How The Mentor Execution Index helps you 

An interview with Mike Hosie, Partner at Mentor.  

The Mentor Execution Index is our new ground-breaking approach to measuring a strategic program’s health. 

It’s a fast, accurate, cost-effective program assessment tool that takes the pulse of any program and creates an unbeatable map for success. 

Keeping execution simple is the key to executing business-critical programs successfully. But with so many program management methodologies already out there – why would you need The Mentor Execution Index? 

Read the interview with Mike Hosie, Partner at Mentor to see how The Mentor Execution Index can be a valuable asset in your program management toolkit. 

 

What is The Mentor Execution Index? How is it any different from existing program management methodologies?  

The first thing to say is that The Mentor Execution Index (or MEI) is not a program methodology – there are plenty out there – you only need to search the internet to find out the number of methodologies that are available – Scrum, Kanbal, Scrumban, Prince2, PMBOK and my favourite named methodology, eXtreme Programming!  

Even with the increasing number of tools and the freely available checklists, we still see an unacceptably high number of programs failing to deliver what they were set up to achieve.  

That’s not to say that the methodologies aren’t valuable – they are – but something is missing. 

The majority of program management methods are process driven and task orientated, providing a roadmap and checklists that help get a program completed.  

It’s also interesting to see a growing understanding that there is no “one size fits all” approach. We are increasingly seeing an adoption of hybrid methods and a mix of approaches – such as Agile and Waterfall methods co-existing in the same organsation’s (successfully? – the jury is still out!).   

Knowing what tool or method to select for which job is key. 

Yet, we all know transformation programs are complex with a high level of risk, and often they require a change in course, perhaps because the external environment has changed or because another initiative becomes strategically necessary. Having worked on over 100 business-critical programs, we’ve also seen resets become necessary because an unforeseen event has derailed the program.  

Having the controls in place to understand when a change is required and the experience – and knowledge to identify how a new course should be plotted – is what separates the 30% of programs that succeed – from the 70% that don’t. 

We developed the MEI out of 30 years of practical experience during which we have seen, and in some cases personally experienced, what causes programs to misfire spectacularly. 

The MEI takes that experience and combines it with the latest AI, specifically designed algorithms and other analytical techniques, allowing us to quickly assess a program’s health. It provides a level of insight and interventions that are simply not available with more traditional methods of program assurance. 

 Going beyond process and tools – to applying knowledge, expertise and experience – is what differentiates The Mentor Execution Index from the more commonly used program methodologies.   

 

Why is this type of insight needed? Aren’t expert program managers enough? 

An experienced Program Manager will want to use all the tools at their disposal. Most of the existing methodologies provide a framework or process to manage day to day program activities and tasks.  

To a large extent they will report progress and flag up issues – the problem being that these are already in the past.  

An experienced program manager will want to understand what is going to impact progress in the future so that road blocks can be removed before they become an too hard to solve.  

By using the MEI a Program Manager can look forward, highlight and deal with any showstoppers before they become too big to manage.     

 

At what stage of a program can The Mentor Execution Index be used?  

It’s never too late to add another a valuable tool to your kit bag!  

With only 30% of business-critical programs being successful why wouldn’t you want to use something that drives directly to the causes of failure?   

Over 30 years and 128 programs,117 of which have been rescues or recoveries, we know what the critical issues are. 

Our proven program execution framework, The MentorBlueprint is based on our knowledge and experience, and are the building blocks of The Mentor Execution Index.  

Our analysis matched with our experience and insight allows us to prepare and share an assessment of a program’s likely chances of success, along with the actions required to guarantee that success.  

Until now, this would be with the sponsor or program manager but increasingly, as they are ultimately responsible for delivering increased corporate value and other benefits – the leadership of the business.  

The insights we provide are valuable at all stages of a program – whether during set up, when you will want to ensure that the critical elements required for successful execution are in place – or when a program has encountered difficulties and improvement is necessary. 

Because programs are by their very nature dynamic – not repeatable, business–as–usual processes – the MEI can also deliver a regular pulse check – a fast, easy and regular assessment and tracker of change (good or bad) over the life of a program.        

    

If you’re about to set up a program – or think your existing program might need a reset, get in touch and book a demo  today. Find out how The Mentor Execution Index can quickly give you a more comprehensive view of your program. 

  

Further information:

Learn more about The Mentor Execution Index: https://mentoreurope.com/program-healthcheck/mei/

Try The Mentor Execution Index for yourself: https://try.mentorexecutionindex.com/ 

What do AI and smart data analytics have to do with program execution? watch now