Stren Consulting Services has managed hundreds of projects ranging in size from days/weeks to months/years. We have managed projects though the entire project lifecycle, initiation, planning, executions, control and closure. Constantly managing the communication and goals between the business stakeholders, users, data teams, and development teams.
The Initiation phase of project planning validates the legitimacy of the project and sets up the team.
- Feasibility Study
- Setup Project Management Software
- Decide on Project Manager
Stren Consulting Services excels in project planning because it is all about details and organization. Developing a successful project plan should include all functions of the project plan:
- Communication
- Financial
- Change Management
- Risk Management
- Resource Plans
Accurate documentation is the key to project planning success:
- Setting Clear Goals
- Defining the Scope
- Creating an accurate and flexible WBS (Work Breakdown Structure).
- Resource planning
- Define KPI Measurables
- Define Major Milestones (preferably using GAANT charts)
A project plan is only successful when the project manager is organized, flexible, and respondent to change during the projects progression through the life cycle. The project manager must be able to successfully build the following:
- Develop the Right Team
- Assign the Right Resources
- Communication
- Setting up Accurate Tracking Systems
- Setting up Measurable Milestones
- Reasonable Timeframes
- Execute Change Management when warranted
A project manager must adhere to the project plan and constantly manage, measure, and monitor the team’s progress vs the plan. The PM also has to be able to communicate with the stakeholders on a timely basis.
- Measure KPIs
- Monitor Milestones
- Track team progress
- Track Performance
- Ensure output Quality
- Coordinate timely deliverables
A project manager will need to guard against scope creep and manage costs vs budget. Communication and change control are the key processes to control against project overruns.
- Communication to Stakeholders
- Manage Change Control processes
A project manager should evaluate the business outcomes when formally closing a project. It will help assess project activities such as actual performance versus baseline objectives, unaddressed issues. It is the time to communicate to the stakeholders and the project management team the lessons learned during the project life cycle.
- Post Project Feedback
- Complete Project Performance reporting
- Finish Documentation
- Release Resources
- Archive Documents
- Update Best Practices
- Celebrate Success