Much of this class is focused on project management. I will be posting my notes and how I think the ideas can apply to Solution Grove's project work as well as for the greater OACS/LRN projects:

Notes from Kennedy School of Government Class on Executive Sponsorship - Session I

Research shows
Successful project explicitly and early state what is in it for the stockholders.

Understand that not everyone has to want/need the same benefits as long as they all have benefits.
do this first

THEN
Create project plan/roadmap/milestones.

Projects that do this in the other order were less successful.

I hypothesize that knowing the benefits for each stockholder makes their interests more transparent.
Another benefit of this approach is it moves conflicts/negotiations to a more “getting to yes” interest type negotiation.

FOR OACS-
We should explicitly acknowledge and list stockholders and accept the fact they will receive different benefits.

FOR SG
Need to explicitly call out each stockholders benefits right down the the use case level. We usually know this but we don’t take the time to write it down.

Once the project is going it is usually executed by a team of people who has lots of competing priorities. Here its important to remember research from WW2. Combat units who are fighting for their “Buddies”. Remember to focus on interpersonal ties, especially with interagency (for us client/SG) teams.