Managing Rapid Expansion
Delivering a step change in capacity and capability
Background
Winning ESA contracts on the order of €10 million to develop and deliver state of the art technologies for Europe’s next generation weather satellites, meant a small company with expertise in scientific instrument making needed to rapidly build the capability to manage and deliver multiple space projects.
Project Brief
• Advise on and deliver the organisational change needed to deliver a portfolio of ESA space contracts
• Provide interim programme management while establishing the new organisation.
Solution
Working closely with the owner and directors, a plan was devised to rapidly create a project-based organisation with the right capacity and capability.
A PMO (Project Management Office) was established immediately to provide coordination, support and financial control.
A space-dedicated team was created, combining the product expertise of existing staff with the space-specific knowledge of experienced industry specialists. Mentoring relationships were put in place to build strength and depth for the longer-term.
Gap analysis of tools, processes, controls, equipment and infrastructure was carried out and used as input to a 12-month development plan.
Project governance and mentoring was provided from an Interim Programme Management role, helping the company and its new projects through the critical growth phase.
Results
✓ Customer confidence was underpinned, enabling contract awards
✓ Managing Director was able to commit to the contracts with confidence
✓ Space-dedicated team established with people, tools and processes all delivering
✓ Major design milestones successful
✓ Flight hardware build underway (2018/19).
Testimonials
“Andrew helped us get our €10Million programme set up and on the right track.
He made an important and very positive impact at a time when the stakes were very high for this business.
I greatly value Andrew’s experience and council.”
“Bringing Andrew onto the team was an important move for TK Space and we were able to place our contracts with confidence.
Andrew understands what it takes to deliver a major technology development programme into a space prime”