In Scope: Managing Projects at UW–Madison
In Scope is a mini-curriculum and conversation workshop series designed for managers of small- to medium-sized projects at UW–Madison.
In this series, project management experts address managing projects in the university environment, introduce project management methods and resources, and facilitate conversations around common problems and solutions.
Presenters assign minimal prework (e.g., videos or articles) for each discussion; prework materials are accessible through the Canvas learning management system.
Upon the completion of each In Scope session, the event recording and session materials are archived in the corresponding Canvas module to serve as a resource for participants.
All sessions are online. Participants can register for the entire series or select individual sessions.
Information for Registrants
Once registered for an In Scope session, you will need to self-enroll in the Canvas course through the link below. This serves as the archive for all In Scope pre-session materials, recordings, etc. Registration requires a valid NetID.
Spring 2023 Schedule
Developing a Business Case: Determining Whether and How an Initiative Will Benefit the Organization
February 16 | 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Online
Presented by Suzanne Covoloskie, business analyst, Office of Strategic Consulting; and Michael Schmitt, business analyst, Office of Strategic Consulting
(this session has passed)
Content level: introductory
When evaluating or trying to justify whether a major initiative will be worth the effort and cost, there are several questions that you need to be able to answer, including:
• What impact will the initiative have on the organization?
• Will the initiative be the best use of limited resources?
• Does the initiative support the university’s mission or contribute to your unit’s goals? Developing a business case can help you answer these questions.
A business case outlines the opportunities, risks, and threats of a potential initiative; it helps to determine if the investment does or does not justify the time and resources an initiative requires for completion; and it can help you prioritize initiatives and establish what is important, thus avoiding the “loudest voice” approach.
In this interactive session, participants learned the benefits of developing a business case and walked away with tips and tools for creating an effective one.
Change Management as Continuous Improvement
March 21 | 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Online
Presented by Colleen Howes, change management lead, Administrative Transformation Program (ATP); and Nicole Anpach, engagement and readiness lead, ATP
(this session has passed)
Content level: introductory
Change management is often viewed as a one-time occurrence or a sporadic solution implemented until a project ends. But, sustainable change management happens within the context of addressing ongoing organizational needs and operations. By viewing change management as a strategic competency—rather than an episodic solution—you can start to create a culture of continuous improvement as an ongoing strategy for innovation. This session will discuss human-centered change strategy anchored in a continuous improvement model, instead of “change as a one-time solution.” You will leave with toolkits and templates for stakeholder analysis, change impact assessment, and communications planning.
Whose Project is It Anyway? Successfully Collaborating with Project Stakeholders
April 27 | 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Online
Presented by Kim Linsenmayer, administrative director, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
Content level: intermediate
A successful project takes a village. That’s because all projects require the support, engagement, and alignment of many individuals who care about the outcomes, impacts, or usefulness of the work taking place. Effective collaboration with your project community (from sponsors to end users) is essential for identifying and reaching shared goals. This session will focus on the range of project participants (also known as stakeholders) who are essential to project success, how to work effectively with them throughout the project (hint: it starts with listening), and communication strategies and tools that can help ensure a successful collaboration.
Register
Leveraging Microsoft Teams for Project Team Collaboration
May 31 | 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Online
Presented by Jim Martin, senior project manager, Office of Strategic Consulting
Content level: introductory
Microsoft (MS) Teams became one of the standard web conferencing tools at UW–Madison during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to be useful with the increase in remote work. However, this powerful tool is not just for virtual meetings; it is also a robust team collaboration platform. In this session, you will learn how the Office of Strategic Consulting has been using MS Teams in client project engagements and how you can leverage this technology on your own projects.
Register