In the session "The Art of Zen Project Management - Agile Scrum" at The Project Management in Learning and Development (L&D) Virtual Event, Donna Boucher shared her innovative approach to project management by incorporating elements of Agile Scrum with a focus on mental well-being. Frustrated by constant missed deadlines and stress on her team, Donna adopted a no-deadline, iterative approach inspired by Agile practices. She encouraged her team to work at their own pace within prioritized tasks, maintaining productivity while reducing burnout.Using a backlog system and digital kanban boards, she replaced traditional Gantt charts and frequent meetings with transparent, self-managed tracking. This system allowed her team to complete deliverables collaboratively and flexibly, often “swarming” together to tackle high-priority tasks. Donna emphasized that this approach led to improved morale, higher productivity, and better team cohesion. Her innovative style highlights the benefits of blending structured project management with an adaptive, people-centered approach to support both project success and team well-being.
