Walmart–Business Project Management Methodology

Overview

In an illustrious engagement with Walmart, our consultancy was chosen to spearhead the initiative of formulating and implementing a Business Project Management (BPM) Methodology. Our mandate extended beyond mere conceptualization; it encompassed the meticulous development and delivery of related training, complemented by a comprehensive playbook to guide future operations.

Areas of Strategic Focus

  • BPM Methodology Formulation: Our central directive was the creation of a robust BPM methodology tailored to Walmart’s expansive and dynamic business landscape, ensuring streamlined project management practices.

  • Training & Skill Enhancement: Complementing the methodology, a key deliverable was the development and facilitation of bespoke training modules to ensure seamless adoption and implementation across the organization.

  • Train-the-Trainer Initiative: Recognizing the scale and continued evolution of Walmart’s operations, our approach incorporated a train-the-trainer model, ensuring sustained knowledge dissemination and capability building.

Challenge

Crafting a BPM methodology for an entity as vast as Walmart, while ensuring its successful adoption across diverse teams, posed a complex challenge. Beyond the methodology’s creation, the crux was in fostering an environment of learning, understanding, and seamless application on a grand scale.

Strategic Approach

Drawing upon tools and methodologies like PMO Maturity, combined with bespoke Training Development and Delivery mechanisms, we architected a comprehensive BPM roadmap. Central to this was the “PM101” course, meticulously curated and subsequently deployed to 60 Project Managers. To ensure sustainability and continuous capability enhancement, a train-the-trainer component was integral to our strategy.

Impact & Outcome

Our collaboration with Walmart culminated in tangible, transformative results. With the BPM methodology firmly in place and bolstered by the successful rollout of the “PM101” course, Walmart now boasts an enriched project management ecosystem. The train-the-trainer initiative promises long-term sustainability, ensuring that Walmart remains at the forefront of business project management excellence.

Bank of the West–Anti Money Laundering Process Improvement

Overview

Kaeppel partnered with Bank of the West to enhance their Anti-Money Laundering (AML) processes, specifically in the domains of cash flow monitoring and currency transaction reporting. Recognizing the critical importance of these areas in the banking sector, our objective was to introduce streamlined and compliant processes that would not only meet regulatory standards but also drive operational efficiency.

Areas of Enhancement

While the Bank of the West maintained a certain standard in their AML activities, there were aspects that required modernization and optimization. Specifically, there was a need to reimagine the existing cash flow monitoring systems and enhance currency transaction reporting to meet evolving regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

Challenge

Modernizing the AML processes for a bank is always challenging given the sensitivity and the stakes involved. The primary challenge was to transition from the existing “as-is” process to the envisioned “to-be” process without disrupting ongoing operations. Additionally, analyzing vast amounts of data to identify anomalies and ensuring that the new processes would be lean and free from non-value-added steps were significant tasks.

Solution

To tackle these challenges, we employed a suite of tools and methodologies. Lean principles were adopted to analyze and optimize the workflow, ensuring that only value-added steps were retained. Six Sigma methodologies further bolstered our approach, targeting process improvements and reducing variability. Statistical Process Control Charts played a pivotal role in data analysis, enabling us to pinpoint anomalies and areas requiring attention. As a result of these interventions, Bank of the West transitioned seamlessly to a more efficient “to-be” process for cash flow monitoring and currency transaction reporting. This not only made them compliant with the prevailing regulations but also introduced significant operational efficiencies. By cutting out the non-value-added steps through our leaner process, we’ve ensured that Bank of the West’s AML operations are both effective and efficient.