Problem

Projects at a semiconductor manufacturer lagged behind schedule and ran over budget. The company needed to get projects back on track.

Solution

We conducted an online survey and interviewed project stakeholders to identify root causes. A main cause of delay was the lack of dedicated project leadership. Up to that point, the task of leading projects had fallen on the shoulders of “accidental” project leaders. These technical experts were reluctant to spend time away for their “real job” of designing chips.

We identified technical experts who were interested in pursuing a career in management and leadership and ran leadership development workshops for this group.

Throughout, Claxus worked with HR to help identify criteria to make Project Leader an attractive career option at the company.

After 18 months, we measured outcomes through a follow-up survey and interviews.

Impact

A core group of full-time project leaders is supported by a dedicated project management office. Project delays decreased by over 50%.