Medical Devices · OS Migration · Medtronic
OS Migration Project Manager Simulation — Medtronic
Lead a $2.5M Windows 7 to Windows 11 migration for Medtronic's Cardiac & Vascular Group across 3,500 endpoints and 3 facilities. What looks like a standard OS upgrade reveals layers of FDA validation complexity — 47 GxP-validated applications that each require formal revalidation protocols before they can run on Windows 11 in a regulated manufacturing environment. Gain hands-on project management experience over 27 days of real decisions, stakeholders, and PMO deliverables — no prior experience required.
The scenario
Medtronic's Cardiac & Vascular Group (CVG) — one of Medtronic's four operating groups, responsible for pacemakers, defibrillators, heart valves, and vascular therapies — still operates approximately 3,500 endpoints on Windows 7. Microsoft ended extended security support for Windows 7 in January 2023, meaning these machines receive no security patches and represent a growing cybersecurity risk. The migration has been on the IT roadmap for 2 years but was deprioritized due to competing projects. A recent internal audit flagged the Windows 7 fleet as a 'Critical' cybersecurity finding, and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has mandated remediation within 6 months. The CVG VP of Quality has added a complication: any GxP-validated system running on Windows 7 must be formally revalidated on Windows 11 per FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements before it can be used in production. You have been brought in as the IT Project Manager to deliver the migration. Cognizant is the endpoint migration partner. The project appears straightforward — 3,500 machines, standard Windows 11 image, phased rollout. But as you will discover, the intersection of cybersecurity urgency, FDA regulatory requirements, and manufacturing floor constraints makes this far more complex than it appears.
What you'll do as the project manager
- →Migrate all 3,500 CVG endpoints from Windows 7 to Windows 11 Enterprise within the 6-month CISO mandate
- →Complete FDA 21 CFR Part 11 revalidation for all GxP-validated applications running on migrated endpoints
- →Achieve zero unplanned manufacturing downtime during the migration — production cannot stop for an OS upgrade
- →Replace or upgrade all hardware that does not meet Windows 11 minimum requirements (TPM 2.0, 8th gen+ CPU)
- →Maintain full cybersecurity compliance — no endpoint remains on unsupported Windows 7 past the mandate deadline
Project management skills you'll build
The challenges you'll navigate
- •GxP revalidation scope unknown — the number of validated applications requiring revalidation has not been fully assessed. Could range from 20 to 60+ applications.
- •Hardware refresh volume unknown — how many of the 3,500 endpoints fail the Windows 11 hardware requirements (TPM 2.0, 8th gen CPU) is not yet determined
- •Manufacturing floor scheduling — 24/7 production at Tempe leaves very narrow maintenance windows for endpoint migration
- •Vendor scoping gap — Cognizant's proposal appears based on a standard enterprise migration playbook, not a regulated medical device environment
- •FDA audit risk — if a validated system is migrated without proper revalidation documentation, it could trigger an FDA 483 observation during the next facility inspection
Technology & stakeholders
You'll manage 6 stakeholders, including David Park (VP Information Technology, Cardiac & Vascular Group), Rachel Simmons (Director, IT Programme Management Office), Karen Ostrowski (Senior Director, Quality Assurance — CVG), and more.
What you'll walk away with
A verified, shareable record of a completed enterprise project — plus the PMO deliverables you produced along the way (charter, project plan, SteerCo deck, closure document). It's real, demonstrable project management experience you can put on your resume and speak to in interviews.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need project management experience to start?
No. This simulation is built for aspiring and practicing project managers alike — you learn by doing. You make real decisions and get feedback, with no PMP or prior PM job required.
How long does this simulation take?
It runs over 27 days, roughly 23 minutes per day, covering the full project lifecycle from initiation to closure.
What will I learn?
You practice the core of project management — stakeholder management, budget and schedule control, risk, scope, and PMO governance — in the context of os migration in medical devices.
Is this based on the real Medtronic?
It's a realistic scenario inspired by Medtronic and the Medical Devices sector. Details and names are fictionalized for training — it's a simulation, not a record of any actual project.
What do I get at the end?
A verified project completion plus the PMO deliverables you produced (charter, plan, SteerCo deck, closure) — proof of hands-on experience you can show employers.
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