the case. A workstream may require the input or cooperation of multiple functions. This will require a more complex form of management. Well established boundaries may need to be crossed, and sometimes very carefully. The workstream manager must work closely with the project manager (who will work closely with the sponsor) to devise a plan that will pave the way.
It is a core principle of project management that everyone understands their responsibilities.Some people have in large organisations seem to have no discernible responsibilities. Sometimes they are allowed to delegate the responsibilities they do have to others. At best this is a waste of resources, at worst it is a destructive force that does not go unnoticed by those who must take on these responsibilities. Larger organisations can absorb this (they shouldn't, but they often do), however project teams do not have this luxury or capacity. Workstream managers learn to manage other peoples fear of failure and feeling overwhelmed by the scale of an activity / problem / question.
