Case Study

Adecco: Project management masterclass (B)

7 pages
May 2020
Reference: IMD-7-2183

The B case starts in June 2019 – at the project deadline – and looks back at the challenges and actions taken during the previous 18 months. The outgoing provider did not make it easy for Adecco, and the new provider had a different style of working, which Adecco’s IT organization found hard to get used to. Keeping the project on track and the momentum going was the main challenge for the project manager. He had to keep around 250 internal Adecco resources engaged and motivated during this period and keep them focused on completing all tasks on time. In addition to this, he had to control his €46 million budget and ensure that the countries did not experience any unplanned outages during the migration. After reading and discussing the A and B cases, participants will discover that the project manager applied some unconventional methods on top of the “standard” project management steps, something that is seldom seen in IT projects of a similar size and scope. The realization that this is not a typical IT project after all makes this case series all the more interesting for project management lectures and class discussion.

Learning Objective
  • To demonstrate the importance of leading with purpose when an organization has to execute a large transformation project.
  • To illustrate what actions can be taken to keep the momentum going for a long-term project and how to create a winning team spirit.
  • To highlight the different options that can be applied to secure a successful outcome of a complex international project.
Keywords
Operations, Project Management, Leadership Competence, Business Partnering, Project, Project Planning, Supplier Relationship, Change Management, Team, Outsourcing, Contract, Digital Transformation, Information Technology Infrastructure, Cloud Computing
Settings
Global, Switzerland
Adecco, Business Management Services, Human Resources
2016 - 2019
Type
Field Research
Copyright
© 2020
Available Languages
English
Case clearing houses
IMD case studies are distributed through case clearing houses. In order to browse the collection and purchase copies please visit the links below.

The Case Centre

Cranfield University

Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]

Harvard Business School Publishing

60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]

Asia Pacific Case Center

NUCB Business School

1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Looking for something specific?
IMD's faculty and research teams publish articles, case studies, books and reports on a wide range of topics