Project Management

• • Monitoring & Controlling: Tracking progress against the plan, managing the budget and schedule, and implementing changes as needed.
  • Closure: Finalizing all applications, documenting lessons learned, and formally closing the project.
• Agile Elements (for Application Development): Within the execution phase, the development of each application will incorporate agile principles. This allows for flexibility and iterative progress, enabling the development teams to adapt to challenges and deliver value incrementally. This might involve short sprints, regular team meetings, and a focus on working software.

This hybrid approach allows for the structured oversight needed for interconnected projects with a fixed deadline and budget, while providing the flexibility required for the individual development efforts.

2. Accomplishments in Each Phase:

• Initiation & Prioritization:
  • Project Charter (high-level definition, objectives, constraints).
  • Project Overview Statement (detailed understanding of each application's goals and contribution).
  • Prioritized list of applications based on the chosen method (see section 11).
  • Identification of key stakeholders (see section 14).
  • Initial risk assessment (high-level) (see section 15).
  • Team agreement established (see section 9).
• Planning:
  • Detailed Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) (see section 4 and 16).
  • Resource allocation plan for each application and the overall project.
  • Initial Gantt chart outlining the estimated timelines for all applications (see section 6 and 17).
  • Initial budget outlining the estimated costs for each application and the overall project (see section 19).
  • Detailed risk management plan with mitigation strategies (see section 15).
  • Communication plan for stakeholders (see section 14).
• Execution:
  • Development of each of the nine applications by the assigned teams.
  • Regular progress tracking and reporting.
  • Management of resources and resolution of any conflicts or issues.
  • Facilitation of communication and collaboration among team members.
  • Quality checks and testing of each application.
• Monitoring & Controlling:
  • Continuous monitoring of the project schedule and budget against the baseline.
  • Tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs) related to progress and adherence to success criteria.
  • Regular project status meetings.
  • Implementation of change control processes for any deviations from the plan.
  • Risk monitoring and implementation of contingency plans as needed.
• Closure:
  • Verification that all nine applications are completed and meet the required specifications.
  • Final budget reconciliation.
  • Final project report documenting performance against objectives and success criteria.
  • Stakeholder sign-off on project completion.
  • Lessons learned documentation.
  • Team recognition and release.

3. Process for Eliciting and Developing a Project Overview Statement:

The process to elicit and develop a Project Overview Statement document will involve the following steps:

1. Individual Application Briefings: Schedule individual meetings with the stakeholders or representatives responsible for each of the nine identified applications. The goal of these meetings is to understand:
   • The specific objectives and goals of the application.
   • The intended functionality and features.
   • The target users or beneficiaries.
   • Any known dependencies on other applications.
   • High-level estimates for effort and resources from their perspective.
   • Key success metrics for that specific application.
2. Document Gathering: Collect any existing documentation related to each application, such as initial proposals, business requirements, or conceptual designs.
3. Cross-Functional Workshop: Organize a workshop involving key stakeholders from across the company, including representatives from leadership, development teams, and potential end-users. The objectives of this workshop are:
   • Shared Understanding: Present a high-level overview of all nine projects to ensure everyone understands the scope of the overall initiative.
   • Dependency Identification: Facilitate a discussion to identify and document all interdependencies between the applications. This is crucial for sequencing and scheduling.
   • Alignment with Strategic Goals: Reconfirm how each application contributes to the company's overall strategic goals and the success of the initiative.
   • High-Level Risk Identification: Brainstorm potential high-level risks and opportunities associated with the collective set of projects.
   • Initial Success Criteria Validation: Review and refine the overall project success criteria (budget and timeline) in light of the individual application needs.
4. Drafting the Project Overview Statement: Based on the information gathered from the individual briefings and the cross-functional workshop, develop a draft Project Overview Statement document. This document will include:
   • Project Title: A clear and concise title for the strategic initiative.
   • Executive Summary: A brief overview of the initiative, its objectives, and expected benefits.
   • Application Overviews: For each of the nine applications:
     • Application Name/Identifier
     • Brief Description and Objectives
     • Key Features/Functionality
     • Target Users
     • Known Dependencies
     • Preliminary Estimates (effort, resources)
     • Application-Specific Success Metrics
   • Overall Project Objectives and Success Criteria: Restatement of the overarching goals and the defined budget and timeline constraints.
   • High-Level Risks and Opportunities: Initial list of identified risks and potential opportunities.
   • Key Stakeholders: Identification of the major stakeholders involved in the initiative.
5. Stakeholder Review and Feedback: Circulate the draft Project Overview Statement to all key stakeholders for review and feedback. Schedule follow-up meetings as needed to discuss their input and address any concerns or gaps.
6. Finalization and Approval: Incorporate the feedback from stakeholders to finalize the Project Overview Statement. Obtain formal approval from the company's leadership to ensure alignment and commitment. This approved document will serve as a guiding reference throughout the project lifecycle.

4. WBS for the Project (Deliverable-Based):

1.0 Strategic Initiative Completion
    1.1 Application Development
        1.1.1 Application 1
            1.1.1.1 Requirements Specification
            1.1.1.2 Design
            1.1.1.3 Development
            1.1.1.4 Testing
            1.1.1.5 Deployment
        1.1.2 Application 2
            1.1.2.1 Requirements Specification
            1.1.2.2 Design
            1.1.2.3 Development
            1.1.2.4 Testing
            1.1.2.5 Deployment
        1.1.3 Application 3
            1.1.3.1 Requirements Specification
            1.1.3.2 Design
            1.1.3.3 Development
            1.1.3.4 Testing
            1.1.3.5 Deployment
        1.1.4 Application 4
            1.1.4.1 Requirements Specification
            1.1.4.2 Design
            1.1.4.3 Development
            1.1.4.4 Testing
            1.1.4.5 Deployment
        1.1.5 Application 5
            1.1.5.1 Requirements Specification
            1.1.5.2 Design
            1.1.5.3 Development
            1.1.5.4 Testing
            1.1.5.5 Deployment
        1.1.6 Application 6
            1.1.6.1 Requirements Specification
            1.1.6.2 Design
            1.1.6.3 Development
            1.1.6.4 Testing
            1.1.6.5 Deployment
        1.1.7 Application 7
            1.1.7.1 Requirements Specification
            1.1.7.2 Design
            1.1.7.3 Development
            1.1.7.4 Testing
            1.1.7.5 Deployment
        1.1.8 Application 8
            1.1.8.1 Requirements Specification
            1.1.8.2 Design
            1.1.8.3 Development
            1.1.8.4 Testing
            1.1.8.5 Deployment
        1.1.9 Application 9
            1.1.9.1 Requirements Specification
            1.1.9.2 Design
            1.1.9.3 Development
            1.1.9.4 Testing
            1.1.9.5 Deployment
    1.2 Project Management
        1.2.1 Project Initiation Deliverables
            1.2.1.1 Project Charter
            1.2.1.2 Project Overview Statement (Final)
            1.2.1.3 Stakeholder Register (Initial)
            1.2.1.4 Risk Register (Initial)
            1.2.1.5 Team Agreement (Final)
        1.2.2 Project Planning Deliverables
            1.2.2.1 Project Management Plan (Overall)
            1.2.2.2 Detailed Application Development Plans (for each application)
            1.2.2.3 Work Breakdown Structure (Final)
            1.2.2.4 Project Schedule (Initial Gantt Chart)
            1.2.2.5 Project Budget (Initial)
            1.2.2.6 Resource Allocation Plan
            1.2.2.7 Communication Plan (Final)
            1.2.2.8 Risk Management Plan (Detailed)
        1.2.3 Project Execution Deliverables
            1.2.3.1 Developed Applications (all nine)
            1.2.3.2 Regular Progress Reports
            1.2.3.3 Issue Logs and Resolutions
            1.2.3.4 Change Requests (if any) and Approvals
            1.2.3.5 Quality Assurance Reports (for each application)
        1.2.4 Project Monitoring & Controlling Deliverables
            1.2.4.1 Updated Project Schedule (Revised Gantt Charts)
            1.2.4.2 Updated Project Budget
            1.2.4.3 Performance Reports (Schedule Variance, Cost Variance)
            1.2.4.4 Risk Monitoring Reports
        1.2.5 Project Closure Deliverables
            1.2.5.1 Final Project Report
            1.2.5.2 Final Budget Reconciliation
            1.2.5.3 Stakeholder Acceptance Sign-offs
            1.2.5.4 Lessons Learned Document
            1.2.5.5 Team Performance Evaluations (if applicable)

5. Team Estimates to Complete:

Part 1: Project Management Plan

1. Methodology:

I will use a Hybrid Project Management Methodology, primarily leveraging a Phased Approach with elements of Agile for the development of individual applications.

• Phased Approach (Waterfall-like for overall structure): The project will be broken down into distinct phases with clear deliverables and approvals to maintain control over the interconnected nature of the nine projects and the overall timeline. These phases will likely include:
  • Initiation & Prioritization: Defining the project, prioritizing applications, and establishing the project overview.
  • Planning: Developing detailed plans for each application, including resource allocation, timelines, and risk management. Creating the WBS and Gantt chart.
  • Execution: Overseeing the development of each application, managing resources, and addressing issues.