p er f o r m a n c e f e e d b a c k
Intel had a rigorous, annual, employee review process which included input from one’s direct manager as well as from those on their team. Shared here, are excerpts from that process spanning nearly three years in the User Centered Design (UCD) group.
CARECOM PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Stepping above his primary Industrial Design role, John accepted an invitation to represent UCD as Project Manager in their partnership with the Digital Health Group, developing the Carecom medical device. John was the fourth PM to take on this challenging task that involved the management of seven UCD functional areas working across seven locations.
In addition to traditional daily PM duties, John took the initiative to prepare clear and detailed documents that clarified longer term team organization issues such as scope of work and roles and responsibilities, and outlined an inter and intra organizational communication plan. The resulting improved working dynamics enabled the team to successfully deliver multiple prototype chassis and machined plastic enclosures.
Navigating a highly unpredictable program environment he held UCD and DHeG team members accountable for working relationship issues to constructively improve communication with integrity and respect. These leadership efforts established critical project coherency to meet deliverables and bring the project to a successful transition point
John's verbal, written and sketching communications express his ability to foster productivity via open and direct relations that build trust and respect with internal and external team members. This is evident in his Core Team update, team and supplier interactions, his Carecom team relations resolution, and multiple constructive partner engagements and the Kudos he has given and received. John’s peer feedback unanimously echoed these points: “I just love this guy – great new hire!”
—Tomas Ryle, UCD Design Manager
ISLAMICOOL DESIGN PROJECT
Following a one time review of the project for EMPG’s (Emerging Markets Platform Group) Cairo Platform Definition Center, John shared additional development suggestions over the next two weeks. These contributions, along with his unique expertise with the intended consumer market segment, led to his ongoing participation as industrial design lead.
John drove the design development with creative and innovative solutions effectively presented in verbal and written form, hand drawn sketches, CAD renderings and physical foam core models. He met the Cairo team in Egypt to plan a future product demonstration and provide an overview of industrial design, met with Intel partner company in Amman, Jordan to synergize the software user interface with the product design, and met with [the government, Ministry of Education] and marketing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to influence a significantly improved design direction.
Then, having to compress an eight week schedule down to four, the PM then challenged John to prepare a full scale appearance model for a strategic trade show release. John responded, developing a completely new design, and then managing multiple resources and vendors to have the model built and arrive for the show on time and result in impressive feedback.
John’s personal and professional skills and experience were instrumental to the success of both the product’s design and the rapid execution of its model form that communicated the value of the program to Intel management for continued development support.
—Tomas Ryle, UCD Design Manager
INTEGRATED DATA BACKUP (IDB) RESEARCH & ANALYSIS PROJECT
With no official PM available, John offered to take on this role in addition to his duties as UCD Industrial Design Lead. He took this opportunity despite having been at Intel only three weeks, and the task being beyond his expected responsibilities. John rapidly ramped up on technical, marketing, and usage relationships while simultaneously learning to navigate Intel's organizational logistics. As Project Manager he remained impartial in observing issues that hindered team progress and was able to exercise his influence through proper channels to move the project forward. These leadership efforts resulted in a successful stage gate presentation.
Through interviews with BCG (Business Client Group) stakeholders and analyzing the project's development history, John recognized a disconnect between the team's original goals and the stakeholders' expectations. He then initiated and drove the critical realignment of the project path necessary to meet the … goals by facilitating face to face meetings with relevant staff. His ability to effectively negotiate this considerable complication minimized project costs and delays, and reestablished project coherency to guide the project to success.
With the team lacking a dedicated research coordinator, John volunteered to facilitate the creation, logistics, and conclusion of a research program contracted through an external firm. By participating in the research itself, he was able to objectively evaluate the results that actually countered the premise of the original concept. He then piloted the development of a revised usage and marketing story that met the needs of small business owners for lower initial implementation costs.
John challenges himself in leadership roles above and beyond his normal responsibilities, driving details with integrity in planning, executing, and resolving issues to deliver results and dedication to meet and exceed commitments. His position as PM and his coordination of research with an external vendor show his commitment to ensuring success. His PM work highlights John’s Discipline and Results Orientation.
John consistently strives for excellence and right action through objective learning and applying what he has learned with initiative and creativity. The pace at which he gained knowledge of Intel's internal culture to effectively guide projects, and his diligence in realigning the project path, exemplify these qualities.
—Tomas Ryle, UCD Design Manager
p e e r r e m a r k s
• “I truly appreciated his attention to detail … he was very clear about how he needed his ID language to flow. I think it made me find better engineering solutions. By the same account, he was able to receive my feedback and adjust accordingly when necessary. In the end I think his design for a very aggressive product, at least technologically speaking, was very elegant and appealing. I was glad for the opportunity to work with him.”
• “John always knew, and held true to, the overall goal of the project. This proved to be important when the goals seemed to be shifted or misinterpreted by others. Had he shifted his focus at those times, the program would have suffered greatly. I don’t think the program would have made 90%+ completion, but rather 20%-, without his overall product view. It was refreshing to see.”
• “John is absolutely awesome. I really enjoyed working with him. He had a very can-do attitude. He generated designs that met the intent very clearly. He was very receptive to inputs and treated his fellow employees with respect. I believe John will do well no matter where he goes.”
• John is a great example of an employee doing everything he can to meet or exceed expectations of his customer. He is extremely flexible and does everything possible to understand and absorb requirements in his designs.”
• “John did a great job on the project, making sure he understood his role and the roles of others that worked with him to ensure the team worked well together.”
• “John has mastered his craft and he continues to amaze me by the sheer volume, quality and consistency of objects he creates. Conceptual mood boards, hand sketches, foamcore models, 3D printings, high fidelity models spew from his mind and hands at a steady flow. The perfect characteristic to have on your team.”
— Anonymous colleague comments