Facilitating Continuous Improvement: Insights From Project Manager Alyne Marques

Facilitating Continuous Improvement: Insights From Project Manager Alyne Marques

Alyne Marque’s journey is one of resilience and adaptability. She worked in project management and IT back in Brazil, but after moving to Australia several years ago, she initially stepped away from her field, feeling overwhelmed. Angelo Monteiro Gomes gathered key insights from her talk about her journey and how she facilitates continuous improvement.

Today, Alyne is focused on driving continuous improvement through digital transformation projects in a collaborative way. However, when she first arrived in Australia, she worked in hospitality, as a cleaner, and in warehouses while pursuing her studies at Mindroom.

Alyne’s Journey: Embracing Networking and Continuous Improvement

Alyne’s journey in project management took a significant turn when she discovered Mindroom’s strong connections within Australia’s IT industry. Although she initially disliked networking, she soon realised its importance when returning to project management. At a networking event, Alyne was introduced to a woman who referred her to a key contact, leading to her role as a Project Manager at a tech company that develops an urban growth modelling tool using Artificial Intelligence to predict city futures.

This experience transformed her view of networking. Alyne now believes that networking is vital for unlocking opportunities in her field. She emphasizes that simply applying through LinkedIn isn’t enough—meeting people in person showcases your presence, energy, and attitude, making a lasting impression on recruiters.

Alyne is skilled in both Agile and Waterfall project management methodologies. While she prefers Agile’s flexibility, she works in a Waterfall environment where her development team incorporates Agile principles. She believes that finding a balance between the two approaches can lead to effective project outcomes.

During a workshop, a participant noted that Agile is more effective when project scope is unclear, allowing teams to adapt quickly to changes, while Waterfall is better suited for well-defined scopes. Alyne agreed, recognizing the strengths of both approaches.

Alyne stresses that “continuous improvement is a culture.” In her role, she focuses on fostering a learning environment, often using techniques like the ‘5 Whys’ to explore deeper insights. She emphasises collaboration and believes in avoiding judgment or blame, even for major mistakes. Her approach highlights the importance of positivity, encouraging team members to succeed more often.

On the subject of machine learning, Alyne sees its power in generating predictive insights. She once suggested continuous training for her team but encountered resistance due to time constraints. Undeterred, she continues to promote continuous improvement and seizes opportunities to support her team when challenges arise. Through perseverance, she has learned that fostering a culture of growth is key to long-term success in project management.

Applying Continuous Improvement in Real Life

To create a thriving environment for continuous improvement, Alyne suggests focusing on the following:

  • Ask questions: Always question why things are done in a certain way.
  • Value collaboration: Work together with your team, and don’t judge or blame for mistakes.
  • Encourage positivity: Help people focus on their strengths to encourage better performance.
  • Effective change management: Use the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle.
  • Brainstorm: Encourage creative thinking and problem-solving.

Though Alyne knew little about urban planning before she started, she embraced continuous learning, applying it in her role while learning from her team members.

Tools for Continuous Improvement

Some tools and techniques Alyne uses include:

  • Lessons learned document: Track successes and mistakes to improve future projects.
  • Sprint retrospectives: These are especially useful in Agile because they allow teams to reflect and improve.
  • Continuous improvement meetings: Regularly evaluate progress and make adjustments.
  • Games: Digital games can build team spirit and engagement.
  • Sharing success and failure: Don’t fear mistakes; learning from them is crucial for growth.
  • Aiming for quality: Always ask questions and strive for better results.

Final Tips

  • Alyne encourages anyone who embraces continuous improvement to adopt this mindset and reflect it on their resume. This can increase your chances of success. 
  • When applying for volunteer positions, some organisations do not require much of you to gain some experience in the organisations either for a day of work or for a longer period of time.
  • She also observes that there’s a stronger emphasis on work-life balance in Australia, leading to less stress than in Brazil. Her final advice? Be confident and believe in your skills.

Join PMI and IIBA

Alyne also recommends joining professional organisations like the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the International Institute of  Business Analysis (IIBA). The PMI focuses on advancing project management through certification and professional development, while the IIBA helps business analysts enhance their skills in driving successful project outcomes.

Angelo Gomes

Author: Business Analysis student – Angelo Monteiro Gomes

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