At the Metropolia University for Applied Sciences, the Thinking Portfolio project portfolio is called Halli. Halli is the common information system for both internal development projects and RDI projects. The majority of the projects are still RDI projects, but the use is expanding to other projects, as well.
Thinking Portfolio enables versatile views of the project portfolio entity
The suitability of Thinking Portfolio as Metropolia’s project portfolio was confirmed during a reference visit to the Turku University of Applied Sciences, which uses a corresponding Thinking Portfolio portfolio. The presentation also illustrated the application opportunities of Thinking Portfolio for universities.
It is important for the management to have continuous up-to-date information about the project portfolio. The previously used system did not offer this option, which was also one of the main reasons for starting to change the system. Along with Thinking Portfolio ‒ Halli in this case ‒, all projects are now accessible. In addition, the portfolio acts as a management tool providing a view of all the projects in progress in the establishment. The portfolio information can be viewed as a summary from various perspectives, Deputy CEO Simo Mustila describes the uses of the portfolio.
– In the future, Halli will be an integral tool for monitoring strategy work. Halli allows us to break down the strategy into objectives and further into projects and follow up the strategy implementation in many ways. Without Halli, it would be considerably more difficult.
Thinking Portfolio provides a quick situational picture of the RDI activities
RDI Manager Anna-Maria Vilkuna explains that Metropolia has lately paid more attention to portfolio thinking in RDI activities. Halli quickly provides a focused situational picture of the RDI activity, where visualisation is also an important component.
– The key to a good tool is that it is well-suited for the daily work of the project personnel and also serves the management. Thinking Portfolio ‒ or ‘Halli’ in this case ‒ responds well to this challenge.
Metropolia has identified its strengths, based on which innovation hubs have been established. Innovation hubs take into account socially significant needs, which are also close to the RDI activity of the University of Applied Sciences and offer students motivating learning opportunities in cooperation with partners. Examples of Metropolia RDI innovations include robot busses and the Myllypuro simulation hospital.
– The RDI portfolios are divided into innovation hubs in Halli. It is also important to us to be able to use the portfolio information across different innovation hubs.
– Our goal is to make the effectiveness of our innovation activity more visible. Thinking Portfolio’s effectiveness reports, which help present effectiveness in different numbers, play a key role.
The feedback from RDI project managers about the new tool has also been favourable. The clarity of the user interface, consistency and the well-arranged visual design are praised.
Thinking Portfolio helps consolidate Metropolia’s new project culture
Project Management Leader Kimmo Virta found it important that special attention was paid to the completion of a process-compliant functionality in the Halli deployment project. The project management process with its decision-making reports and issues related to the internal project work were successfully prioritised and Halli was completed within the agreed timeframe. In addition to the own team, the professional competence of Thinking Portfolio consultants was praised for the implementation of the deployment project.
– The portfolio-level views are already conveniently available, a big leap has been taken compared to the previous situation. However, training for project personnel is still ongoing, so the portfolio is expected to reap even more benefits once the use expands and stabilises.
Mustila, Vilkuna and Virta see it as a successful solution that the new project portfolio application was deployed at the same time as the launch of Metropolia’s new project model. Metropolia’s new project model continues to be refined and further development is also planned for Halli. From now on, cooperation with Thinking Portfolio focuses on developing and expanding the functionalities of Halli.
– We have a new kind of project culture in deployment. We now have a tool that serves it.
– We have adopted the best practices from the business world and applied them to the university, such that have typically not been used in this environment.
Metropolia is an international and multidisciplinary University of Applied Sciences operating in the capital region. Metropolia trains specialists and developers in culture, business, social and health care and technology.
Halli is the nickname used by Metropolia for the Thinking Portfolio RDI and project portfolio.
RDI is an acronym for research, development and innovation.
In innovation hubs, Metropolia, together with its partners, seeks solutions to the most challenging phenomena of our time.
Portfolio level is the term for the summary views of a Thinking Portfolio portfolio, either of all the portfolio projects or of a filtered group of projects.
