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Project Management

What works, what doesn’t

Michael Smith, TeraTech, [email protected]://www.teratech.com

301-881-1440 x110

Copyright TeraTech 2003


Overview

What is Project Management? Why do it? Themes in PM Breakout groups Summary and Resources


Speaker InformationWho am I? Michael Smith President of TeraTech, Inc Rockville

MD http://www.teratech.com/ ttWebReportServer, CFXGraphicserver

MDCFUG, CFUN-03, Fusebox Conf Articles in CFDJ, Fusion Authority Winner CFDJ award Best Consulting


More About Me

22 years programming 7 years with ColdFusion 4 years with Fusebox Also work with SQL, JavaScript, HTML,

VB, Oracle, Access Teach one-on-one and custom classes On site and custom development Fusebox and Process Methodology


What is Project Management

Planning, monitoring and controlling software development.

Proactive vs Reactive Communication


What PM achieves

Plans tasks in project Avoids dependencies problems Reduces risks Track progress accurately Organize project process and timeline Improves client-programmer

communication Better management of client expectations Complete in budget and on time


Project Success Factors

The CHAOS Report , Standish Group

Project Success Factors

1. User Involvement

2. Executive Management Support

3. Clear Statement of Requirements

4. Proper Planning

5. Realistic Expectations

6. Smaller Project Milestones

7. Competent Staff

8. Ow nership

9. Clear Vision & Objectives

10. Hard-Working, Focused Staff


What is a project? has beginning has an end takes resources

people/time money equipment location/desk resource use is temporary


What is same for all Projects?

Each project is different in details but all share common elements. Visualize

set project expectations Plan

dependencies tasks

Implement development

Close evaluating Party!


Benefits of Project Vision

common understanding of project between client and you helps explain what project is about

know when you are done defines general scope of project

avoid doing things that are not in the project get people enthusiastic about project

help get project started help see past obstacles


More reasons for Vision

gives the project focus cuts out unnecessary work helps people work more efficiently help you to think ahead help make project changes

helps with post-evaluation defines success for the project

defines the expectations that need to be met help with project planning evaluate whether to do the project at all


Definition of Project Success

“success equals met expectations”


Basic Elements of Vision

Project definition a few sentences describing the project what when where

Expected results define project expectations prioritized


Do you have a good vision?

SMART Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-dimensioned


Other Vision elements Business requirements

business opportunity business objectives customer/market requirements value provided

business benefits risks

Vision of solution Vision statement major features assumption/dependencies


More elements

Scope and Limitations scope of initial release scope of subsequent release limitations and exclusions

Business Context customer profiles project priorities


Evolving Project Plan

Estimating time Top-down; Bottom-up; and Dictated release date.

Prepare for change, “Murphy Rules” Beware of the “Fudge Factor” Parkinson’s Law


Project Risks

Brainstorm risks Come up with “plan B”s Monitor regular during project


Keeping Track of it all

Reports Show and Tell MBWA Email, Email, Email AIM/MSN/ICQ The quintessential Project Site


Simple Project Site – Contacts


Simple Project Site - Documents


Simple Project Site -Discussion


Simple Project Site - Prototypes


Online Tools –OnProject


Online Tools– Microsoft Project Server


Themes in PM

1. Improve communication

2. Mentoring and Brainstorming

3. Resource Allocation

4. Project Management tools and software

5. Tracking and measurement

6. A Good PM


1. Improve Communication

How can you improve project communication with client and within team? Meeting tips Project status reports Listserv and web


2. Mentoring and Brainstorming

How do you help out team members and solve project problems? How to know there is a problem Code reviews Problem solving techniques Walking around office


3. Resource Allocation

How do you assign different team members to different projects? Who should work on what task How to avoid overload and under-

utilization What to do when things change


4. PM tools and software What tools do you use for PM?

Paper Electronic Spreadsheets PM Software Custom software etc


5. Tracking and measurement

How do you track and measure how your projects are doing? Tracking task completion Deadlines Budgets etc


6. A Good PM

What are characteristics of a good project manager? Technical People skills Other


Resources

The Project Management Institute http://www.pmi.org/

For PM http://www.4pm.com/

Association for PM http://www.apm.org.uk/

All PM http://www.allpm.com/

Project Management Software http://www.project-management-software.org/

Project Kick Start http://www.projectkickstart.com/


PM Books “The Mythical Man-Month” by Frederick

Brooks “Rapid Development” by Steve McConnell “Software Project Survival Guide” by

Steve McConnell “Peopleware” by Tom Demarco, et al “Controlling Software Projects:

Management, Measurement, and Estimates” by Tom Demarco and Barry Boehm


Need PM help?

TeraTech offers One-on-One and Project mentoring


Questions?

Email me at

[email protected]