Project+/Initiating

Key Points

 * identify business objective i.e. stated goal of the project
 * define the opportunity/problem

Goal

 * desired end result
 * often synonymous with objective
 * may be a high-level objective that has less-than-complete definition

Objective

 * something to be achieved
 * desired outcomes of the project or any part of the project
 * measued in in terms of concrete deliverables and behavioral outcomes
 * it has to be visualisez before

Key Points

 * Identify high-level business-related requirements, outcomes, and criteria for success
 * identify low-level needs and expectations
 * establish boundaries for project budget, duration, and risk

Triple Constraints

 * scope
 * schedule
 * budget

Business Case

 * the information that describes the justification for the project
 * project is justified if expected benefits outweigh estimated costs and risks
 * often complex
 * may require
 * Financial Analysis
 * technical analysis
 * organization impact analysis
 * feasibility study

Request for Proposal (RFP) AKA Request for Quote (RFQ).

 * describes
 * need for products and/or services
 * conditions under which product/services are to be provided


 * purpose
 * solicit bids or proposals from prospective suppliers

Project Manager

 * key stakeholder
 * responsible and accountable for managing a project's planning and performance
 * single point of accountability for a project

Customer or Client

 * key stakeholder
 * person or organization that is the principle beneficiary of the project
 * Generally has a significant authority regarding
 * scope definition
 * whether the project should be initiated and/or continued.

Performing Organization

 * key stakeholder
 * company or group doing the work

Sponsor

 * key stakeholder
 * builds and maintains executive commitment
 * allocates organization resources (capital, human, etc.)
 * provides direction
 * has authority to settle disputes between project staff & functional staff

Champion

 * senior exec who promotes and defends the project

Project Steering Committee

 * execs from functional areas that provide


 * guidance
 * strategic input and direction
 * enlist cooperation from their functional group
 * high level project approval

Project Team (decide later? In planning phase?)

 * anybody who is doing work on the project
 * includes contractors and consultants

Authority

 * ability to get other people to act based on your decisions
 * based on perception that a person has been officially empowered to issue binding orders

Power

 * ability to influence the actions of others
 * may come from
 * formal delegation of authority
 * charter gives PM this
 * reference power
 * personality
 * subject matter expertise
 * respect earned from skills
 * ability to influence rewards and penalties
 * rewarded or coercive authority
 * other sources.

Stakeholder

 * anybody and everybody with a stake in the project
 * clients
 * sponsors
 * performers
 * general public
 * family and friends of direct participants
 * others?

Managerial Structures

 * functional
 * project
 * matrix

Matrix Organization

 * business structure in which people are assigned to
 * functional group
 * departments, disciplines, etc
 * projects or processes
 * cut across the organization
 * require resources from multiple functional groups.

Scope Components

 * function
 * performance

Five (scope?) Constants

 * project end date
 * project ownership
 * completion criteria
 * rigorous change control procedure
 * "best practices" life cycle for this type of project

Statement of Scope AKA Statement of Work (SOW)

 * description of the scope of a project
 * centered on the major deliverables and constraints
 * develops and confirms an understanding of project scope
 * typically requires more time to create than WBS or charter
 * review of the scope documents held before proceeding to project planning phase
 * complete after the PM and the sponsor agree that objectives will be met
 * establishes procedure to request changes to a project scope
 * end-users representative approves technical changes

SOW-PROCS (mnemonic)

 * (P) - Policies and Procedures
 * (R) - Requirements
 * (O) - Overview
 * (C) - Criteria for Vendor Purchase
 * (S) - Specifications

Scope: three dimensions

 * product
 * full set of features and functions
 * project
 * work that has to be done to deliver the product
 * impact
 * involvement by performing and client organizations.
 * effect on performing and client organizations.

Scope Change

 * any change in the definition of the project scope
 * can result from:
 * changes in client needs
 * discovery of defects or omissions
 * regulatory changes
 * other

Scope Change Control AKA Scope Change Management

 * process of making sure that changes to the scope are consciously evaluated
 * making sure that implications are considered in making a decision to
 * make the change
 * postpone it
 * reject it

Scope Creep

 * changes in scope over the life of a project
 * unconscious growth of the project scope
 * results from uncontrolled changes to requirements
 * managed by implementing a rigid change control process

Scope Definition

 * breaks down major deliverables into more manageable components
 * makes verification, development, and project control, easier
 * may be part of requirements definition and/or design

Scope Planning

 * development of a statement of project's
 * principle deliverables
 * justification (business case)
 * objectives
 * part of requirements definition

Scope Verification

 * process to ensure that all project deliverables have been completed satisfactorily
 * associated with acceptance of the product by clients and sponsors.

Secure Written Confirmation Of

 * customer expectations
 * problem/opportunity
 * deliverables
 * strategy
 * completion date
 * Budget
 * risks
 * priority
 * sponsor
 * resources
 * resources availability

- all the above documented in the charter?

Methods to build consensus

 * negotiating
 * interviewing
 * meetings
 * memos

Strategies To build And Maintain Senior Management Support

 * involve mgmt in defining project concept
 * involve mgmt in defining scope
 * involve mgmt in reviewing and approving deliverables
 * provide role for mgmt as spokesperson/advocate

Consensus

 * unanimous agreement among the decision-makers
 * requires conviction that the decision will adequately achieve objectives
 * if one person is not in agreement then there is no consensus