Susan Varju-Knutson

One of the biggest reasons projects fail isn’t lack of effort, it’s unclear requirements. Meetings happen. Teams work hard. Updates get shared. However, when business expectations, technical delivery, and stakeholder understanding are not aligned, projects slow down fast. What often follows: • Delivery delays • Rework and frustration • Missed priorities • Unclear ownership • Stakeholder tension In many cases, the issue isn’t capability, it’s clarity. Strong business analysis creates that clarity. It helps teams move from: “What are we actually trying to deliver?” to “Here’s the plan, here’s the ownership, and this is how we move forward.” This is especially true in regulated environments like banking, payments, and digital transformation, where ambiguity becomes expensive very quickly. The best delivery outcomes usually come from better structure, not more noise. I work with organisations facing exactly these challenges, helping fix delivery gaps, clarify requirements, and move complex initiatives forward. More here: https://www.mcs.gi/ #BusinessAnalysis #ProjectDelivery #Agile #Consulting #DigitalTransformation #ProductManagement #Fintech #Banking #Payments

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Agile project management is a powerful approach that emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, and incremental progress. As an experienced Agile project manager, I have seen firsthand the positive impact that Agile leadership can have on project success. In this article, I will delve into the key principles of Agile leadership, the Scrum framework, and other project management frameworks to help you navigate the complex world of project management. Agile leadership is all about fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and open communication within a team. As an Agile leader, it is essential to empower your team members to make decisions, take ownership of their work, and collaborate effectively. Instead of micromanaging every aspect of a project, Agile leaders focus on creating a supportive environment where team members can thrive and deliver their best work. One of the most popular Agile frameworks is Scrum, which is based on the principles of iterative development and frequent feedback. In Scrum, projects are divided into short iterations called sprints, typically lasting 2-4 weeks. During each sprint, the team works on a specific set of tasks and delivers a potentially shippable product increment. Daily stand-up meetings, sprint planning sessions, and sprint reviews are key components of the Scrum framework, helping teams stay on track and adapt to changing requirements. In addition to Scrum, there are other project management frameworks such as Kanban, Lean, and Extreme Programming

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UKG Agrees to Acquire Inova Payroll This Acquisition Strengthens Ability to Directly Support Small and Mid-Sized Businesses with Expanded Service Offerings. https://lnkd.in/gqU3kdjU

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Some of the best conversations happen away from the stage — but yesterday's sessions delivered too. The Georgia Technology Summit brought together some of Georgia's most senior technology leaders for a full day of peer-level dialogue, meaningful connection, and substantive conversation about where enterprise technology is headed — and what it actually takes to lead through it. Two sessions stood out. The conversation on AI agents reshaping the workforce and the panel on operationalizing AI through intelligent enterprise workflows reinforced a theme I hear consistently on the ground: while many organizations are investing in AI, far fewer are translating those investments into measurable operational performance. The difference lies not in the technology itself — but in how intentionally it is embedded into the way work actually gets done. One perspective resonated deeply: technology is not here to replace human capability. It is here to elevate it — freeing capacity for better decisions, deeper innovation, and stronger client engagement across every industry. For leaders, this moment demands more than adoption. It demands intentional execution. Technology Association of Georgia delivered exactly what this community needs — a room where the caliber of the people matches the weight of the conversation. The Innovation Pavilion was a standout addition this year. I genuinely enjoyed engaging with Toolika Gupta, Mini Brown, Sonya B., Jay Bailey, Corey Brown, Srikanta Sahoo, Robert Turner, Nate Weiss, Rajanikanth Pandiri, David Blaha, and Julian Gunder — each a reflection of the depth and seriousness that defines Georgia's technology leadership community. A sincere thank you to Kyndryl and Improving for investing in a summit that consistently raises the bar. Atlanta keeps showing up and delivering! If you are navigating complex technology transformation — AI strategy, cloud modernization, IT operations, or closing the gap between strategic intent and real-world execution — I'd welcome the conversation. Technology Association of Georgia · Kyndryl · Improving #GTS2026 #GeorgiaTechnologySummit #AtlantaTech #TechLeadership #EnterpriseAI #DigitalTransformation #CloudModernization #TAGAtlanta #Kyndryl #Improving #InnovationUnleashed #AIStrategy #AgenticAI

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Hard truth: Most PM trainings teach slides. The right PMI ATP teaches outcomes. Here’s why I point global leaders & professionals to ALVISSION EDUCATION first: 1) Official PMI pathway. Authorized Training Partner with certified trainers and official prep content. You train on what actually matters for the exam and the job. 2) Beyond PMP: Disciplined Agile. Real agility, not framework cosplay. ALVISSION is a leading PMI ATP and DA Consulting Partner in Europe. 3) Real-world delivery. International, multi-lingual faculty, built for practitioners who need Monday-ready tools. 4) Proof that sticks. Consistently strong client feedback and reviews. If you want PM training that changes how your teams deliver, not just how they test, start here: https://lnkd.in/eNb_xc6H Questions about which path fits your team? Drop ATP in the comments and/or do not hesitate to reach out. ♻️ Repost to help PM leaders pick training that delivers results. 💾 Save this post to brief your L&D and budget owners later. ➕ And follow Markus Kopko ✨ for more. Lead with empathy. Empower with trust. Show up human – every single day. Stay curious – see you out there. 𝗜𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀 — 𝗔𝗜-𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 — 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱. 📬 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 → https://bit.ly/4o4PCpP #PMI #ProjectManagement #PMP

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Proud to have been part of the team behind this demo. The interest we saw at the event shows how ready agencies are for smarter, AI‑enabled approaches to budget formulation.

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Modernizing public sector finance systems starts with the right foundation. Learn more: https://go.cgi.com/417JS4y Suffolk County partnered with us to upgrade and migrate its ERP system to CGI Advantage®. Delivered on time and on budget, the cloud platform enhances cybersecurity, supports vendor-managed updates and improves transaction speed. It also expands fiscal transparency for residents while laying the groundwork for a unified view of County finances. #CGIUS #CGIAdvantage #ERP

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If you are continuing to grow professionally while balancing work, life, and learning, I wanted to share an approach that worked well for me. I recently passed my PMP exam using GPT not to get answers, but to support a structured study system that reinforced the material I studied in the evenings. I created a dedicated PMP project in GPT and built four short quizzes into my day that were emailed to me: - 30 minutes before the start of the workday - 10 minutes before lunch - 10 minutes before lunch ended - 30 minutes before the end of the workday Each quiz was 10 questions pulled directly from my PMP prep course content and could be completed in under five minutes, reinforcing concepts throughout the day instead of relying on a single study window. Honestly, some emails went unread on busy days, and that was expected. Lunch or short periods during the weekend often became quiz time. The value came from consistency over time, not perfection. The differentiator was focus. I used GPT to identify blind spots, then created a new chat using the branch new chat feature to focus on those areas, creating tighter feedback loops. The takeaway for me was simple: AI is not the advantage. Intentional systems are. Sharing this to pay it forward for anyone balancing professional life, personal life, and a commitment to continuous learning. #PMP #ProjectManagement #Leadership #ContinuousLearning #PayItForward #OpenAI #ChatGPT #GPT

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CGI announces a Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate trusted AI innovation, advance secure cloud adoption and streamline digital transformation across the U.S. public sector. Read more in the press release.

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Today I passed the Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) Certification Exam. I spoke to a Senior Superintendent earlier that I was discussing a potential job offer with and mentioned that I was getting certified in it when discussing my resume additions from the last time we'd spoken. He couldn't understand why I would want this since it isn't construction related. Scrum is typically geared more toward product and software development rather than built environments. From a Construction Management perspective, I could completely understand his confusion about why I would be interested in something so non-specific to the industry I've been working in for so long. However, the idea of building out a self-managing team based around mutual respect and trust can be applied no matter where you work. Project Management skills are transferable across industries and lessons learned from the trainings I am going through lately are helping me create my own framework for how I want to build and manage my own teams regardless of the role I'm in. I've flirted with the idea of taking my career in a completely new trajectory and the more I can learn now the more ready I will be when the right opportunity presents itself to me.

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A small but important PMP exam detail: you won’t be able to choose your seat. At the testing center, seating is assigned by the proctor—no preferences, no adjustments. The good news? Every seat is designed to minimize distractions and support focus. Let go of what you can’t control. Sit down, stay present, and execute with confidence. #PMPExamPrep #PMPTips #PMICertification #ProjectManagementProfessional #ExamDaySuccess #CareerDevelopment

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What trends are defining tomorrow’s digital leaders? Learn how the Office of the CIO (OCIO) turns vision into execution and accelerates value in Part 3 of CGI's three-part blog series.

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Before we talk about timelines and go-lives, I often find myself asking a few very simple questions: What happens to the business if adoption slips by six months? Not the launch date — the actual usage. How are we really tracking behaviour change? Not system access, not logins — but whether people are working differently and whether the benefits we promised are actually showing up. Who owns making sure this capability is used the way it was intended? Not just technically live, but embedded in how teams operate day to day. And maybe the toughest one: what does it actually cost us to deploy something successfully… that no one fully adopts? If you have found yourself intrigued by these questions, then this may be an opportunity for YOU! #OCM #Change #richonworkplace

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In complex programs, clarity isn’t found - it’s designed. pta’s business and process analysts and project managers frame scope, ask sharper questions, and turn noise into decisions. We map and improve processes (taxonomies, governance), craft business cases and requirements (user stories, test cases) and drive transformation (strategy, project management, proofs of concept). Ready for outcomes you can measure? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ggvuHGGE #BusinessAnalysis #ProcessMapping #ProcessImprovement #Governance #ProjectManagement #Transformation #ptaConsulting

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