IT Project Management at ASDA 🛒

Tell us about yourself?

I work as an IT Project Manager, operating as a Technology Lead for the delivery of two key projects on the Future Programme. With an academic background in BSc Computer Science and MSc IT Project Management, my interest in technology provided the foundation for me to work on diverse transformation projects (5G, Fibre Optic, ERP Implementations), in different organisations, across various industries.

Tell us about your role?

As an IT Project Manager, I have many responsibilities but a key one is to oversee the full end-to-end delivery of the projects in my remit, ensuring the solutions that the team and I deliver, fulfil business capabilities.

A typical week for me would entail weekly meetings with internal and/or external stakeholders to understand the status on activities, gaps, blockers, RAID log and to report to senior leadership. My project teams consist of a mixture of roles including solutions architects, business analysts, SAP consultants where we work closely with the business and other horizontal teams -testing, data migration, integration to: 1) understand the existing processes and systems used 2) ensure business continuity once ASDA transitions to new solutions at the end of the project lifecycle.

How did you land your role?

I think experience in project management helped in getting the job, but more importantly my professional background in working on large transformation programmes and delivering critical projects. How? I simply applied. As someone who oddly enjoys interviews, I have a thorough and methodical approach to preparing for them which has always helped me.

What do you enjoy about your role?

Being involved in everything. I enjoy my role knowing I play a role in something that will bring tangible and intangible benefits to the business.

What do you enjoy the least in your role?

Nothing stands out but frankly speaking, transformation projects/programmes can be challenging at times and will test your resilience but it's the nature of the beast.

What is the typical progression path in your field?

Depends, but a progression in my role could be a move from Project Manager to Senior Project Manager and possible Programme Manager. All depends on the org structure, desired pathway and the right opportunity presenting itself.

Advice for anyone trying to get into Project Management?

Various ways, I think it depends on the prerequisites of the job you're going for. I have friends and colleagues who started in Project Management with various avenues.

Some acquired a qualification e.g. Prince2 or APM and started as a Project Coordinator or other cases, a Junior Project Manager. Also, lots of organisations have PM graduate schemes which is another entry point.

Others may get a degree (like I did) and are able to work their way into it, whilst some may get into Project Management without any of the mentioned avenues. It may be possible to get an interview without all the necessary PM prerequisites and get an offer based on performance in the interview.

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