What do you do if you have too many innovative projects to manage in digital strategy?

Having too many innovation projects to lead and manage at once is a nice problem to have! An objective framework with various categories, criteria, etc, to assess and prioritize the innovation projects is key. What is most critical to achieve and which dimensions should be in this framework? ROI and sales projection would potentially be just one dimension. Others might be the customer "pain point" you are addressing and the value associated with that - this value could be in retained customer revenue, enhanced satisfaction, perceptions of the brand, or other dimensions that measure ROI more holistically. As our customer expectations evolve and grow, innovation is necessary to keep the customers you have and differentiate your brand.

Desarrollar una buena metodología de priorización de iniciativas es uno de los mayores retos de las organizaciones. Aunque una misma receta no puede servir siempre para todos los escenarios o industrias, en mi experiencia, priorizar por su aportación a la entrega VALOR siempre me ha resultado positivo.

Make sure each project aligns with your big goals. Is it going to make us more money, save time, or wow our customers? Not all babies are created equal! Some ideas are easier to do and have a bigger impact. Let's tackle those first. Break down big projects into smaller steps. Celebrate wins along the way and don't be afraid to ditch ideas that fizzle. Get different departments involved. Fresh eyes always help. Outsource the hustle if you have the room to do so.

When managing multiple innovative projects, it's crucial to prioritize based on strategic value and impact. Utilize a framework like the Eisenhower Box to categorize projects into urgent, important, both, or neither. Focus on those that align closely with your long-term digital strategy goals. Consider factors such as potential ROI, resource availability, and deadlines to make informed decisions. This method ensures you're not only keeping projects on track but also aligning them with the broader business objectives.

If you really have too many innovative projects, you are not only part of a minority - you are also on track to put your transformation efforts at risk. If you innovate, there is only so much your organisation can diggest and it's important to manage this level as a digital strategist. Use prioritization methods, stakeholder & project member feedback to create a roadmap & backlog that makes sense.

Investing in your business means investing in delegating effectively, which, in its turn, means, investing in a high-performing team. I see team building as investing in strategic direction. We need trust to perform and optimum team cohesion to outperform. I use Lencioni's high-performing teams model on a weekly basis, contributing to team glue and shared purpose/frame of reference. With a solid baseline, delegating becomes a natural part of teambuilding, meaning more space in the pipeline, more headspace for creativity and, as an overarching 'upside', more quality in delivery.

Managing multiple project relays on a key capability named planning. Planning requires to foresee the planned outcomes and adjust the resources.

The 1 key that has helped me the most managed my team/ get the most out of each: is truly understanding WHAT is THEIR driver! Going back to the basics of human psychology 101. It may seem obvious, but you may fall in the category of "I'll always go the extra 10 thousand miles to deliver the best". Not everyone is driven by this: my step 1 is to find what deeply drives my key team members: "being able to express their creativity, knowing they're listened to by me/ the team", "completing their work within a set time-frame", "being able to voice their opinions, knowing that I'll always open a safe space, no matter how MUCH it goes AGAINST the rest of the team's ideas" etc. It takes 1 week to figure out & saves you hours every week for years!

Las herramientas colaborativas para la gestión de proyectos estilo JIRA son una forma muy ágil y efectiva de hacer gestión y seguimiento. Las recomiendo al 100%

Reuniones regulares y un sistema de gestión de tareas transparente pueden ayudar a mantener la supervisión y fomentar un sentido de propiedad y responsabilidad entre los miembros del equipo. Adopta la tecnología para mantenerte organizado y eficiente. Las herramientas de gestión de proyectos pueden ayudarte a estar al tanto de los plazos, el progreso y la asignación de recursos en todos los proyectos. Estas herramientas suelen incluir características que facilitan la colaboración, garantizando que todos los miembros del equipo estén en la misma página. Además, el uso de análisis de datos puede proporcionar información sobre el rendimiento del proyecto, ayudándote a tomar decisiones informadas a medida que navegas en tu estrategia digital.

Project management tools that keep tasks, assignments, timelines and schedules transparent and allow for direct collaboration with team members can help with staying organized. Data tracking, analytics and reporting gives insights into performance.

Enfrentar numerosos proyectos requiere de una adecuada priorización, basada en la alineación estratégica con los objetivos de tu empresa, el impacto potencial y los requerimientos de recursos. Esto no significa olvidar proyectos de menor prioridad, sino encajarlos apropiadamente. Delegar es fundamental, así como el uso de herramientas tecnológicas que permitan un seguimiento eficiente y una comunicación eficaz. Por último, es importante mantener flexibilidad en los procesos, especialmente mediante la implementación de metodologías ágiles, favoreciendo la adaptabilidad e innovación.

You need to ensure innovation and responsive Strategy development are central. Stategy adapts all the time, it is not static.

If projects reach a threshold where your team is overwhelmed or resources are stretched too thin, consider using an outside or external agency as this can be quite beneficial. The right agency could offer more specialized expertise for the project or task. They may also provide a lift by introducing a new perspective or unbiased assessments. By hiring externally, you can expedite the timeline to completion.

At AceDigital, managing resources effectively is crucial when handling multiple innovative projects in digital strategy. It's essential to thoroughly understand your team's capacity and the availability of financial and material resources. Proactive resource management involves not only allocating what's necessary for current projects but also strategically planning for future demands. By doing this, you can prevent bottlenecks and ensure that each project is well-equipped for success. Effective resource planning allows you to balance the workload, optimize efficiency, and maintain the quality of output across all projects.

Step 1: clearly understand +define with each of my clients their ultimate END goal: - Good questions to ask "If we activate this project: at the end, what will success look like to you?How will you measure it? --> Examples of answers: clicks, visits to website or 1particular social media, sales..etc.? IMO, I've observed disappointed clients coming to me after what they perceived as a bad experience with others. I figured: It OFTEN wasn't the work done by a fellow colleague, BUT one of the keys was: The clear end goal was never clearly defined, hence way too often too"vague" & clients ended up disappointed. Step 2: Once the goals are clearly defined, it allows, IMO, for better prioritization+which tech will be the most efficient for each

At AceDigital, clear communication is fundamental when managing multiple digital strategy projects. It's crucial to establish regular updates and maintain open channels for feedback with all stakeholders. This practice ensures that everyone is up-to-date on project statuses, fully understands their responsibilities, and can express concerns or suggestions. Effective communication not only helps to preempt potential issues but also aligns everyone's efforts towards the collective goals, enhancing the overall success of your digital strategy initiatives.

Be thankful that you work for a company or for clients who are willing to spend valuable Capital and Opex on innovation - and prioritize it. If you run a team where your innovation resources (people, $, attention, priority, etc) aren't constantly being pulled to keep the status quo green lights blinking, say a thank you to the Universe, and embrace some crazy.

As this questions came up with "dealing with too many innovative projects", a very first task is the landscaping. So, note down: What is the innovative project about? Who is responsible? What are the planned outcomes? Under which invest? At the end of the day, there needs to be a decision: Which projects are carried on and which are to be stopped?

Some of the additional factors that can help are : 1. Outsource: If your team is stretched thin, consider outsourcing certain tasks or projects to external agencies or freelancers. 2. Sequence: Don't try to tackle every project simultaneously. Break down projects into smaller, more manageable phases and tackle them sequentially. 3. Re-evaluate: Regularly review your project portfolio. Are all projects still relevant to your business goals? Be prepared to cut or postpone projects that no longer align with your priorities

Regularly review and reassess project priorities based on changing business needs, market dynamics, and resource availability to ensure optimal allocation of resources and maximize the impact of your innovative projects.