In the capital-intensive mining industry, managing high-dollar capital projects requires a disciplined approach. Sharon Gietl, vice president, information technology, and chief information officer for The Doe Run Company (Doe Run), will share how the company’s award-winning project management office (PMO) transformed how the company delivered business results.

Gietl will join CIOs and IT leaders from other international mining companies at the second annual Global Mining IT & Communication Summit, Nov. 5-6, 2013, in Toronto, to share best practices on subjects ranging from project management to compliance requirements to wireless communications and technologies.

“Capital projects are top-of-mind today for global mining executives,” said Gietl. “We have finite capital resources. Through a disciplined approach and clear metrics, Doe Run has better aligned our investments with our business strategy, improved decision-making and reduced the approval time for capital projects from 98 days to 28 days.” In 2007, only 57 percent of Doe Run projects achieved their final business objectives. By 2012 the amount increased to 93 percent, a 63 percent increase.

During Gietl’s presentation, “Creating a PMO,” she will offer tips for establishing a successful PMO, including:
Receiving input from employees: A cross-functional team can help identify “what’s in it for me” opportunities that can drive PMO adoption.
Creating clear metrics for success: Decide how success will be measured and record baseline measurements to track the company’s progress.
Tracking progress: Use dashboards to help monitor and keep the focus on results.
Empowering employees: Provide tools that are meaningful, accessible and easy to use.

Gietl has been guiding the planning, implementation and management of Doe Run’s information technology systems, enterprise PMO and enterprise content management since 2004. She is one of the 2011 St. Louis Business Journal’s 25 Most Influential Business Women, a 2010 Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leader, and a 2009 Strathmore’s Who’s Who recipient. She oversees a team that has been recognized as one of the Top Technology Innovators across America in 2011 and in 2012 (according to Information Week 500).