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Transforming MEDA's Project Management

How The Focus Company streamlined operations, saved $525,000 annually, and revolutionized workplace culture in just 18 months
Client
MEDA
INdustry
Nonprofit
Timeline
18-Months
Website
MEDA
About

Ducks in a Row: MEDA's Project Management Makeover

MEDA – Mennonite Economic Development Associates – is an international economic development organization that creates business solutions to poverty. For over 70 years, MEDA has been creating business solutions to poverty that are sustainable, scalable, measurable and replicable. MEDA experienced rapid growth under new leadership. They hired The Focus Company for an 18-month contract to establish a Project Management Office (PMO) and implement change management strategies.

Challenge

  • Rapid growth led to informal, siloed processes
  • No Project Management Office in place
  • Overwhelmed internal service providers
  • Inefficient meetings and document creation
  • Lack of prioritization and project policies
  • New strategic plan implementation adding pressure

    • Solution

  • Embedded a team of project managers and change management professionals
  • Conducted Blue Sky Thinking Workshops at corporate and divisional levels
  • Created 5-year roadmap plans for achieving strategic goals
  • Implemented project management discipline and processes
  • Introduced timeboxing and incremental work (3-month sprints)
  • Developed standardized, simplified project documentation
  • Created small, cross-functional teams
  • Implemented stakeholder management processes
  • Introduced a work management system

    • Results

  • Eliminated 75 hours of senior staff meeting time weekly, saving $250,000 annually
  • Reduced document prep time from 100 hours to 2 hours per project, saving $150,000 annually
  • Increased staff NPS score and reduced turnover, saving $125,000 in recruitment costs
  • Improved project visibility and communication across divisions
  • Cultivated awareness of work effort and improved estimation skills
  • Shifted culture to focus on outputs and production
  • Reduced orphaned projects by 90%
  • Improved work-life balance for employees
  • Empowered staff to manage workloads and set boundaries
    • Before/After
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