Highway Agile World - Session Overview - Improving Project Delivery and Developing a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Sep 12, 2026

Highway Agile World outlines an agile-driven approach to improving project delivery through iterative, incremental planning, consistent feedback loops, and cross-functional decision-making. It contrasts agile practices with waterfall delivery by highlighting differences in scope definition, sequencing, and governance. The session presents a Project Management Office (PMO) purpose, team roles, and process improvement history, including capital planning, strategic workforce planning, and BIL hiring, supported by performance results and timelines.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Session Overview

Agile Methodology

Project Management Office (PMO)

Process Improvement History & Framework

Success Stories & Examples

Panelist Introductions & Questions

Results

Highway Agile World: Improving Project Delivery and Developing a Culture of Continuous Improvement Meghan Haggerty MassDOT Highway Division Session Overview • Agile Methodology • Overview of Project Management Office • Process Improvement History & Framework • Success Stories & Examples • Panelist Introductions & Questions 2023 Transportation Innovation Conference 2 The Agile Methodology • The agile framework is an interactive approach to managing complex projects by breaking them into sizable chunks . • It provides structure and transparency while incorporating consistent feedback loops with leadership, ensuring alignment with organizational goals in a team focused environment • Scope is not defined and allows for progressive elaboration of the plan •Iterative and incremental product delivery •Produces work outcomesat regular intervals based on priority • Empowers cross functional teams to make decisions Agile •Defined scope, follows the plan developed at the beginning of the project •Delivery is phased and sequential •Only a final product is delivered at the end •Hierarchical decisionmaking process Waterfall 2023 Transportation Innovation Conference 3 Project Management Office (PMO) Objectives: • Implement common methodology • Standardize terminology • Provide common tools and processes • Track progress of project portfolio • Escalate issues for prompt resolution • Support projects with assistance, training, communication, etc. HWY PMO Team: Meghan Haggerty Tracy Osimboni Lois Parker Carmona Highway ESC Oversight: Administrator Gulliver Strategic ESC Members: Carrie Lavallee Gary Blank Dave Spicer Joe Foti Steve Collins Neil Boudreau IT PMO Highway Division PMO Strategic Workforce Planning BIL Hiring 2023 Transportation Innovation Conference 4 Project Management Office (PMO) • Capital Planning: Achieve efficiencies within the Ad program by achieving an Ad to Bid duration of 120 days . • Strategic Workforce Planning: Position Highway’s workforce to meet the needs of the future . • IT PMO: Provide a solid foundation for MassDOT’s Highway Information Technology Program by creating an environment of measurable, disciplined Project Management professionalism . BIL Project Development: Streamline internal processes to create efficiencies and capacity in preparation for the BIL. • BIL Hiring: Facilitate the efficient hiring and onboarding of new Hwy staff to support BIL. 2023 Transportation Innovation Conference 5 Highway Process Improvement History | Capital Planning | | --- | | • Reduce number of days from Project Advertisement to Construction NTP from 239 in 2018 to 81 in 2021.
• Develop a more evenly distributed Advertising Program schedule in FFY2020 and FFY2021 by implementing‘locked down’ advertising dates.
• Standardize maintenance contracts for various locations, eliminating post Advertisement review.
• Redesign process to ensure the availability of Bid Documents the Wednesday after Advertisement. | | Strategic Workforce Planning | | --- | | • Plan ahead for talent demand and strengthen targeted recruitment
• Fill critical skill gaps in the workforce by offering training, leveraging partnerships and vendors, and supporting employees through on-the-job instruction and mentoring
• Improve how different types of work are managed and delivered by the current workforce
• Proactively preserve institutional knowledge and retain critical talent
• Use technology to improve productivity and performance | | BIL Hiring | | --- | | • Hiring-Facilitate the efficient hiring and onboarding of ~200 new HWY staff for FY23 . Clear backlog of 172 positions, keep pace with increased attrition and exceed the 2367 FTE cap by June 1st. Implement process improvements to mitigate or eliminate hiring bottlenecks.
• Marketing-Increase number of qualified applicants and diversity recruitment through paid media, in hou

FAQs

What core principles define the agile methodology in this session?

The agile framework manages complex projects by breaking work into sizable chunks, using feedback loops with leadership for alignment, enabling progressive elaboration, and delivering iteratively and incrementally at regular intervals. It also empowers cross-functional teams to make decisions.

How does the session describe the Project Management Office (PMO) responsibilities?

The PMO objectives include implementing a common methodology, standardizing terminology, providing shared tools and processes, tracking project portfolio progress, escalating issues for prompt resolution, and supporting projects with assistance, training, and communication.

Which process improvement areas are highlighted, and what are their purposes?

The session covers Capital Planning (efficiency from advertisement to construction readiness), Strategic Workforce Planning (future talent positioning and preserving knowledge), and BIL Hiring (streamlined onboarding for new staff with marketing and labor-relations support).

Sep 12, 2026

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