Romeo & Juliet: A Metaphor for Delivery

Shakespeare’s 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼 & 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘁, or moreso 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘆 presents an interesting metaphor to managing a successful delivery portfolio or program, to be 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀. 

The lessons it holds are surprisingly relevant:

🔹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Just as Juliet's balcony offers a unique vantage point, we need to have a clear, simplified, strategic view of all our projects. Like a balcony, your perspective must be high enough to see the bigger picture, aligning individual projects with the organization's overall goals and vision. This oversight helps ensure you're not too caught up in the details, and that your projects are positioned for long-term success.

🔹 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Juliet's balcony is high enough to give her visibility but also offers a degree of protection from the outside world. Balancing our project mix is key. A good portfolio strikes a balance between delivering quick-wins, high-risk, high-reward initiatives and more stable, low-risk projects. Too much focus on one or the other can throw your whole delivery portfolio off-balance. 

🔹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: The enduring nature of Juliet's balcony—standing strong through centuries—reminds us of the importance of building a resilient portfolio. Just as Juliet’s world constantly changes, our delivery portfolio must be adaptable to shifting business priorities, market conditions, and resource constraints. 

🔹 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: In Romeo and Juliet, much of the tension revolves around the communication and expectations between the characters. A simplified view of our portfolio, and clear and transparent communication about progress, risks, and changes is crucial. Just like Juliet communicating with Romeo from her balcony, keeping everyone aligned ensures success.

Managing delivery portfolios and programs, like Juliet’s balcony, is about finding that perfect balance of visibility, strategic alignment, and resilience. When done right, you’re not just managing projects—you’re building the foundation for enduring success.

So, how well positioned is your portfolio today? Our unique 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 big-room planning approach will rapidly present a simplified, digestible and committed view of the most complex portfolios and programs and provide the capabilities for confident delivery.

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AdaptivOrg + Seisma, SEISMA GROUP

Robert Cass 🟢 🟡 / 🔵 🔴, Devon White, Jason Wu, Annie Spiteri, Sushrut Kamath, Anthony Kandi, Betty Trajkovski, Robert Hogeland, Michael Solari, Simone Hambrook