Enterprise-class project selection process

The communication dynamic outlined in the previous section – the need to ensure that the functional team understands and is on board – is true and extends to the project selection process as well. Analytics leaders and professionals need to be decomposing projects down to a level where analytics projects can be compared on a like-for-like basis with competing projects and priorities. This is a track of work that we as analytics professionals need to improve on and hone our skills in.

Often analytics leaders and professionals do not want to create the materials or information for review by a project review board or by a portfolio management function because the projects may be rejected, or more information might be requested or the project scope may be changed, all resulting in more work for the analytics team. The bottom line is that this activity and the materials to support it are required by most organizations and must...