Clarity in Biotech: A Writing Revolution for Genentech’s Project Managers
Outcomes
- Increased Clarity: Clearer and more concise and professional communications.
- Improved Efficiency: Reduced frustration, confusion, and delays in written communication.
- Actionable Skills: A dependable and repeatable writing process tailored to technical and professional needs.
“My team related to the strategy and approach used by Hurley Write. Pam’s passion for the subject was apparent. Her communication style and energy were a good match for the team. It was an excellent use of time and fun!”
– Brigitte Keon,
Global Project Manager at Genentech
Introduction
At Genentech, effective communication is essential for the success of its project management team. As a company operating at the forefront of biotechnology, conveying ideas clearly and concisely is critical to ensuring smooth collaboration and decision-making.
Donald Beasley, Associate Director of Project Management at Genentech, recognized a significant gap in his team’s writing skills. The leadership team agreed that enhancing written communication would elevate the performance of their project management group.
Background
Genentech’s project management group needed to enhance its written communication skills. Inconsistencies in writing quality hindered the teproviderm’s ability to collaborate effectively, convey ideas succinctly, and reduce misunderstandings. These challenges often led to delays and frustration, impacting productivity across the organization.
“My role at Genentech requires excellent written communication skills. The leadership team agreed that a professional writing course would help the project management group elevate their abilities.”
– Donald Beasley, Associate Director of Project Management at Genentech
The leadership team sought a training solution that would address these issues and align with the highly technical and strategic nature of their work. The ideal provider needed to:
- Offer customized training tailored to the unique demands of Genentech’s project management team.
- Provide actionable techniques to improve clarity and efficiency in writing.
- Emphasize strategic and problem-solving approaches to communication.
With this goal in mind, Genentech began an extensive search for a writing training provider. After evaluating several options, they found Hurley Write, whose strategic approach to writing immediately stood out. The team was drawn to Hurley Write’s philosophy that writing can and should be approached as a problem-solving activity. This philosophy aligned perfectly with the high-level technical and strategic communication required in their roles.
Solutions Implemented by Hurley Write
Hurley Write provided Genentech’s project management team with a customized writing training program tailored to their specific needs. The solution included a series of interactive workshops led by Pam Hurley, PhD, that emphasized practical, hands-on learning.
The workshops were designed to address the team’s challenges directly, with a focus on:
- Tailored Curriculum: The program incorporated actual writing examples from Genentech’s day-to-day operations, such as emails, technical documents, and project notes. This ensured participants could immediately apply what they learned.
- Interactive Exercises: In-class exercises and breakout sessions so that participants could practice key concepts in a collaborative environment, enhancing engagement and retention.
- Key Writing Strategies: The training emphasized actionable techniques, including:
- Analyzing the readers’ needs to tailor communication effectively.
- Defining a clear purpose for every written message.
- Critically examining and editing drafts to ensure clarity and conciseness.
One standout feature of the training was its immediate applicability. For example, Donald Beasley refined his email communication skills, learning to write succinctly and directly while maintaining professionalism.
“A few well-crafted sentences to get your point across is the most powerful,”
– Beasley
The program’s success extended beyond emails. At the request of Brigitte Keon, Global Project Manager at Genentech, Hurley Write developed professional note-taking standards to streamline internal communications further. This initiative minimized misunderstandings and improved efficiency across teams.
Results
The customized training Hurley Write provided yielded significant improvements for Genentech’s project management team. Participants developed clear, actionable skills that transformed their approach to written communication.
Key outcomes included:
- Improved Writing Clarity: The team learned to craft concise and professional messages tailored to their readers, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and miscommunication.
- Enhanced Efficiency: With the new skills, Genentech’s staff minimized delays caused by unclear or overly complex communication, leading to smoother project execution.
- Streamlined Processes: The development of professional note-taking standards further optimized internal workflows, helping the team avoid unnecessary frustration and confusion.
The training immediately impacted the team’s day-to-day operations. Donald Beasley noted that he and his colleagues implemented the lessons immediately, improving the quality of their emails and technical documents.
“Pam’s methods are not just theoretical—they can be applied immediately for results.”
– Beasley
The results also extended beyond individual improvements. Brigitte Keon highlighted how the training inspired her team to think strategically about their writing and adopt a consistent, dependable process for all their communications.
“Having the skills to communicate effectively and efficiently minimizes unnecessary frustration, confusion, misunderstanding, and delays. Pam’s training was an excellent use of time and fun for the team.”
– Brigitte Keon, Global Project Manager
Genentech continues to hire Hurley Write to work with its teams and has expanded its offerings to include writing minutes, writing long- and short-form content, and other communication workshops.