DTE Energy Powers Multiple Major Programs with Continuous Improvement of Project Management Processes

Company

DTE Energy is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide.

Challenge

Safety concerns were a major driver for the development of an organized, methodical approach to construction and maintenance projects in the area of power production including wind, water, solar, and nuclear. As early as 2005, leadership recognized the value of project management in addressing these concerns. In addition, there were construction and environmental remediation projects that faced strict market-driven or regulatory deadlines.

Solution

DTE Energy adopted PM Solutions’ Project Management Maturity Model to determine the existing strengths and weaknesses of their project management processes. The discovery process, led by PM Solutions consultants, developed a baseline description of DTE’s project management expertise, established critieria to measure improvements, and set expectations. DTE followed the roadmap developed from the original discovery process through numerous engagements that spanned approximately eight years. An early strategy advised by PM Solutions was the establishment of the Major Enterprise Projects (MEP) organization as a project management Center of Excellence. As project management became more ingrained in corporate culture, the growth in project management expertise resulted in numerous project and program successes.

PM Solutions was then asked to re-assess project management maturity at DTE and, after reviewing project management processes, standards, and procedures to measure progress and identify gaps, determined that DTE had achieved Level 3 Maturity on PM Solution’s Project Management Maturity Model, with few exceptions, which DTE immediately acted to rectify.

Results

Thanks to the organizational commitment to project management improvement at DTE, The Major Enterprise Projects (MEP) organization has become the Project Management Office (PMO) for all large strategic electric and gas initiatives within DTE, with over 300 projects under their management, and a portfolio budget of $1.2 billion. The MEP organization today boasts a team of more than 240 professionals, and in addition to being certified as Level 4+ in PM maturity - the first energy industry organization to achieve that level — MEP has been recognized as an American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC) Best Practice Partner in Project Management.