Developing a Common Project Management Language at Samsung

Case Study

Context & challenges

Our long-standing partners at Samsung approached us with a clear objective; to create a unified project management language that could be shared across all departmental functions.

With such a diverse range of teams, we needed an approach that resonated with marketers, sales teams, creatives, and analysts alike. It was essential that everyone was equipped with the tools to establish consistent routines, adapt to change and adopt shared ways of working — without losing the nuances of their individual roles.

In an environment where priorities shift quickly and teams must adapt at speed, the real challenge extended beyond skills alone. We needed to create learning that helped people feel confident operating under constant change.

This required practical, accessible tools that supported quick decision-making, rapid alignment, and effective collaboration, no matter how fast the work moved.

Solution

We responded by designing a dedicated project management pathway.

Delivered across three iterations, our pathway was founded on practicality, agility, and mentality — the core ingredients of effective project management.

Iteration 1: Half-day workshop

We kicked things off with a fast-paced, hands-on session built around scenario work. Instead of relying on heavy theory, we focussed on practical tools that either introduced — or refreshed — participants’ knowledge of key Agile principles and ways of working. Regardless of role or department, everyone collaborated to build shared clarity and a unified approach.

Iteration 2: Modular Masterclasses

Next, we knuckled down into the specifics with three two-hour masterclasses, each centred on a different section of the project management process. Offering bite-sized content, participants could choose the session (or sessions) that suited their needs and tailor their learning to benefit them. Topics ranged from scoping and planning to stakeholder engagement, to delivering feedback and managing change.

Iteration 3: Full-Day Simulation

As the programme evolved, we noticed that participants were signing up to all three masterclasses and benefiting most from the practical elements of the learning experience. So, in the final iteration, we brought everything together in a full-day, scenario-based workshop. Participants moved through each stage of a project with short bursts of content between tasks, enabling them to rehearse the full lifecycle of Agile project management and embed the tools from previous sessions.

Results

The programme quickly became an in-demand learning experience. Originally projected to do a single iteration, the overwhelmingly positive response from participants led us to extend the training far beyond the initial scope.

Their enthusiasm didn’t just sustain the programme — it fuelled it. Participants demonstrated a genuine appetite to deepen their learning and actively contribute to the evolution of a unified project management language across the organisation.