Here's how you can shape project scope and objectives with strategic thinking.

Shaping project scope and objectives with strategic thinking involves aligning the project goals closely with the overall strategic goals of the organization. Here are some key steps and considerations: * Understand the Strategic Goals. * Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. * Define Clear Objectives. * Prioritize Deliverables. * Stakeholder Alignment. * Risk Assessment, Metrics and KPIs. * Flexibility & Adaptability. * Communication & Feedback. By integrating these strategic you can enhance the project's relevance, impact, and alignment with the organization's overarching goals. This not only improves project success but also contributes to the long-term success of the organization.

It all starts with clear and transparent communication with the project stakeholders. Understanding the big picture, the vision, and short term goals of the organization is pivotal in shaping the decision making process throughout the project execution. This understanding will also come in handy further down the road if you need motivation and pull your project team together. Being able to provide a “North Star” to your project team brings great clarity to the project and what they should expect in the future.

Take time to grasp the long-term goals and strategic aims of the organization. This means having in-depth discussions with stakeholders to align on the big picture. By keeping the broader vision in mind, you can ensure that your project scope and objectives are not only clear but also contribute meaningfully to the company’s strategic direction.

J'analyse attentivement les objectifs stratégiques et les déclarations officielles de l'organisation, tout en écoutant les perspectives des parties prenantes. J'aligne ensuite les actions et ajuste les stratégies pour assurer une cohérence à long terme.

Encourage discussions to understand their needs, priorities and desired outcomes. Use their input to define clear project goals and scope that are both realistic and aligned with organizational strategy. Continuously communicate with stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to ensure alignment and make adjustments as needed. By actively engaging stakeholders, you can leverage their expertise and perspectives to shape a strategic vision that enhances project success and delivers value to the organization.

J'implique les parties prenantes par une communication ouverte, une écoute attentive de leurs feedbacks, une collaboration active dans la prise de décision, la clarification des responsabilités, la reconnaissance des contributions, et l'adaptation continue aux besoins émergents pour assurer leur engagement significatif.

Look at the market conditions, industry trends, and any internal constraints or opportunities. This analysis helps you make informed decisions about what’s realistic and valuable for the project. By considering the external and internal context, you can set more strategic objectives that address current challenges and leverage available opportunities, ensuring the project’s success and relevance.

Pour analyser le contexte, je m'attache à comprendre les éléments environnementaux, sociaux, économiques et politiques qui influencent directement ou indirectement le sujet en question. J'examine les tendances, les données historiques pertinentes et les perspectives des parties prenantes pour obtenir une vue d'ensemble complète et informée.

Set Clear Goals by defining specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives. Align these goals with the organization's overarching strategy and ensure they address key priorities and stakeholder expectations. Regularly review and refine these goals based on evolving project needs and external factors. By setting clear and focused goals, you can establish a strategic direction that guides decision-making, resource allocation and project execution, ultimately enhancing the project's success and impact.

Fixer des objectifs stratégiques clairs est essentiel car cela définit la direction du projet, guide les actions et les décisions, aligne les efforts de l'équipe, facilite la mesure des progrès et assure la pertinence des résultats par rapport aux objectifs globaux de l'organisation.

Pour privilégier la stabilité, j'évalue les risques, planifie de manière robuste, communique ouvertement, gère efficacement les ressources, et favorise la formation et l'adaptabilité du personnel pour anticiper et répondre aux défis avec résilience.

Keep up-ot-date dashboards for each milestone for a globalized view of the deliverables and share it with your team mates. Use it for your regular status meetings to speed up the process of progress review. Adjust where needed and don't forget to note all adjustments in your risk management tools.

In my opinion, strategic thinking demands a proactive approach to anticipate obstacles, capitalize on opportunities, and align project goals with organizational strategy. Project managers can successfully overcome complexity and uncertainty by defining clear goals, doing a SWOT analysis, engaging stakeholders, creating SMART goals, prioritizing activities, monitoring progress, and communicating effectively. Accepting strategic thinking as a guiding concept can leverage good project outcomes and long-term success for the organization.

In my opinion a part of the project/program manager’s job is to translate big picture vision into achievable metrics and tangible goals. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarifications from leadership and push for clarity. It will help immensely in the long run. Managing up to help leadership understand the state of the organization at the front lines will help set realistic goals for the organization and bring the whole organization together.