Ep21 Unpack with JC – Tony Ardouin Interview

Last episode I caught up with Tony Ardouin we talked about challenges facing organisations, what we can be doing to have more successful projects and what he looks for in a project manager.

Today I talk about the role of a vendor, the expected value they bring to the solution and how to engage them as a team player.

Vendors are like every other resource in your project plan – they have a role to play, they are responsible for deliverables, they bring skills and knowledge to the team and they want to celebrate success.

On the flip side, vendor relationships are complex. They have their own internal structures and processes which from time to time may seem like barriers or a lack of interest.
It takes time to build trusted relationships with open and honest conversations. The vendor relationship is one to be invested in.

JC Three Tips:

1. Select the right vendor for the right role
2. Engage the vendor as a strategic resource (invite them to the governance meetings)
3. Don’t transfer risk to the vendor, you are responsible for the project’s outcome

My favourite Tony quote from our conversation ‘the best projects are done by the best teams’.