According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), effective project prioritisation leads to improved project success rates, reduced risks, and enhanced stakeholder satisfaction. By adopting this approach, you can:
Align with strategic objectives: The Kano model enables you to align project tasks and activities with the strategic objectives of your organisation. This ensures that the projects you undertake directly contribute to the overarching goals and vision.
Optimise resource utilisation: Through the Kano model, you can identify tasks that offer the highest impact and feasibility, allowing you to allocate your resources effectively. This optimisation of resource utilisation enhances efficiency and minimises wasted effort.
Improve decision-making: Prioritisation using the Kano model provides a structured framework for making informed decisions. It helps you evaluate the importance and urgency of tasks, enabling you to make well-grounded choices that lead to better project outcomes.
Enhance stakeholder engagement: By prioritising tasks based on customer needs and expectations, you demonstrate a customer-centric approach. This fosters positive stakeholder relationships and improves satisfaction levels.
By mastering the Kano model, you can expect tangible outcomes and rewards. According to the
PMI's Pulse of the Profession® report, organisations that prioritise projects effectively are
2.5 times more likely to deliver successful outcomes and achieve business goals.
Learning to use the Kano model equips you with a valuable skill set that increases your project management competence and boosts your professional reputation.
Unfortunately, many people struggle to prioritise their projects effectively due to various reasons.
Let's explore some of the primary obstacles individuals face:
Reason #1: Lack of awareness and knowledge: Many project managers and teams are unaware of the Kano model or other prioritisation best practices. Without knowledge of these techniques, they may resort to subjective or ad-hoc approaches that lead to suboptimal outcomes.
Reason #2:
Time constraints and competing priorities: In today's fast-paced business environment, project managers often face time constraints and competing priorities, making it challenging to devote sufficient time and attention to project prioritisation.
Reason #3:
Inadequate stakeholder engagement: Failure to engage stakeholders effectively in the prioritisation process can lead to misalignment of priorities and conflicting expectations. Without proper involvement and communication, prioritisation decisions may not accurately reflect stakeholders' needs and preferences.
Reason #4:
Fear of missing out (FOMO): Some individuals struggle with prioritisation due to a fear of missing out on opportunities or neglecting important tasks. This fear can lead to an overwhelming desire to tackle everything at once, resulting in a lack of focus and ineffective prioritisation.
Despite these challenges, there is hope. By following the steps outlined below, you can overcome these problems and successfully prioritise your project using the Kano model.
Step 1: Understand the Kano Model
First, familiarise yourself with the Kano Model and its key concepts. The Kano Model categorises features or requirements into different groups based on their impact on customer satisfaction: basic, performance, and delight. This model helps you understand the varying levels of customer expectations and prioritise accordingly.
Step 2: Identify Customer Needs
Conduct customer research, gather feedback, and engage with stakeholders to identify their needs and preferences. This step is crucial in understanding what features or requirements are important to them and how they contribute to overall satisfaction.
Step 3: Categorise Features
Classify the features or requirements of your project into the three categories of the Kano Model: #basic, #performance, and #delight.
Basic features are essential expectations,
performance features enhance satisfaction when present, and delight features provide unexpected positive experiences.
Step 4: Assess Customer Satisfaction
Evaluate how customers perceive each feature category using surveys, interviews, or other feedback mechanisms. Determine the level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction associated with each feature category to understand their impact on customer experience.
Step 5: Prioritise Features
Based on the categorisation and customer satisfaction assessment, prioritise the features accordingly. Focus on addressing the basic expectations first, then allocate resources to enhance the performance features, and consider incorporating delight features to exceed customer expectations when feasible.
Step 6: Review and Adapt
Regularly review and reassess the prioritisation of features as project circumstances evolve or new customer insights emerge. Priorities may shift over time, so it's important to stay flexible and responsive to changes.
Step 7: Communicate and Collaborate
Ensure effective communication with stakeholders, including customers, team members, and other project contributors, regarding the prioritisation decisions. Collaborate with them to gain their perspectives and align priorities with their expectations.
Step 8: Monitor and Measure
Continuously monitor the impact of the prioritised features on customer satisfaction and project success. Utilise metrics, feedback loops, and performance indicators to assess the effectiveness of the prioritisation decisions.
By following these steps and leveraging the Kano model, you can overcome the challenges of project prioritisation and unlock the benefits it offers. Improved project success rates, resource optimisation, and stakeholder satisfaction await those who embrace this structured approach. With practice and dedication, you will develop the
Improved Job Prospects: Earning a certification in project management can help you stand out from the competition and give you an edge when applying for jobs. It shows potential employers you have the knowledge, skills and abilities to manage projects successfully.
Increased Salary Potential: In some industries, having a project management certification can help you command a higher salary. According to the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) 2020 “Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey,” those with a PMP certification can earn over 20% more than their non-certified counterparts.
Improved Problem-Solving Skills: Studying and preparing for a certification exam will help you develop and hone your problem-solving skills. This is an important skill in project management, as it helps you make decisions and develop strategies to ensure successful project completion.
Widened Career Options: Project management certifications are widely recognised and accepted in many industries, allowing you to explore different career paths. With the right certification, you may be able to transfer your skills from one industry to another.
Increased Job Security: Because of the current demand for project managers, earning a certification can provide you with job security. Employers will be more likely to keep you on staff if you are already equipped with the skills and knowledge to manage projects effectively.
