Project Management Happy Hour
096 - Design thinking: don’t take things at face value or you will face plant, with guest Erik Rueter
Aug 20, 2024
In this engaging discussion, Erik Rueter, a senior project manager at the American Marketing Association with 20 years of diverse industry experience, shares his expertise in design thinking. He explains how understanding user needs can enhance project outcomes and cultivate better team dynamics. Erik highlights the importance of audience awareness and empathy in project management, revealing transformative strategies like design sprints and inclusive collaboration techniques. His insights aim to inspire project managers to empower their teams and approach problem-solving creatively.
01:03:22
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Quick takeaways
- Understanding the target audience is essential in project management to ensure outputs align with user needs, avoiding costly missteps.
- Addressing failures openly fosters trust and collaboration, transforming the perception of the PMO from a burden to a trusted partner.
Deep dives
Embracing the Importance of Audience Awareness
Understanding the target audience is crucial in project management, as illustrated by a valuable lesson learned by an early career graphic designer. The designer created a visually stunning brochure, only to discover that it was impractical for the audience it was meant for, highlighting a common pitfall in project work. This emphasizes the need to align project outputs with audience needs and preferences, rather than relying solely on personal interpretations of what is deemed attractive or effective. Consequently, ensuring audience awareness informs not only design choices but also methodology and execution in project management to avoid costly missteps.
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