| | January 20168UTLOOK Healthcare Tech OpinionIn myLarge, complex, unique projects are challenges for all leaders. Identifying critical success factors and addressing expectations tied to the project require dexterity, sound management, and proper communication.As Penn Medicine's CIO, I had opportunity to witness one such project firsthand, the historic visit to Philadelphia by Pope Francis in September 2015. The visit provided an opportunity to assess how Philadelphia prepared and managed a once-in-a lifetime experience. As CIO of a large, complex organization, I likened the preparation and hosting of the papal visit to unique, complicated technology projects that take place within institutions such as mine. Please note that the concepts shared in this article represent my personal observations. I'm sure many other discussions that I was not a part of may have taken place to address the items I have identified.1. Ensuring the safety of the pope2. Ensuring the safety of those attending the related events3. Providing a stage for the pope to share his beliefs and spirituality with as many people as possible.Under these criterions, nearly 36 hours which the pope remained within the city of Philadelphia should be considered an unequivocal success. Yet, as with many complex projects, this success was not without cost. Major city roads and interstate highways were closed, and numerous train, subway, and trolley stops within the city were shut down for all or part of the papal visit. Pope Francis's visit to Philadelphia represents an opportunity for IS leaders to learn that identifying challenges to major events, anticipating and responding to them swiftly, and communicating their actions effectively determine the true success of a project. Leadership ­ Who is in Charge?There were many organizations involved in hosting the pontiff's visit including the city of Philadelphia, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, United States Secret Service, and the pope's staff. But By Michael Restuccia, VP & CIO, Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health SystemWhat the Pope's Visit to Philadelphia can Teach Leaders
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