Successful Project Management…It’s All About Delivery & Execution MAT SERVICE GROUP - OCTOBER 2001 David A. Goldsmith MetaMatrix Consulting Group, LLC.

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

Objectives l Deliver take home value – things you can start using tomorrow morning l Provide a lifecycle approach to consider l Exposure to & awareness of Project Management Institute (PMI) knowledge areas l Provide resources you can use as next steps are taken

Is this “PM stuff” relevant in the workplace? l Factoids - Standish Group » 1994 Project success rates were 16.7% 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%

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 l Statement of work l WBS l Project schedule l Communications strategy l Issues tracking mechanism l Marketing plan l Roles & responsibilities l Risk strategy l Project budget & tracking procedures l Staffing plan l Assumptions & constraints l Action item tracking l Project Org charts

More project management tools… for the toolkit l PMI knowledge areas » Integration mgmt » Scope mgmt » Time mgmt » Cost mgmt » Quality mgmt » HR mgmt » Communications mgmt » Risk mgmt » Procurement mgmt l Good or bad…these are the generally accepted standards l ANSI approved in 1999 l Method of use is important – this is not a methodology l Buy the book or download at no charge –

Project lifecycle components l Pre-launch activities » ID business need » Work authorization/SOW l Project launch l Requirements –“What” l Design – “How” l Construct/Integrate l Test l Train l Implement l Maintain/Transition l Project close-out

PM Framework l Project phases – Pre-launch – Launch – Requirements – Design – Construct/Integrate – Test – Train – Implement – Maintain/Transition – Close-out l Phase processes – Initiate – Planning – Executing – Controlling – Closing Process occur within each lifecycle phase These don’t just apply to “waterfall” projects

Launch activities l Initiation workshop l One of the most important meetings of your project l Good pre-launch activities are the foundation l Executive participation not optional… reschedule if necessary l Confirm working logistics » Work areas » Network access » Project repository » Team structures l Leverage your executive sponsor & steering group

Testing activities l Testing cycles » Unit » System » System - system » Integration & Regression » Stress » Acceptance l Use of test matrixes l Dedicated testing staff l Leverage your investment in functional requirements l Allocate time for fixes & retesting

Put it all together… l The Matrix…

Characteristics of best practice organizations l Stakeholder involvement (LOB & IT) l Executive management support l Relentless scope control l Use of “trace” techniques with functional requirements & specification design l Apply concepts of Earned Value l Use of “Gate reviews” l Establish “kill points” l Eliminate deliverables or practices that don’t add value l Short cycle times +\- 90 days l Good expectation management l Existence of a PMO l Develop a PMCOE l Use of a formal accepted process

Project Management Center of Excellence - PMCOE l Target audience » New & experienced PMs/leads l Level of formality (or rather informality) l The intent - provide a repository that allows teams to leverage each others good work & experiences l Provide Project Managers, leads & teams with; » Templates » Samples » Tools » Checklists » Potential Roadmap

Other PMO services to consider l Project start up sessions for Project Managers l Gate review assistance l Risk management assistance l Challenge session assistance l WBS planning assistance l Team organization assistance l Triage assistance

PM Resources l PMI - » PMBOK » WBS draft l Metagroup » Online repository » PEMS » Other services l Project Simulations l Information Technology Project Management By: Kathy Schwalbe l Software Project Survival Guide By: Steve McConnell l Web resources

Summary of Web Resources l Project Management Institute - l All Project Mgmt – l Software Engineering Institute - l Earned Value Mgmt - l Gantthead.com - l Risk Management - l Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) - solutionsframework l NASA/Ames Research Center - CourseCatalog/ProjMgt/Proj MgtIndex.html

The road ahead… l Project management is the start of a foundation for enterprise execution l Once you get good at this, the focus needs to be on Programme Management l 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 – Voice – (315)

Thank you for your time!!! Remember…it’s all about delivery & execution!!!