When the IT Vice President of a global technology and services firm set a bold goal to elevate the department’s project management maturity, the message was clear: it was time to move beyond ad hoc planning and embrace a more structured, professional approach. The internal team—responsible for delivering a wide range of IT and operations projects—was expected to lead the way. But there was a gap. While Microsoft Project was available, it was underutilized, and many team members lacked the confidence to use it effectively.
RW King was brought in to lay the foundation for change. With leadership aiming to certify all project managers through PMI’s PMP program, this was the ideal moment to up level the team’s scheduling capabilities—a core principle in the PMP framework—and demonstrate how Microsoft Project could support both day-to-day execution and long-term professional growth.
We designed a one-day, hands-on training session tailored to the team’s real-world responsibilities. It was envisioned to help participants see how the tool could help them manage complexity, improve visibility, and align with the department’s strategic goals – “What’s Possible”. The session was immersive and grounded in the team’s day-to-day reality — enriched by insights from similar transformations we’ve led.
The shift was immediate. The team of 12 engaged deeply with the material, asking thoughtful questions and participating in robust discussions. By the end of the day, the team wasn’t just more comfortable with the tool—they were thinking differently about how to use it.
They left with a clearer understanding of scheduling concepts and a stronger grasp of Microsoft Project. Most importantly, they were ready to build a plan to adopt the tool in a way that aligned with the department’s strategic direction and their PMP certification journey.
At a Glance
What Mattered Most
Help the team envision the capabilities and advantages of incorporating schedule and resource management techniques to improve planning and delivery of complex systems implementations.
What We Noticed
The team initially viewed the tool as a task list, overlooking its value for governance, decision-making, and milestone-driven planning. Many assumed it was too complex to learn because of its extensibility and their prior training they had received.
What Changed
training and features
review
"What's Possible"
guidance
In just one day, RW King helped an internal project team move from hesitation to readiness. With a clearer understanding of scheduling, aligned with PMI principles, and the advisement on “What’s Possible”, the team was poised to take the next step in their journey.
