With a plethora of films inspiring countless business strategies and analytical approaches, who could have guessed that the latest addition to the list would be the Barbie movie? While the prospect might draw an immediate reaction of disdain given the nature of the character and its inane movie trailer, the film presents some noteworthy learnings with significance beyond the realm of cinema. Case in point: valuable Legal Project Management (LPM) lessons.
An immediate association between a Barbie movie and LPM might sound far-fetched. However, a glance at Hollywood’s methodology behind film production could reveal some unexpected parallels. After all, a basic principle of LPM is to deliver the right product, at the right time, within a set budget— a standard also held up by film producers worldwide.
Much like an LPM process, a movie production is comprised of an intricate mix of tasks, resources, and timeline considerations. From script development to production, and finally, post-production — it all needs careful planning and budgeting. A misstep along the way can lead to increased costs or even an unmitigated disaster, making intricate planning an absolute necessity.
Despite the seeming frivolity of the Barbie movie and its grand display of Pantone 219C pink shades, the film shares the same meticulous planning and execution process embodied by LPM. It demonstrates that, regardless of the context or subject matter, good project management practices are useful and impactful.
As legal professionals, whether we are navigating the negotiation of a complex contract, implementing a new compliance program, or managing a massive piece of litigation, the same principles of thoughtful planning, resource strategizing, and timeline management, as are used in film production, must be followed.
So, whether you’ve seen the Barbie movie or not, its production process might just offer some unexpected LPM lessons. The next time you sit down to watch a film, it might be worth looking beyond the plot line for some project management inspiration.
Find more details on this unusual connection in the full article here.