Project Activity (Project Scope and Schedule Management) and Risk Planning
Project Success depends on “good planning”
● PMs first job is to meet with Senior Management.
● Document used to formally approve a project? A Charter
- Gives authority to the PM
- Outlines the scope of the project
Project Charter is issued by the project initiator or sponsor and formally authorizes the existence
of a project. A charter provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational
resources to project activities.
What to include in a Project Charter:
● Business Need
● Project Objectives
● Success Metrics
● Team (Project Resources)
● Use roles from RACI
● Risks
● Key Assumptions, Dependencies or constraints
● Timeline
● Next Steps
Output:
● Scope understood
● Stakeholder commitment
● Benefits understood
Charter has been written → approved by senior management team → Kick-Off
Meeting (Launch):
- Introductions
- Ensure there is a common goal
- Brainstorming...maybe!
- Senior manager introduces project to group
Project Plan Development Avoid “Ready, Fire, Arm” and/or “Paralysis by Analysis”
The Plan serves as a roadmap for the project team members and will contain various
components.
- Helps identify key project deliverables.
- Establishes a process for managing change - change control board.
, Project Plan Elements
Project Scope
Steps to Defining the Project
Step 1: Project Scope Definition (what)
Step 2: Creating the WBS
Step 3: Collect Requirements (features/functions)
Step 4: Write Scope Statement…Over time the project scope should become clearer and
more specific.
, 2. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Hierarchical outline (map) that identifies the
products and work elements involved in a project.
● Ensure proper planning: primary contributor to project success.
● Primary purpose of WBS: ensure no task is overlooked.
● Every task should be listed. Include material and human resources.
● This is a non-trivial task.
Types of WBS: Outline, Tree Format, Tabular View, Hierarchical Structure.
Approaches for developing a WBS:
- Using Guidelines
Guidelines for developing a WBS should be followed, if provided by an organization (ex.
DOD) - what type of WBS should be used?
- Analogy Approach
Review WBSs of similar projects and tailor to your project.
- Top-Down Approach
Start with largest items of the project and break them down.
- Bottom-Up Approach
Start with the specific tasks and roll them up.
- Mind Mapping
A technique that uses branches radiating out from a core idea to structure thoughts and ideas.
Project Success depends on “good planning”
● PMs first job is to meet with Senior Management.
● Document used to formally approve a project? A Charter
- Gives authority to the PM
- Outlines the scope of the project
Project Charter is issued by the project initiator or sponsor and formally authorizes the existence
of a project. A charter provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational
resources to project activities.
What to include in a Project Charter:
● Business Need
● Project Objectives
● Success Metrics
● Team (Project Resources)
● Use roles from RACI
● Risks
● Key Assumptions, Dependencies or constraints
● Timeline
● Next Steps
Output:
● Scope understood
● Stakeholder commitment
● Benefits understood
Charter has been written → approved by senior management team → Kick-Off
Meeting (Launch):
- Introductions
- Ensure there is a common goal
- Brainstorming...maybe!
- Senior manager introduces project to group
Project Plan Development Avoid “Ready, Fire, Arm” and/or “Paralysis by Analysis”
The Plan serves as a roadmap for the project team members and will contain various
components.
- Helps identify key project deliverables.
- Establishes a process for managing change - change control board.
, Project Plan Elements
Project Scope
Steps to Defining the Project
Step 1: Project Scope Definition (what)
Step 2: Creating the WBS
Step 3: Collect Requirements (features/functions)
Step 4: Write Scope Statement…Over time the project scope should become clearer and
more specific.
, 2. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Hierarchical outline (map) that identifies the
products and work elements involved in a project.
● Ensure proper planning: primary contributor to project success.
● Primary purpose of WBS: ensure no task is overlooked.
● Every task should be listed. Include material and human resources.
● This is a non-trivial task.
Types of WBS: Outline, Tree Format, Tabular View, Hierarchical Structure.
Approaches for developing a WBS:
- Using Guidelines
Guidelines for developing a WBS should be followed, if provided by an organization (ex.
DOD) - what type of WBS should be used?
- Analogy Approach
Review WBSs of similar projects and tailor to your project.
- Top-Down Approach
Start with largest items of the project and break them down.
- Bottom-Up Approach
Start with the specific tasks and roll them up.
- Mind Mapping
A technique that uses branches radiating out from a core idea to structure thoughts and ideas.
