Christopher Global

Problem Statement

Corporate Information Systems & Technology is a sector at Apple Inc. tasked with overseeing the technical project management of numerous extensive, cross-functional product development projects that cater to the needs of Apple's internal staff. The team faced challenges stemming from disorganized delivery standards, leading to frequent alterations in scope and schedule that affected the product lifecycle's dependability. In an effort to address these issues, the team expressed a strong interest in collaborating with internal business program stakeholders to synchronize release schedules and product roadmaps.

Purpose

IS&T Interact had several inconsistencies in their processes during the release lifecycle. The team sought consultants with expertise in aligning product roadmaps and release schedules to help them implement techniques and standards for product development effectively.

Custom Solutions & Actions Taken

Our expert program manager, Christopher, assisted the team in tackling and resolving their discrepancies by providing the following solutions:

• Implementation of multiple product release scenarios aligned with the product release cycle schedule (three, four, and five months).

• Establishment of best practice standards for phased timelines, considering business priorities, development complexity, and technical dependencies.

• Assessment of IS&T PMO operations with recommendations for improving performance, including: 1) Enhancing cross-functional communication and real-time team collaboration, and 2) Addressing the effects and risks of frequently changing release dates while highlighting the benefits of standard project management.

• Communication of planned future product releases and alignment of release strategies across cross-functional teams.

• Introduction of roadmap and portfolio planning strategies, including product release plans and product roadmaps.

• Integration of product ceremonies (scrum ceremonies) into a non-Agile environment.

Conclusion

The Corporate IS&T team achieved an increase in internal customer satisfaction through their dedicated efforts. The implementation of new practices in the product release cycle has enhanced communication and coordination among cross-functional processes and priorities. Collaborating with both business and IT teams, new release standards were established to establish a fresh approach for the consistent delivery of products.