Activity-Based Management for Financial Institutions: Driving Bottom-Line Results

CHAPTER 4

Implementing ABM

Plan your work. Work your plan. Your plan will work.

—Anonymous

STRUCTURING THE ORGANIZATION AND PROCESS FOR SUCCESS

As stated earlier in the book, the goal of an ABC/M implementation is to drive ABM value to the bottom line. Strong project management is required for ABC and ABM implementations. Depending on the scope and complexity of the efforts, strong program management is required, too. Clearly, an enterprise-wide implementation of ABM at a multibillion dollar corporation requires both program and project management.

Where do you find strong program and project managers? Look for them in areas that frequently deliver programs and projects: Information Technology (IT), Operations, Product Management, and Six Sigma groups. For the program manager, look for someone that manages project managers, understands the project life cycle, understands how to align the organization, implements change management, and communicates well. If your organization keeps a record of Project Management Professional (PMP) certifications, seek these people. While the PMP is not a guarantee of wisdom, execution, and success, it certainly improves your odds. Personally, many of the tools and techniques I use during an ABC/M implementation come from years of experience and reinforcement from employers, clients, peers, and courses taken to earn and maintain PMP certification.

The remainder of this section describes eight proven steps to implement ABM within your organization. ...