Why Most Projects Fail and How to Get Process Improvement Right | Ep 284 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo sits down with Maria Botev, Senior Business Analyst at ORIX Australia, to explore process improvement, business analysis, and continuous improvement in modern organisations. Maria shares her journey from hands-on operational roles to leading process and project frameworks in a corporate environment, highlighting the importance of customer-centric thinking, accountability, and structured problem-solving. This conversation is a practical guide for businesses looking to improve workflows, optimise project delivery, and build scalable systems that deliver real value.

Maria explains that effective process improvement begins with clarity and alignment. Visualising processes through mapping inputs, outputs, stakeholders, and workflows helps teams understand how work is actually done and where inefficiencies exist. This approach allows organisations to focus on targeted improvements rather than attempting to overhaul entire systems. In larger businesses, success relies on stakeholder alignment and shared understanding, ensuring that every contributor is working towards the same outcome with clear visibility.

The discussion also explores how to break down complex systems into manageable components. Maria introduces a layered approach to business processes, starting from high-level organisational goals and drilling down into detailed operational steps. By defining processes with clear start and end points, along with measurable inputs and outputs, teams can identify root causes more effectively and prioritise improvements with confidence. This structured method supports better decision-making while allowing room for creativity when testing and refining solutions.

A key theme throughout the episode is communication and engagement. Maria emphasises the importance of simplifying complex ideas so that all stakeholders can participate meaningfully, regardless of technical background. She also highlights the value of mapping customer journeys early, using personas to understand user behaviour, needs, and expectations. This customer-first perspective ensures that solutions are relevant, usable, and aligned with real-world problems, rather than being driven purely by internal assumptions.

The conversation further explores the influence of entrepreneurial thinking and emerging technologies such as AI in process improvement. Maria shares how her involvement in the Startmate community strengthened her focus on value-driven outcomes and practical execution. AI is increasingly used as a support tool for automating reporting, generating insights, and enabling better comparisons across projects. Combined with centralised dashboards and shared data visibility, these tools help organisations reduce duplication, align global teams, and make more informed decisions. Ultimately, the episode reinforces that continuous improvement is essential for business growth, with processes needing to evolve constantly to remain effective and competitive.

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