From the Author

As an advocate for expertise and excellence in enterprise IT project delivery, my journey has been shaped by extensive experience in complex IT programs within the Financial Services industry—including Wealth Management, Financial Markets, Insurance, and Superannuation—as well as impactful projects in the government sector at both the federal and state levels (NT, NSW, Vic). These projects have delivered:

  • New product and service innovations

  • Business transformations resulting from acquisitions and divestments

  • The foundational installation of a trading platform for high-net-worth individuals

  • Replacement of core systems, including product administration and records management systems

  • Enhancements to existing systems and the development of data validation and reporting mechanisms for regulatory compliance.

Owing to my commitment to lifelong learning, I have earned various certifications that provide a strong foundation in enterprise IT project delivery. Here are some of my achievements:

  • Certified Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) Program Consultant (SPC)

  • Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®)

  • Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®) [2009–2018]

  • Six Sigma Black Belt

  • ITIL® Foundation

  • PRINCE2® Foundation and Practitioner

  • Process Mentor Business Analyst (UML).

In pursuing these certifications, my goal has been to gain a comprehensive understanding of industry-standard project delivery principles. While methodologies and frameworks continue to evolve, I have intentionally allowed certifications requiring renewal to lapse because their core principles remain consistent.

What defines me as a project professional is a solid theoretical understanding of project delivery, enriched by practical experience in overcoming real-world challenges.

Although qualified for various project roles, I chose to be a business analyst because it suited my inherent skills, such as attention to detail and strong written communication skills. I lead with accountability and guide teams toward smart practices, taking a hands-on approach to identifying and resolving bottlenecks.

Through Enterprise IT Projects: Messing Up Optional, I aspire to use my experience to share knowledge, coach the next generation, and drive positive outcomes in enterprise IT project delivery.

Reflecting on my journey, I recognise when I was an underqualified IT project participant filled with confidence in my capabilities. I moved from contract to contract, building what I thought was a professional career in enterprise IT projects despite my knowledge gained solely from experience and lessons from flawed projects.

Without formal qualifications in IT projects for many years, I relied on misguided opinions and questionable practices from project leaders who lacked the qualifications for their roles. Now, I view my first ten years of experience as a write-off. I thought I knew it all, but in hindsight, it was blissful ignorance of what I did not know.

Professional development can be unjustifiably expensive relative to future job prospects. However, for me, it was almost a necessity. As English is not my first language, I cannot convey knowledge convincingly without fully understanding what I am saying. I invested in learning and development to converse in the language of industry standards and to grasp the intricacies of large, complex IT project delivery.

I opted for the affordable self-study route, limiting my professional development costs to study materials and certification fees. Depending on your learning preference—whether in a guided classroom, self-paced online, or self-study—there are options to fit various budgets. With that in mind, we begin Enterprise IT Projects: Messing Up Optional with a clear objective: promoting professional qualifications as entry criteria for participation in enterprise IT projects.

Copyright © 2024 Mae Gajo. All rights reserved. No part of the content on enterpriseitprojects.com may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in any form, including screenshots or recordings, without written consent from the author.