minimum viable project management

MINIMUM VIABLEPROJECT MANAGEMENT

Jennifer Berk, February 2014

What is a project?

A temporary endeavor to produce a unique result. Generally involves limited time, scope, quality, and/or budget, and tradeoffs between those resources.

Contrast with a semi-permanent operational process, which happens over and over in the same way.

Minimum Viable Project Management

1. Analyze needs2. Create list of tasks and dependencies3. Estimate timelines (and budgets if appropriate)4. Assign tasks to self and/or others5. Communicate the plan and make any revisions6. Monitor and report progress (scope/quality),

estimate if the project will meet the deadline and budget, and modify the plan as needed

7. Deliver results and celebrate!

Traditional PM Processes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Project_development_stages.jpg

Analyze needs

Why are we doing this project? What business objectives will we

achieve? What concrete deliverables will we

produce? What does this project not include (out

of scope)? What quality level is appropriate for this

project? Who is involved, both customers of the

project (stakeholders) and participants? What deadline and budget limits must

we meet?

Create list of tasks and dependencies

Simple projects: checklist Complex projects: Work Breakdown

StructureMake sure you know what tasks have to finish before other tasks can start.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WbsConstruction.png

Estimate timelines (and budgets) For each task, estimate how long it will take. See what different people can do at the same

time. Lay out any sequences of tasks with

prerequisites. List and/or diagram a full project timeline.

Estimate budget similarly, if you have a budget.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Project_network.png

Assign tasks

Who would do a good job on this particular task?

Do they have time to work on it? Are their skills better used on other

tasks? (For bonus development points) Have

they done too much of this kind of task lately? Should they get to learn or practice something different instead? What task assignment makes the team better off overall?

This often changes after asking the team what else they’re working on!

Communicate the plan

This is usually the hardest part. What tasks does each participant need

to complete? What are the scope, quality, and deadline requirements for each task?

Do all stakeholders understand the deliverables they’ll receive, the project timeline, and any risks/constraints that could affect the deliverables or timeline? Do they know when to expect progress updates and how to interpret them?

Do, monitor, report, and modify Do the project tasks! Monitor progress on each task to know if

you’re on time / on budget. Measure quality along the way, if possible. Communicate progress updates regularly to

participants and all other stakeholders. If you estimate you will miss your deadline,

budget, scope, or quality requirements, modify the plan and communicate it again. Overcommunicate early!

Deliver results and celebrate! Communicate your results to

stakeholders via concrete deliverables and discussions.

Make notes on how to improve the next project, based on your experiences and others’ feedback.

Thank project participants and tell them how their work was received and what impact it had. Be as specific as possible about their contribution. Celebrate!

Minimum Viable Project Management

1. Analyze needs2. Create list of tasks and dependencies3. Estimate timelines (and budgets if appropriate)4. Assign tasks to self and/or others5. Communicate the plan and make any revisions6. Monitor and report progress (scope/quality),

estimate if the project will meet the deadline and budget, and modify the plan as needed

7. Deliver results and celebrate!

RECAP!

Traditional PM Processes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Project_development_stages.jpg

RECAP!