A project plan is an essential part of any IT project. The project plan should be sensible, current, and receive frequent reviews. It can help you organize your documents while providing guidance on how the project is to be executed and controlled.
By breaking a project into manageable sections or components, an IT manager can maintain constant control over the project. Before embarking on a project, you must ensure that your project plan clearly does the following.
1. The plan must define the objective.Your project must have a clearly defined objective. This is the first thing you must do as an IT project manager. It is important to note that the project's objective must correspond to your company's overall objectives.
There are three points to consider when developing the objective for your project. First, you need to define what the finished product will do. Second, all parties must agree with the wording of the objective. Finally, the objective has to be documented.
2. The plan must estimate scope, time, and cost. Scope, time, and cost are prime components in any project. Each of these factors can work against the others, and it is the manager's job to ensure that these competing goals work cooperatively together. This limitation is known as the triple constraint.
The scope describes the tasks that must be completed to reach the objective. The time factor identifies the length of time estimated to complete the project. The cost includes all expenditures necessary to complete the project.
3. The plan must include details on project standards.You and your team should always develop an agreed-upon set of standards for your project. Standards will help you deliver steady, high-quality products to your sponsors or customers.
4. The plan must identify agreed-upon deliverables.Deliverables can help your team determine whether all tasks within a phase have been completed effectively. Developing a schedule for the completion of deliverables also can help you monitor your project and keep it on track.
5. The plan must establish change procedures. Change in an IT project is inevitable, and you need to plan for it. Change procedures are project-defining components that enable you to set guidelines on how and when changes will be made.
As a manager, you want to ensure that your project processes run smoothly. By understanding the components of your project, you will be able to plan and manage your IT projects more effectively.
3 comments:
hi
thk u very much for sharing this with us. is there a way i can get detailed example of a project plan?
i saw ur profile and u work as a PMP. i m doing a project management assignment for this semi in my uni.
if u like to help me plz let me knw. thk u.
regards
nadia
Respected sir,
thank you for sharing with us .this is a wonderful insight for me on project plan.
Tag: PM206A54. Let me share all of you about #5 Tips for Project Management Success,, I hope you enjoy it
1. Plan your day using time management techniques
As a project manager, time management skills are essential because you are dealing with a wide range of tasks that demand a quick turnaround time. Planning your day will go a long way in keeping you organized and increasing your productivity. Assist your task planning by using project management software which helps you track the work of you and your team.
If you are not very tech savvy, a simple to-do list can also be a great organizational tool. Prioritize your most important tasks by putting them at the top of the list and less important ones at the bottom. Having a visual plan of your daily tasks helps to keep you on track and aware of time.
Related post: Free ebook 104 secrets to become a great project manager
2. Include stakeholders in important project conversations
While you will have plenty of responsibilities regarding the project, don’t neglect your clients.
Good communication is essential is keeping both parties informed of project progression, curtailing scope creep, and apprised of changing requirements. Some clients may have different expectations when it comes to communication, so make sure to establish the frequency and type of communication (like emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations) at the beginning of your project.
Establishing communication expectations early helps alleviate stakeholder uncertainty about communication frequency and delivery.
3. Regularly communicate with your team
Daily team communication helps keep misunderstandings and unclear requirements under control. Keeping your team informed in every step of the project is essential to project management success.
For example, a study published by Procedia Technology found that good communication skills were the cornerstone of project management. The study examined over 300 “construction project managers, architects, construction managers, engineers and quantity surveyors” and their successes and failures on various construction projects.
4. Anticipate project setbacks
Even the best-laid plans often go awry.
Remember that even with a high amount of planning and attention to detail, your project may still encounter some challenges. Pay attention to complaints from stakeholders or colleagues, and other warning signs, like a missed deadline or cost overrun, that there may be a problem.
Preventing a crisis will keep your project running smoothly, save you a lot of time, and keep you, your team, and your stakeholders confident in progressing with the project.
Unfortunately not every complication can be avoided. Crisis management skills are essential for dealing with the unexpected. Project managers need to be flexible and pragmatic. Improvise and make sharp decisions when needed.
Related post: 92 free project management templates
5. Stay focused on the details
A common problem project managers encounter is having the project aims not aligned with the organization’s objectives. A great project manager will strategize a plan for the project to lead back to the overall success of the business.
Know your project’s scope by heart and avoid wandering outside of the project’s requirements. It’s too easy to get lost in minor details and forget what your focus is, so a well-planned project scope is essential for success.
And final, you should use KPI to measure effectiveness of the project, here are full list: 76 project management KPIs
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