anatomy of a successful project
DESCRIPTION
How to ensure that your technology projects are successful.TRANSCRIPT
Anatomy of a successful project
or “How to shoot a basketball”
It all starts with preparation
You need a firm foundation
• Answer the question “Does it make sense to invest?”
• Commit Resources– People– Time– Money
• Define a clear route to success
Bend your legs and square your body to the basket
Key to Success: A business vision goes a long way to making a technology business case
Form is everything
• Create a plan• Execute the plan• Revise• Use the Plan!
Elbow bent and parallel with your body
Key to Success: A plan is a tool to get you to “done”. Does yours help or hinder?
Always keep track of the goal
• Team members always have their sites on the same unified goal
• The goal should be clearly marked and if someone is shooting at the sidelines it should be obvious
Move your arm up while extending your elbow
Key to success: The goal of your project should be so clear that any team member can repeat it back to you in their own words.
Follow through
• DWYSYWD• Manage the
Investment• Hold the project
team accountable
Key to success: A project sponsor should dedicate 10 hours a week to a project at a MINIMUM.
Reach into the cookie jar on the top shelf
Anticipate the hurdles and alter your shot
• Resource Conflicts• Scope Creep• Budget Mgmt• Project Expectations
There will always be a great defender waiting to block your shot, don’t be afraid to alter it on the way up
Key to Success: Make good trade-offs. Something will have to be sacrificed to finish the project, make sure it’s the right thing.
Stakes are high!
• We make limited significant investments - make every shot count
• We need your best performers on the team– Backfill for them
• Technology projects can be your agent of change– If and only if you choose
to use itKey to success: Assume your people will be engaged on a project twice as long as you originally expected.