The macaroon methodology: digital project management explained with a twist
Managing a digital project doesn’t have to be boring or complicated. To show you how I work, here’s a very top-level overview of my process explained through the lens of making coconut macaroons.
All steps outlined below have been written by myself - the terrible comedic effect has been implemented with the help of GPT5 (questionable decision, I know).
Why macaroons?
Because digital project management, like baking, is all about:
Clarity (a recipe that everyone can easily follow)
Attention to detail (measurements and pixels are important)
Creativity (room for flair or movement when the basics are nailed)
End results that people actually enjoy
And I think they're great, home-made is always best. If you're ever in Amsterdam, the macaroons they serve at Dignita are amazing, and controversially, as are the ones you get on a KLM morning flight.
And if you thought I made a fundamental typo (like I did) here is an article on Macarons vs Macaroons for further reading.
Every great project starts with a recipe.
Gather requirements (ingredients list)
Align stakeholders (who's baking and who’s eating)
Capacity feasibility (do we have enough bakers, coconut, budget, and oven space?)
Approve the plan
In project terms: this is where we capture the scope, budget and goals so everyone's on the same page.
Once the recipe’s agreed, it’s time to prep.
Define deliverables (how many macaroons, what size, what finish?)
Allocate roles (who's mixing, who's timing the oven)
Build the timeline (how long will each step take)
Build in margins and timings for misc items (going to the shops, allergy research, alternative recipe)
Identify risks (too many chefs? missing a cooling rack? dropping an egg?)
In project terms: we build the roadmap, assign responsibilities, gather decision makers and plan communication streams
Here’s where we kick-off and execute the agreed plan.
Strategy (get all the ingredients, cooking utensils ready and turn the oven on)
Creative build (combine the coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla extract)
Technical build (shape the mixture into bit-size pieces)
Content production (add the finishing touches, like chocolate drizzle)
Iteration (taste-test the mix, tweak sweetness)
Quality check (no shells in the mix, please)
In project terms: This is the strategy, design, development, and content all coming together.
As production takes place, we need to make sure nothing goes wrong.
Track progress (are they rising evenly?)
Manage risks (not too brown, not undercooked)
Control changes (no sneaky additions mid-bake)
Report status (oven light check-ins)
Test quality (poke them - gently)
In project terms: Keep projects on budget, on time, and aligned with expectations. Flag issues as they arise, find solutions.
We release to the public.
Prepare everything for launch (get them out of the oven)
Final QA (texture, presentation, no burnt edges)
Launch plan (how should they be served and when)
Go live (eat)
Post-launch support (be on hand for feedback or issues)
In project terms: This is the go-live, with QA and deployment steps.
Once the macaroons have been enjoyed, it's time to wrap up.
Handover (if there's any left, store them properly = documentation & training)
Review performance (did they meet expectations?)
Lessons learned (next time, maybe a touch more chocolate)
Sign-off (everyone agrees: project complete)
In project terms: This is where we finish, run retrospectives, and gather lessons for future projects.