Across the world today software development in all shapes and sizes is growing exponentially. There is a software revolution and without a doubt it is an exciting world to be part of. The future is literally happening before our very eyes and never before have we as project managers needed to be on our toes to ensure that we keep pace with this technology race.
2. Across the world today software development in all shapes and sizes is growing
exponentially. There is a software revolution and without a doubt it is an exciting
world to be part of. The future is literally happening before our very eyes and never
before have we as project managers needed to be on our toes to ensure that we
keep pace with this technology race.
Get Fast: A Survival Strategy For Software Development
Editor at Large, Enterprise MobilityThomas Claburn
http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/mobile-applications/get-fast-a-
survival-strategy-for-software-development/d/d-id/1320195
3. This presentation will give you the basic and fundamental steps to plan,
develop and rollout a software project.
The Project Framework
The Business Case
Software Delivery Lifecycle (SDLC)
4. A project Management Framework consists
of three parts a project lifecycle, a project
control cycle and tool and templates to
facilitate the execution of the project. It is
important to remember that the project
framework supports the critical path.
5. The Project Framework is setup to manage the project management phases that
will plan, control and execute the product to be delivered and the software
delivery that forms the critical path and triple constraints
Project Management Software Delivery Life Cycle
Not on Critical Path
Supports and controls the software
delivery cycle
Always on the Critical Path
Will have a baselined project plan
to control the project
This will result in
• Delivering the product in line with current strategic objectives
• The roles and responsibilities for the business, project and technical teams
• A process that is adaptable in line with current requirements
• A process that is not complex and easy to use
• Control of the documentation and administration used during the course of each
project.
6. A recommended approach
The Project
Framework Team
The Roles The Methodology
The PMO The Risk Profile
The Success
Factors
The Project
Roadmap
The Project
Phases
The Project
Folders
7. PMOManagement
Business
Technical
Operations
Production/On-Line
The Project Framework Team
• Business Sponsor
• Product Manager
• Business Analyst
• Stakeholders
• PMO Mngr
• Project Mngr
• Project Admin
• Suppliers
• Technical Team
• UX Team
• Testing Team
• Quality Team
• Financial Mngr
• Quality Mngr
• Process Mngr
• Production Mngr
• On-Line Mngr
• Support team
Each company will have a different approach for the project framework but
the framework should cover the key business units involved in project
delivery
8. Team Role
Business At this stage business will provide an advisory role outlying how the project will help the
business to develop their vision and mission and what they hope to achieve with the
product to be developed
Technical The technical team whether internal or external must identify the key requirements to
roll out their technical strategy and assist the PMO to ensure that the correct processes,
methodologies and environments are in place for product development
Operations Operations will provide the full support to ensure that contracts, financials and
operational processes are in place and aligned to how all projects need to be rolled out
and delivered
Production/On-Line Production/On-line will provide the essential guidelines on what is required once the
product goes live and how the product will be integrated into the live system
The Roles
The project framework will outline the roles where the process,
governance and the overall management for the delivery of the software
product is understood and agreed by the key management divisions
9. Establishing the project methodology will provide the correct
process for managing and delivering a project successfully. The two
main bodies of project management practices that are used today
are PMBOK and Prince2. Each methodology has its own set of
principles providing the advantage of the ability to combine the best
of both worlds.
The Methodology
• Provides all round guidance and knowledge on
project management
• The knowledge areas provide a systematic
approach to managing a project
• Provides guidance and a step by step process to
managing a project
• Provides structured documentation through the
project life cycle
• Ties in to the PMI approach for managing
projects
• Is accepted across the world as an industry
standard
• Provides a well-rounded administrative
approach to project management
• Focusses on the product and business case
• Detailed guidelines for change control,
configuration management and quality
• Can be tailored and applied to any project
• Offers a framework for facilitating individual
projects
• Is widely used by banks throughout the
world as the preferred methodology for
project management
10. The PMO
PMO Governance
Best Practice
Change
Management
Supplier
Management
Resource
Management
Process
Development
Projects
Execution
Setting up a formal PMO allows for a structured
approach to the overall project management
and can be used effectively whether it is a small
or large company.
• Dashboard status reports
• Management of resources and skills
required
• Control and track of all decisions made
• Tracking and control of financial targets
• Change management
• Process development
• Strategic alignment to company objectives
• Management of governance within the
Project Life Cycle
11. These factors should be based on the project to be deployed and should
be amended accordingly
The Risk Profile
Time to
Market
Skills
Technology
Infrastructure
Suppliers
Team
Size
Stakeholders
One of the advantages of identifying the risk profile
will allow you to clearly specify if the project is a small,
medium or large project. This will provide a clear way
forward on how to setup the project framework and
what governance, skills are required to deliver
successful projects. .
Using lessons learnt here from
previous projects provides
valuable insights into the risk
profile
12. Risk Skills
Corporate
Culture
ComplexityPriority Budget
Size InfrastructureSchedule
When beginning the process of setting up the
project framework it is important to note the key
success factors that are required as part of your
overall methodology and what will drive the
project to success and a return on investment
Establishing the success factors will help you to ensure that the project is
setup to achieve these factors throughout the project life cycle
The Success Factors
13. The Project Roadmap
• Reflects the deliverables and priorities
• Projects can be adjusted on the roadmap in line with business
changes and requirements
• Reflects status milestones at a glance
• Shows projects at risk
• Shows dependencies between projects
The project roadmap is a perfect application to allow for the
rollout and priority of all projects under the radar. It will
easily reflect the business requirements of when to launch
the products and the feasibility to do so in line with the
current technology and infrastructure that is available to the
company at any given time.
14. The Project Phases
Initiation Planning Execution and Control Close Out
• Setup the Project
• Setup the Team
• Finalise the Charter
• Baseline the business
case
• Finalise the project
approach
• Prepare the Kick Off
Presentation
• Complete the Project
Kick off check list
• Hold kick off meeting
• Submit notification to
announce project in now
live
• Finalise Project Initiation
Document
• Plan Communication
Strategy
• Plan Quality Strategy
• Plan Procurement
Strategy
• Plan Configuration
Strategy
• Finalise Project Schedule
• Finalise Project
Financials
• Define issue and risk
protocols
• Define governance
• Setup Project Folders
• Finalise Resource Plan
• Manage business case
• Manage work packages
• Track issues and risks
• Hold status meetings
• Track financials against
approved project budget
• Track supplier
performance
• Manage project plan and
resource time sheets
• Update agreed
dashboards and PMO
reports
• Hold regular stakeholder
meetings to agree a go
or no go throughout the
project
• Close out all
administration activities
• Ensure that all
documentation has been
moved to a central
location
• Conduct final contract
reviews
• Conduct lessons learnt
• Release resources
• Conduct project audit and
release findings
• Finalise all invoices and
payments
• Close financials on project
This is a generic process and should be adapted to your own individual
project
15. ProjectFolders
Project Name
Initiation
Planning
Control
Close out
Programme
Management
Status Reports
Time Sheets
Financials
Reports
It is a good idea to setup a standardized folder
structure for project documents which follows the
agreed methodology that you have implemented.
This would be located on your shared document
server and this must be carefully planned and
controlled with the project team.
There are many ways to do this however SharePoint
seems to be the preferred solution.
The Project Folders
16. A business case captures the reasoning for
initiating a project or task. It is often
presented in a well-structured written
document, but may also sometimes come in
the form of a short verbal argument or
presentation. The logic of the business case
is that, whenever resources such as money or
effort are consumed, they should be in
support of a specific business need.
17. A well-constructed business case will provide the correct way forward on how
the service or product must be designed, planned, developed and finally
launched.
At a high level the business case will outline the benefits, costs and feasibility of
the product to be launched. This document must be very clear and definitely
show the company how their return on this investment will become a reality
once their product is launched
Going forward the approved business case becomes the barometer throughout
the project guiding the way towards meeting the agreed strategy, goals and
objectives
What Why How
Desired Business Results
18. A recommended approach
The Business
Team
The Roles
The
Methodology
The Business
Canvas
The Schedule
The
Document
19. During the compilation of the business case the project manager and
operations manager provides an advisory role. They may be required to
approve the business case.
The Business Team
BusinessCase
Business Owner
Business Analyst
Project Manager
Operations Manager
20. Team Role
Business Owner The New Business Manager is responsible to build the client relationship by acting as
the interface between the client and the Forgood project team. The New Business
Manager is responsible to ensure that the client’s requirements are identified and
provide a solution and cost on how Forgood can meet those requirements
Business Analyst The Business Analyst identifies business needs and determines solutions to business
problems. Solutions often include a systems development component, but may also
consist of process improvement, organizational change or strategic planning and policy
development.
Project Manager The Project Manager provides an integrated framework for project organisation;
planning and control which is designed to ensure the timely and cost-effective
production of all the end-products maintain acceptable standards of quality achieve for
the enterprise the benefit for which the investment in the project has been made.
Operations Manager The operations manager will provide an end to end view of the business which can
incorporate the understanding of strategic objectives, development of an operational
strategy, design of the operations services and process, planning, controlling and
improving the performance of the operation. These factors will help establish the
project framework across operational activity
The Roles
The role will define what the expectations are during the business case
phase
21. Define
Strategy
Ensure
financial
support
Ensure
management
commitment
Deliver
business case
The Methodology
A business case captures the reasoning for initiating a project or task.
It is often presented in a well-structured written document, but may
also sometimes come in the form of a short verbal argument or
presentation. The logic of the business case is that, whenever resources
such as money or effort are consumed, they should be in support of a
specific business need.
22. Setting up a business canvas with your team will give you an edge in identifying the
key points that need to be incorporated into your business case.
The agreed points should be included into the business case table of contents.
The Business Canvas
23. Task Name
Define the Opportunity
Evaluate Business Approach
Evaluate Potential Risks and Rewards
Review and modify the strategic plan
Define the Market
Identify Needed Materials and Supplies
Evaluate Potential Risks and Rewards
Review and modify the business
opportunity
Confirm decision to proceed
The Schedule
Setup the schedule and timeframe to complete all of the tasks for the business case.
This should also include the people assigned to do the actual activities. Ensure that
the assigned time is as agreed with the business owners to complete the business
cases to inform the stakeholders whether the project will proceed to a Go status.
The schedule for the business case must be setup looking at the full scope, cost
and timeframe and a project plan should be setup to manage the business case
from the concept until the final sign off process has been completed
24. Prepare the approval meeting and presentation
Send out the final business case for review
Ensure that the final updates have been incorporated into the business
case and note who made the changes
Any new decisions note them in a decision log and
Setup the final walkthrough and advise of the date, venue and agenda
Ensure that all equipment needed for the meeting is in working order
Conduct the approval meeting and ensure that minutes are recorded
Record the final updates
At the end of the meeting submit the business case for approval
If the project is given a No-Go at this stage store all of the documentation
and note the decision on the product road map
If it is a Go begin the process of setting up the full project
The Document
A business case document is a
formal, written argument
intended to convince a decision
maker to approve some kind of
action. A well-crafted business
case explores all feasible
approaches to a given problem
and enables business owners to
select the option that best serves
the organization outlines the
reasons why a business should
spend money. It helps the
management team to evaluate
and prioritise investment
decisions.
25. SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle.
A Software Development Life Cycle is essentially a
series of steps, or phases, that provide a model for
the development and lifecycle management of an
application or piece of software. The methodology
within the SDLC process can vary across
industries and organizations, but standards such
as ISO/IEC 12207 represent processes that
establish a lifecycle for software, and provide a
mode for the development, acquisition, and
configuration of software systems.
26. The software delivery lifecycle (SDLC) shifts into gear once
the business has given the project a Go Status and the
project team begins to focus on delivering the project in
line with the approved business and quality requirements.
The agreed approach for the SDLC whether it is a Waterfall
or Agile approach will now become an important factor to
ensure that the project is scoped, scheduled and budgeted
for correctly
27. A recommended approach
The SDLC
Team
The Roles
The
Methodology
The Project
Plan
The SDLC
Phases
Analysis
Design Development Testing
Deploy
28. The SDLC Team
SDLCProjectManager
Technical Team
Design Team
Development Team
Testing Team
Production
• Projects of different sizes have different needs for how the people are
organized.
• In a small project, little organization structure is needed.
• There might be a primary sponsor, project manager and a project team.
• However, for large projects, there are more and more people involved, and it is
important that people understand what they are expected to do, and what role
people are expected to fill.
29. The Roles
Team Role
Technical Team The technical team will be solely responsible for defining the functional and technical
solution to be implemented and provide the necessary documentation to ensure that
the technical solution is approved and will provide the desired results.
Design Team The design team can also be referred to as the UX team and is primarily responsible for
the look and feel of the website as well as how the content will be displayed. They will
be responsible for producing UX wireframes
Development Team The development team will work with the technical and design team to code and do
integration testing ensuring that the business requirements, technical requirements and
design requirements are integrated and provide a quality solution
Testing Team The testing team will do end to end testing to ensure that the agreed test cases are
finalised and signed off and will only deliver the correct quality product to be moved
into the live environment
On-Line On line (always referred to as web management) will take over the software delivery
once testing has been concluded and it responsible for the management of the live
product and will be the primary point of communication to the business once the
product is in live status
30. Within your project framework you need to establish the correct delivery approach for your
software projects. However this could also include setting up a SDLC methodology that will
combine the elements of both Waterfall and Agile to provide an optimal result
The Methodology
Delivering
http://www.computerworlduk.com/project-management/agile-waterfall-is-
hybrid-approach-best-for-enterprise-app-development-3572875/
Agile and waterfall – is a hybrid approach best for enterprise app
development
31. Task Name Duration
Basic SDLC Project Plan 141 days
Requirements Analysis 40 days
Design 11 days
Test plan 10 days
Development 87.5 days
QA 11 days
UAT 11 days
Go-live 4 days
The Project Plan
Cost Scope Time Quality
Once all of the pieces for the project plan are in place
and approved you will need to baseline your project
plan and setup the critical path for delivery. It is
important to note that the project baselines will be
modified throughout the project as slippage or
approved changes are introduced
Baseline
The main benefits of having a project
baseline are:
• Ability to assess performance.
• Earned Value calculation.
• Improved future estimating
accuracy.
• Manage quality
32. In conjunction with the Project Management
Methodology, a formal end to end SDLC process model
must be formalized to ensure that there is an end to
end process for the development, testing and
implementation of a product. This will assist in
meeting the quality deliverables of the product as
defined in the relevant technical and analysis
documentation and can be applied to any lifecycle :
Waterfall or Agile
The SDLC Phases
Analysis
Design
DevelopmentTesting
Release
That no matter what methodology you do choose the key SDLC steps will still be
performed in order to deliver a quality product
38. A final
word
Software delivery is where you as the project manager will really lead the
way ensuring that every step and process is followed and managed and
ultimately delivering a quality product into the marketplace.
Without a doubt there are many ways to plan and deliver a software
project but my advice is ensure that the basics are in place, well defined
and then build the approach on top of these well understood and tested
principles.
Doing this will provide you with a sure fire way to deliver and meeting both
the stakeholder’s and business requirements and your project’s goals and
objectives.
Remember to have fun along the way and enjoy your project.
Contact Information
Email cliona.ohanrahan@yahoo.com
Mobile +44 (0) 77 84 302 708
LinkedIn Profile LinkedIn Profile
Skype clionaoh
Cliona O’Hanrahan
MPM; Prince2 ; PMI SME