Tips for Implementing Project Methodologies

Tips for Implementing Project Methodologies

"What is a methodology"?

A methodology is a step-by-step method for delivering projects. It describes every step in depth, so that you know what you have to do to deliver your project. By following the same steps for every project you undertake, you'll save time and effort on projects.

"How do I select a suitable methodology?"

The first step is to define your requirements. You need to think about what it is that you want from your methodology, the type of content it should contain and the way in which you intend to use it.

For instance, your requirements might be as follows:

• It needs to contain a complete Project Life Cycle
• Every step in the life cycle should be described in depth
• Each step should have practical templates and examples to help to complete the step quickly and easily
• It needs to be based on worldwide project standards
• It should suit all project types and sizes
• It should be easily customizable.

The next step is to review the methodologies used currently by your organization. Why reinvent the wheel if you have something that works in-house? Look at every methodology used and compare them to your requirements to see if there is a good fit.

If there isn't a good fit, then you need to look at purchasing a suitable methodology toolset. Start by searching the term “project management methodology” in Google and comparing each methodology you find against your requirements.

If you find a methodology that has an 80% fit, then that’s great. Just make sure you can customize the remaining 20% to meet your requirements.

Where you can’t find a suitable methodology toolset, your only option may be to develop a methodology from scratch. This will be more time consuming and expensive than adopting an existing internal methodology or purchasing a third-party methodology.

"How do I implement my selected methodology?"

Whether you've purchased or built your methodology, the next step is to implement it for your organization. This involves:

1. Creating an Implementation Plan.
2. Customizing your methodology for each project.
3. Training your team to use the methodology.
4. Making sure your team follow the methodology.
5. Constantly improving the methodology.

And there you have it. By selecting and implementing a methodology for your projects, you can complete tasks faster and more easily.


Uday Mahajan

10 Tips for Project Success

10 Tips for Project Success

1. 
   
   Starting out: Make sure that when you start out your customer defines their requirements in depth. You need to know exactly what it is that must be delivered, to who and when. Make it specific, write it up formally and get them to sign it off. This document will become the basis upon which to measure your success.
   
2. 
   
   Customers: Involve your customers throughout the entire project life cycle. Get them involved in the analysis and planning, as well as execution. You don't have to seek their approval, just keep them informed. The more you involve them, the greater their level of buy-in and the easier it is to manage their expectations.
   
3. 
   
   Timeframes: Keep your delivery timeframes short and realistic. Never agree to lengthy timeframes. Split the project into “mini-projects” if you need to. Keep each mini-project to less than 6 months. This keeps everyone motivated and focused.
   
4. 
   
   Milestones: Break your project timeframe into "Milestones" which are manageable pieces of work. Add delivery deadlines to your milestones and try to deliver on every deadline, no matter what. If you're late, tell your customer about it as early as possible.
   
5. 
   
   Communications: Make sure you keep everyone informed by providing the right information at the right time. Produce Weekly Status Reports and run regular team meetings. Use these Project Management Templates to save you time.
   
6. 
   
   Scope: Only authorize changes to your project scope if there is no impact on the timeline. Get your customers approval to important scope changes first and then get their buy-in to extend the delivery dates if you need to.
   
7. 
   
   Quality: Keep the quality of your deliverables as high as possible. Constantly review quality and never let it slip. Implement “peer reviews” so that team members can review each others deliverables. Then put in place external reviews to ensure that the quality of the solution meets your customer's needs.
   
8. 
   
   Issues: Jump on risks and issues as soon as they are identified. Prioritize and resolve them before they impact on your project. Take pride in keeping risks and issues to a minimum.
   
9. 
   
   Deliverables: As each deliverable is complete, hand it formally over to your customer. Get them to sign an Acceptance Form to say that it meets their expectations. Only then can you mark each deliverable off as 100% complete.
   
10. 
    
    Your team: Great projects are run by great teams. Hire the best people you can afford. Spend the time to find the right people. It will save you time down the track. Remember, good people are easy to motivate. Show them the vision and how they can make it happen. Trust and believe in them. Make them feel valued. They will work wonders.
    
    
    - Uday Mahajan