sizing

Project Sizing Guideline 7 March 2014

Project Sizing Guideline Purpose

This Project Sizing Guideline assists in determining the size of a Project. The aim of sizing a project is to determine the minimum level of project management documentation and governance required to enable the project’s success.

Guideline- Sizing attributes 1. Budget

The following scale is used to determine the budgetary effort required for a project.

Note: The budget rating scale does not apply to construction projects

Budgetary Effort Rating Scale

1 2 3

Budget <100K 100K – 500K >500K

2. Complexity

Complexity is determined by the level of interdependency with other projects and systems.

Note: Links to other systems or projects should be verified with Information Technology Services (ITS).

Complexity Rating Scale

1 2 3 4

Level of interdependency

No links to other systems or projects

A few links to other systems or projects

Moderate links to other systems or projects

High links to other systems


3. Organisational alignment

Alignment Rating Scale

1 2

Operational / Tactically aligned to solve a particular business need or problem.

Strategically aligns to the ANU by 2020 strategy for Effective Organisation, incorporating one or more of the following attributes.

- Excellence in Research

- Excellence in Education

- Excellence as a National Policy Resource

- World Class Staff

- Inspired Students

- Engaged Alumni

- National and International Outreach

- Embedded Access and Equity

- Effective Organisation

- High Quality Infrastructure

4. Stakeholder relationships

Stakeholder relationships are determined by the number of groups who will be affected by the project in some way, whether directly or indirectly. The following scale is used to determine the relationships of a project.

Stakeholder Relationships Rating Scale

1 2 3 4

Targeted Audience

Small subset (within one group or function)

Medium subset (multiple groups or functions of the ANU and/or external entities)

Large subset (larger portions of the ANU plus multiple external entities)

Large group (the entire ANU plus external entities)

5. Risk

Evaluate the risk to the project’s success and the risk to the ANU of undertaking or not undertaking the project.

Risk

Impact 1 2 3

Legal, operational, financial or reputational

Low

Minimal risk (can manage using routine procedures).

Moderate

Significant risks (can manage using standard risk management plan).

High

Major risks (requires senior management sign-off on risk management plan.


Assessment of size 1. If the majority of parameters fall in the upper end of the attribute scale (e.g. ≥ 3) then the

project should be determined as large in size. The exception to this is the alignment rating scale. A score of 2 would categorise the project as medium or large.

2. If the majority of parameters fall in the lower end of the attribute scale (e.g. 1) then the project should be determined as small in size.

3. Project scores that fall in between the measures suggested above, maybe rated as medium in size.

4. It is important to focus on the project as a whole, not on the individual elements of the project.

5. Interdependencies in terms of the links that the project team will need to form and how this is going to impact management of the project, should be considered.

6. Consider all risk aspects of the project combined when determining the impact rating.

7. Remember that the aim of sizing your project is to determine the minimum level of project management documentation and governance required to enable the project’s success.

Project Sizing Assessment Grid Please see example values for a project, defined below (highlighted in red).

Assessment of size- the majority of parameters fall in the upper end of the attributes scale.

Result = Medium project

Category Budget

Complexity

Organisational alignment

Stakeholder relationships

Risk

Description Budgetary effort required for a project

Level of interdependency with other projects and systems

Alignment Rating Scale, Operational / Strategic

Number of groups who will be affected by the project directly or indirectly

Legal, operational, financial or reputational

Measure 1= <100K, 2= 100K – 500K,

3=>500K

1= No links, 2= A few links, 3=Moderate

links

1= Operational / Tactically to

solve a business need 2=

Strategically focused ANU

2020

1= Small subset, 2= Medium, 3= Large, 4= Large Entire ANU plus external entities

1= Low, 2= Moderate, 3= High

This Project sizing assessment

1 2 2 2 2

Project Size Attribute Scale

≥ 3 Large, 2= Medium or Large, 1= Small

Overall Assessment of this Project

Score: 2

Project Size: Medium

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