Successful Project Management…It’s All

About Delivery & Execution

MAT SERVICE GROUP - OCTOBER 2001

David A. Goldsmith

MetaMatrix Consulting Group, LLC.www.metamatrixconsulting.com

Agenda

First…no hidden agenda Project Management – the business issue The project plan PM knowledge areas The components of a project’s lifecycle Characteristics of best practice companies Summary of resources & references

Objectives

Deliver take home value – things you can start using tomorrow morning

Provide a lifecycle approach to consider Exposure to & awareness of Project

Management Institute (PMI) knowledge areas

Provide resources you can use as next steps are taken

Is this “PM stuff” relevant in the workplace?

Factoids - Standish Group » 1994 Project success rates were 16.7%.

1998 the rates rose to 26%.» In 1994 the chance of a project developed by

a Fortune 500 company coming in on time and within budget was 9%.

» In 1998, the chance of that same Fortune 500 project succeeding rose to a whopping 24%

http://standishgroup.com/visitor/chaos.htm

What is a project plan???

Question:

If you were to look in the close out folder of a successful project…. what would you expect to find?

Basic project plan components

Statement of work WBS Project schedule Communications

strategy Issues tracking

mechanism Marketing plan Roles &

responsibilities

Risk strategy Project budget &

tracking procedures Staffing plan Assumptions &

constraints Action item tracking Project Org charts

More project management tools… for the toolkit

PMI knowledge areas» Integration mgmt» Scope mgmt» Time mgmt» Cost mgmt» Quality mgmt» HR mgmt» Communications mgmt» Risk mgmt» Procurement mgmt

Good or bad…these are the generally accepted standards

ANSI approved in 1999 Method of use is

important – this is not a methodology

Buy the book or download at no charge – www.pmi.org

Project lifecycle components

Pre-launch activities» ID business need» Work

authorization/SOW Project launch Requirements –“What” Design – “How”

Construct/Integrate Test Train Implement Maintain/Transition Project close-out

PM Framework

Project phases– Pre-launch– Launch– Requirements– Design– Construct/Integrate– Test – Train– Implement– Maintain/Transition– Close-out

Phase processes– Initiate– Planning– Executing– Controlling– Closing

Process occur within each lifecycle phase

These don’t just apply to “waterfall” projects

Launch activities

Initiation workshop One of the most

important meetings of your project

Good pre-launch activities are the foundation

Executive participation not optional… reschedule if necessary

Confirm working logistics» Work areas» Network access» Project repository» Team structures

Leverage your executive sponsor & steering group

Microsoft Word Document

Testing activities

Testing cycles» Unit» System» System - system» Integration &

Regression» Stress » Acceptance

Use of test matrixes Dedicated testing staff Leverage your investment in

functional requirements Allocate time for fixes &

retesting

Put it all together…

The Matrix…

Microsoft Excel Worksheet

Characteristics of best practice organizations

Stakeholder involvement (LOB & IT)

Executive management support

Relentless scope control Use of “trace” techniques with

functional requirements & specification design

Apply concepts of Earned Value

Use of “Gate reviews” Establish “kill points”

Eliminate deliverables or practices that don’t add value

Short cycle times +\- 90 days

Good expectation management

Existence of a PMO Develop a PMCOE Use of a formal accepted

process

Project Management Center of Excellence -

PMCOE

Target audience» New & experienced

PMs/leads Level of formality (or

rather informality) The intent - provide a

repository that allows teams to leverage each others good work & experiences

Provide Project Managers, leads & teams with;» Templates» Samples» Tools » Checklists» Potential Roadmap

Other PMO services to consider

Project start up sessions for Project Managers

Gate review assistance

Risk management assistance

Challenge session assistance

WBS planning assistance

Team organization assistance

Triage assistance

PM Resources

PMI - www.pmi.org» PMBOK» WBS draft

Metagroup» Online repository» PEMS» Other services

Project Simulations

Information Technology Project Management By: Kathy Schwalbe

Software Project Survival Guide By: Steve McConnell

Web resources

Summary of Web Resources

Project Management Institute - www.pmi.org

All Project Mgmt – www.allpm.com

Software Engineering Institute - www.sei.cmu.edu

Earned Value Mgmt - www.acq.osd.mil/pm

Gantthead.com - www.gantthead.com

Risk Management - www.spmn.com/rsktrkr.html

Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) - www.microsoft.com/ solutionsframework

NASA/Ames Research Center - http://huminfo.arc.nasa.gov/CourseCatalog/ProjMgt/ProjMgtIndex.html

The road ahead…

Project management is the start of a foundation for enterprise execution

Once you get good at this, the focus needs to be on Programme Management

Just when you thought the fun was over, Portfolio Management will be waiting; » Selection & exit criteria» Beta values» Composition & mix» ROI

Contact Information

David A. Goldsmith

MetaMatrix Consulting Group LLC

927 East Colvin Street

Syracuse, NY 13221

E-mail – dgoldsmith@davidgoldsmith.com

Voice – (315) 476-0510

www.metamatrixconsulting.com

Thank you for your time!!!

Remember…it’s all about delivery & execution!!!