When Your Core Conversion Project Hits the COVID-19 Iceberg

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Editor’s note: Direct Federal Credit Union is a one-branch, $750 million credit union located in Needham, Mass. It is undergoing its first core conversion since 1984 and has partnered with CU Times to document its journey until the new core is anticipated go live in 2021. Contributing authors will be members of the project team and each article will tell a story from a different point of view. Read its previous articles and continue to follow along at cutimes.com/instantinsights.

Imagine you have spent two years building a new Project Management Office (PMO). You were hired in the anticipation of the first core conversion in 35 years, as well as the growing portfolio of ambitious projects. You spend two years introducing new processes, training, implementing a project management platform and supporting projects tied to organizational goals. It is finally go-time – and the team is ready. As 2020 starts, everyone is ready to go, and vendors have been vetted and met. Teams start weekly meetings, the exchange of information flows, and teams start to produce needed deliverables. All is smooth sailing, and as work picks up, you are feeling centered and prepared. And then COVID-19 happens … the iceberg no one saw coming.