Sunday, July 1, 2007

Project Planning Phase Outputs and Milestones

Did you know that the planning phase of an IT project can make or break that project? If not conducted properly, the planning phase can cause a domino effect on the other life cycle phases and eventually cause the project to fail. This is why successful project managers spend so much time on this phase.

The majority of the project manager's work during the planning phase involves the completion of three key activities—project initiation and organization, project definition and planning, and management review and approval. However, the project manager's job does not end there. The key activities are then used to obtain the outputs, and the outputs are used to meet the milestone, thus completing this cycle of the project.

Once the members of the project team have concluded all of the key activities of the planning phase, they will have the outputs listed below. These outputs will become the inputs to the analysis phase of the project life cycle.
  • The business case. A business case is a request for project investment. It is a high-level description of the project's information systems and related business objectives.
  • The conceptual design. The conceptual design can be a rough drawing, a flowchart, or storyboards that show the general shape and location of all design elements for the proposed application.
  • The project plan. The project plan is used to guide project execution and control. It includes an overview of the project, a description of how the project is organized, details about the management and technical processes to be used, and a description of the work to be done, as well as a schedule and budget information.
The business case, conceptual design, and project plan are submitted to management for review. Once management approval is given for the project, a project plan sign-off is required. This sign-off indicates that management has given its approval for the project to proceed.
The project plan sign-off is the milestone that must be met during the planning phase. It indicates that the planning phase of the IT project life cycle has been completed. The project can now move on to the analysis phase.

Remember, in order to move onto the analysis phase and proceed with your project, you must first develop the outputs of the planning phase and obtain the sign-off form from management, which is the milestone for this phase of the project.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...


Tag: PM206A53. 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