Bunga Ichsan Lestarie, Senior Market Access & Public Affairs Manager at Novo Nordisk Indonesia, emphasized the vital role of communication in project management, particularly for projects involving numerous participants and stakeholders. She highlighted the importance of effective communication to maintain team coordination and minimize misunderstandings.
“If you have a big project involving many people and stakeholders, communication is critical,” Bunga stated during her presentation at the Expert Talk seminar on Project Management held at the Nemangkawi Auditorium SBM ITB on Tuesday (12/11).
Bunga explained that the success of a project hinges on structured and consistent communication. Drawing from her experience managing complex projects in multinational companies such as Novo Nordisk—a global healthcare company headquartered in Denmark—she underscored the importance of clear communication channels.
In addition to communication, Bunga stressed the need to select the right project management tools and methods, such as the Gantt Chart and PERT Chart. She noted that the Gantt Chart is highly effective during the execution phase, providing a detailed visual of the project timeline. Conversely, the PERT Chart is more suitable for the planning phase, particularly in identifying steps required to achieve project goals.
Bunga also elaborated on two widely used project management approaches: Waterfall and Agile. According to her, the Waterfall method works best for linear, regulatory projects, while Agile is ideal for dynamic projects that require quick adaptation to diverse stakeholder needs.
To illustrate, Bunga shared an example of a significant Novo Nordisk Indonesia project involving an investment exceeding IDR 20 billion. The project faced challenges due to Indonesia’s complex bureaucracy, particularly within the primary healthcare system in rural areas. Using the Agile approach, Novo Nordisk adapted its strategies to overcome these hurdles, showcasing the flexibility needed to manage projects in fast-paced and challenging environments.
Bunga highlighted one of Novo Nordisk’s standout initiatives, the Affordability Project, which aims to improve healthcare access for vulnerable communities in rural areas. This project has successfully trained 920 health cadres and provided health screenings to more than 278,000 people. Among them, 9,495 individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are now receiving comprehensive care. The initiative exemplifies the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable social impact in Indonesia.
According to Bunga, risk management is an indispensable aspect of project management. She stressed the importance of identifying risks early by incorporating input from all stakeholders, noting that “a risk from one stakeholder can impact many aspects of the company and affect relationships with others.” At Novo Nordisk, risks are meticulously managed to ensure projects deliver long-term value, even when facing market challenges or increased competition.
At the end of the seminar, Novo Nordisk invited ITB students to join the Graduate Programme – International Operations Tracks. This program offers international rotation experiences in various countries, starting from Indonesia, continuing in Switzerland or other countries, and ending at Novo Nordisk’s head office in Denmark. The program provides specialized training, international work experience, and global networking opportunities to support career development.