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Turning Ambiguity into Clarity using VAE
VAE: A structured approach to stitch strategic vision to tactical execution
James Dayhuff
October 24, 2023
(4 minute read)
👋 Hey TPM Craftsman, let’s get crafting.
This newsletter edition is focused on the [Program / Project Management Excellence]
What’s inside?
👨🏫 Learn: TPMs leveraging the VAE framework have a competitive edge, transforming ambiguity into a clear action plan.
🤝 People: Jean Kang…a must-have in your LinkedIn network if you’re pursuing program management excellence.
📚 Resource: A TPM’s Practitioner’s Guide. 49 Lessons, 12 Hours of content. Your path to a solid foundation of The TPM Craft.
Learn
👨🏫 VAE, a framework you need.
10 years ago, I remember the first time I was expected to manage an IT project. It felt like chaos; I had minimal experience and no guiding frameworks.
😑 That was the old me.
💪 The “today” me can confidently find my footing in any initiative.
(I hope I don’t jinx myself saying that!)
What changed?
I learned and applied the VAE Framework: Vision, Alignment, Execution
🎯 Vision sets the direction and measure of success. This is primarily owned by Product or Engineering, but you are a consultant to raise the bar of excellence.
🤝 Alignment ensures everyone's on board and dependencies are understood. You as the TPM should own this and must continually monitor this.
🚂 Execution is the traction and momentum to turn the vision into a reality. You as the TPM own this as well, but will find you depend heavily on relationships with engineering.
🤔 But how and when do you tactically use this framework?
If you’ve been a TPM for a while, you know the familiar feeling and sight of ambiguity and chaos. When you feel and see those two things, you know its a good time to use the VAE framework. Some common scenarios you might find yourself in…
When air-dropped into an mid-flight initiative, use VAE as your onboarding framework to get your bearings and cut through ambiguity.
When starting an initiative from scratch, use VAE as a compass for a healthy order of operations: work through VAE top to bottom. Why? Vision is needed for alignment. Alignment is needed for execution.
When a program just doesn’t seem to get traction, use VAE to diagnose the problems. This helps you pinpoint the root cause instead of just the symptoms. If VAE is healthy, you’ll get traction. If its not, traction will always be elusive.
As you work through the VAE framework, you’ll find that ambiguity becomes clarity, chaos becomes order.
How I used VAE for an infrastructure initiative
Earlier this year in my role as Sr TPM at HashiCorp, I was tasked with kick-starting a large infrastructure initiative. Initially it was thick with ambiguity and a bit chaotic.
🎯 Starting with Vision, I worked with the product manager to make sure I personally understood the WHY and associated objectives. Additionally, my role was to raise the bar of clarity around the vision WITH the product manager.
🤝 Next, I tackled Alignment. Through many partnerships, we examined the sprawling impact of this infrastructure initiative and identified many types of key contributors: early-stage, mid-stage, and someday-stage. Through this, I created the program team who would be expected to do the “hands-on-the-keyboard” delivery.
🚂 Naturally, this led to driving Execution. I created a steady rhythm of execution with various milestones (which were regularly revisited and adapted to new information), program-team collaboration mediums, and reporting style.
This type of structured approach will help you avoid losing your sanity.
TLDR;
The VAE framework help you, the TPM, establish a clear vision, align all stakeholders with that vision, and ensure smooth execution. This way, even diverse technical units can work together towards a common goal.
People
🤝 Meet the Founder of “Path to Program Management”
Jean Kang. Her contributions to the program management community on LinkedIn are well-known. She’s a must-have in your LinkedIn network if you’re pursuing program management excellence.
What I love about her posts is the authenticity. She brilliantly weaves her personality, life experience, and professional experience into what she writes.
Want to hear more from Jean? Check out one of her latests posts below 👇
Resources
📚 A TPM’s Practitioner’s Guide
Okay, shameless self-promotion here. (Sorry not sorry!)
In January 2023 I released a comprehensive 49-lesson, 12-hour written course on Educative.io: “Technical Program Management: A Practitioner’s Guide”.
Why should you care? If you want to have an incredibly solid foundation in The TPM Craft, this is it.
This course aims to take you from an aimless TPM practitioner to a laser-focused, high-impact TPM leader.
I crafted the course carefully to cover all 3 pillars of The TPM Craft Framework: Program Management Excellence, Technical Versatility, and Influential Leadership.
This is the course I wish I had at the beginning of my TPM Journey.
(PRO-TIP: Access to my course only requires the standard tier, not the higher tiers. Trying to save you some $$$. Also, disclaimer, because I wrote the course I am an affiliate partner with Educative.)