All of us, without exception, occasionally find ourselves managing small and medium and even large projects. Each project, large or small, requires a clear definition of goals and objectives and designation of a clear path to achieving them. The project must be planned and a “Project Compass” must be developed. The Project Compass defines the objectives of the project, its stakeholders and the inherent benefits for them, the project life cycle, the project’s outcomes and milestones, the resources required to execute the project, the risks that threaten during its execution, and more. So start your project on the right foot and fill out your project compass, step by step, until approval of the project and beyond…
The Project Name
Give your project a name, identify the customer, set the project priority and appoint a project manager
Project Description
Describe the project in general and explain why it should be done and what will happen if it is not carried out
Project Needs
Describe the need for the project, break it down into small needs and define a priority for execution for each need
Project Goals
Define big goals and break them down into smaller ones – well defined, attainable and measurable
Project Critical Success Factors
Identify the elements that are essential to the project’s success
Project Stakeholders
Identify all the stakeholders in the project
Benefits to the Project Stakeholders
Define and present tangible benefits to each stakeholder
Assumptions and Constraints
Identify the working assumptions and the constraints that affect the project
Project Lifecycle
Describe the entirety of the project from a bird’s eye view
Project Scope
Develop a ‘Work Breakdown Structure’ (WBS) of the project’s content, by breaking it down from top to bottom
Project Work Plan
Estimate the duration for the completion of each task in the project, define the connections between the tasks, and add some extra time at the end as a buffer against unforeseeable events
Project Resources
Identify the resources needed for the project including people, materials, equipment or places etc.
Roles and Responsibilities
Define the roles and responsibilities of all those involved in the project – other than the project’s team member
Project Risks
Identify and estimate all the potential risks in the project and develop proper responses to deal with them
Project Formal Communication
Develop a formal communication plan and include in it all the formal communication channels of the project
Project Approval
Present the project to the client and other stakeholders to obtain their approval to execute the project in full, in part or perhaps not at all
Project Kickoff
Start the project, prepare the teams, the work environment and work procedures and get going
What's Next?
Start managing the project, control and communicate it on a regular basis