As I write this, it’s pantomime season – Oh yes, it is!
Pantos are such a beloved British Christmas theatre tradition, full of humour (often at the expense of the stars of show), audience engagement, unpredictable twists and turns, and hard-working talent that makes it all look effortless – a bit like delivering IT Projects.
Stoneseed’s Project Management as a Service (PMaaS) doesn’t just deliver understudies for when you lose your stars, used strategically we can wave our magic wand to help you create the outcomes you deserve.
In this blog, we’ll lift the curtain on The PMaaStonishing Stoneseed Pantomime, and hopefully raise a smile or two on the way.
So, what do we need?
1 – Ensemble Cast with Defined Roles
In any pantomime, every performer plays a crucial role in creating a successful show, from the comedic Dame to the heroic lead.
In PMaaS, every team member has a specific function too, from our hero The Project Manager who ensures the story stays on course, to the Business Analysts who are the production’s wise sidekicks who help clarify the mission … to Stoneseed your PMaaS Fairy Godmother who ensures that you have all the resources you need.
Projects thrive on having the right specialists for each stage of a project and resources allocated to where they are needed – it’s crucial that the guy who’s playing the back-end of the pantomime donkey knows where he’s meant to be.
The Stoneseed panto features a host of characters from across the spectrum of pantomimes who epitomise what PMaaS can do for efficient IT Project Delivery!
Meet Stoneseed’s cast here!
Who’d make the best Dames!?
And why is it Jamie and David?! (Disciplinary incoming – Ed)
2 – Audience Interaction: Stakeholder Engagement
Pantomimes come to life through audience participation – Oh yes, they do!
For example, “He’s behind you!” imagine if the audience didn’t respond!!! Awkward!!!
Similarly, IT Projects rely on stakeholder engagement to ensure the project aligns with business goals. Regular updates, feedback loops, etc ensure everyone stays informed. Adjustments are made based on real-time input.
Without audience feedback, a pantomime falls flat, just as an IT project risks failure without active stakeholder involvement. The greater the engagement, the more the final deliverable will meet expectations and business goals.
Stoneseed’s PMO Platform can help (improving your governance and reporting capabilities with a platform constructed on Microsoft Office 365, helping you identify what’s BEHIND YOU and predict what’s ahead of you too.
3 – Unpredictable Twists and Agile Responses
Every pantomime is full of surprises, from unexpected plot twists and impromptu jokes to moments of utter chaos – especially moments that don’t quite go to plan! The cast must adapt quickly to keep the show moving smoothly, embracing Agile methodologies to respond flexibly to scope changes, emerging risks or challenges, and shifting business priorities.
This adaptability ensures that the “performance” delivers a great experience and receives the ovation it deserves.
4 – Behind-the-Scenes Coordination
While the actors shine on stage, a shout out to the backstage crew who ensures the production runs like clockwork. From managing props to adjusting the lighting, their work often goes unnoticed but is critical to the show’s success.
Project Managers and Business Analysts are onstage stars who also coordinate across teams, manage schedules, and mitigate risks behind the scenes to ensure seamless orchestration meaning: milestones are met; resources are allocated efficiently; and delivery happens on time and within budget.
At Stoneseed’s panto, as well as the on-stage project talent, we salute the backstage stars (from HR & Recruitment to Marketing to our cleaners) who rarely get to take a bow and the applause at the end of the show but who are, nonetheless, pivotal to its success. Thank you, team!
5 – The Happy Ending (or Deliverable)
Pantomimes always end with a triumphant conclusion—the villain is defeated, and the heroes live happily ever after.
In Project Management the goal is equally celebratory: delivering a successful project that meets or exceeds expectations, on time and within budget.
Thanks to careful planning, strong teamwork, and a bit of PMaaS creativity, you can deliver a result that leaves everyone clapping.
NOW … ON WITH THE SHOW …
The PMaaStonishing Stoneseed Pantomime dips in and out of a few familiar pantos! Enjoy!
Act I: Scene 1
The Cinderella Scene: Aligning Resources for Success
Cinderella’s story is all about resourcefulness, teamwork, and transformation—hallmarks of PMaaS.
• Project Setup: Cinderella’s “project” is to attend the ball and escape her challenging environment. Her resources are minimal, and the timeline is tight.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: The Fairy Godmother (your PMaaS provider) swoops in to provide the right talent at the right time and also clarity, guidance, and tools (like the magical dress, the carriage, the PMO Platform). The PMaaS Fairy Godmother manages to pull together the resources (the mice, the pumpkin, a sprinkle of magic) to meet the goal, all the while adapting to Cinderella’s changing circumstances.
Cinderella spotlights the power of having the right expertise and resources at the right time, enabling success against all odds – remind you of Stoneseed? Oh yes it does!
Act I: Scene 2
The Jack and the Beanstalk Scene: Risk Management and Innovation
Jack’s journey up the beanstalk mirrors the bold, agile leaps often required in IT projects, with PMaaS acting as the guiding hand:
• Risk Assessment: Jack undertakes a high-risk venture (climbing the beanstalk) but he has a clear goal in bringing back the resource (the golden goose) to improve his family’s situation.
• Unforeseed Challenges: I mean, Jack knew about the giant but who embarks on a mission expecting “I’ll grind your bones to make my bread! A Business Analyst identifies risk upfront, remember if you don’t have a BA – Stoneseed’s Business Analysis as a service (BAaaS) is on hand to help!
Nevertheless, in this scene, Jack adapts his approach to achieve success.
• Outcome Focus: PMaaS talent would ensure Jack’s mission stays aligned with the business objective, in this scene returning value to the stakeholders (his family).
The Jack and the Beanstalk scene highlights the importance of balancing innovation with risk management, a cornerstone of PMaaS.
<<INTERVAL>>
It’s always important to take a break (and review).
In IT Project Management, a break from working hard in the project, to reflect, can be as valuable as all the effort you’re putting into it. Remember to down tools, once in a while.
Act II: Scene 1
The Aladdin Scene: Unlocking Hidden Potential
Aladdin’s scene is all about identifying and maximising opportunities, much like PMaaS helps organisations unlock the potential of IT projects:
• Resource Allocation: Aladdin rubs the lamp and the genie grants him three wishes, a metaphor for bringing in PMaaS expertise to provide support and guidance. “Your wish is my command”!
• Stakeholder Communication: Aladdin navigates some complex relationships with diverse “stakeholders”, from the Princess to the Sultan, to Jafar – the villain. AND you thought you had to deal with some characters.
• Delivering Value: Aladdin’s life is transformed, similarly PMaaS can help turn IT goals into tangible business value. Oh … and you can have more than three wishes!
Aladdin’s scene illustrates how the right “tools” (the lamp) and sage guidance, experience and expertise (the genie) can lead to transformative success.
Act II: Scene 2
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Collaboration Across Teams
In this scene, Snow White’s ability to collaborate with a varied team (the Seven Dwarfs) plays out like a project leader coordinating cross-functional teams and allocating resources:
• Team Specialisation: In this scene, each dwarf has a unique skill (e.g., Grumpy’s scepticism is great for risk management!
• Project Leadership: Snow White acts as the unifying leader, with EQ soft skills in spades, who motivates the team to work together.
This scene demonstrates how PMaaS integrates specialised experts and can create a collaborative environment to achieve a common goal.
Act II Scene 3
The Finale – The Happy Ending
Everything delivered … on time, within budget … to a standing ovation from a grateful audience.
Time to take those bows … soak in the adulation … enjoy the moment.
The cast move on to the next project – a Shakespeare tragedy, a showstopping musical, a comedy, a melodrama, a Brecht epic theatre piece, or a commedia dell’arte. Types of theatre can be as diverse as types of IT projects!
Conclusion:
Ahhhh the parallels between Pantos and IT Project Management!!
Both require teamwork, flexibility, and audience (or stakeholder) engagement to succeed. Projects, like all pantomimes, have their memorable moments and (I hope) happy ending.
Stoneseed’s PMaaS ensures IT projects are fully resourced, and our PMO services can ensure they are managed with precision, robust governance and good humour – maybe even a touch of magic.
Whether you’re bringing up the curtain on a new IT project or need a little mid show help along the way, Stoneseed’s IT Project Management as a Service is your genie.
Rub the lamp, or maybe just call 01623 723910.
Your wish is our command!
More about Project Management as a Service from Stoneseed