stepwise planning

SE403SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER 3AN OVERVIEW OFPROJECT PLANNINGAssist. Prof. Dr. Volkan TUNALIFaculty of Engineering / Maltepe University

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Overview

Introduction to Step Wise Project Planning Select Project Identify Project Scope and Objectives Identify Project Infrastructure Analyze Project Characteristics Identify Project Products and Activities Estimate Effort for Each Activity Identify Activity Risks Allocate Resources Review/Publicize Plan Execute Plan/Lower Levels of Planning

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Introduction to Project Planning

Project planning guides the execution of the project, coordinating the activities. facilitates better communication between the project

stakeholders. provides a means of tracking and monitoring the progress. provides a detailed documentation regarding planning

decisions. Project planning is of significant importance for the success

of the project. Careful planning helps prevent costly mistakes. Good planning is the key to meet the project objectives within

defined time and budget.

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Introduction to Project Planning

Many different techniques can be used for project planning.

This chapter introduces the Step Wise method. An example to other methods is the PRINCE2 method.

It is a set of project management standards that were originallysponsored by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) for use on British governtment ICT and business change projects. The standarts are now also widely used on non-government projects in the UK.

Step Wise method is also compatible with PRINCE2. Step Wise covers only the planning stages of a project and not

monitoring and control.

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An Overview of Step Wise

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An Outline of Step Wise Planning Activities

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Step 0: Select Project

Called Step 0 because it is actually outside the main project planning steps.

While feasibility study suggests that there is a business case for the project, it would still need to be established that it should have priority over other projects.

This evaluation can be part of project portfolio management.

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Step 1: Identify Project Scope and Objectives

1.1. Identify objectives and practical measures of the effectiveness in meeting those objectives How do we know we are successful?

1.2: Establish a project authority Who is the boss?

1.3. Stakeholder analysis – identify all stakeholders in the project andtheir interests Who does what?

1.4. Modify objectives in the light of stakeholder analysis What shall we do for the commitment of stakeholders to the project?

1.5. Establish methods of communication with all parties How do we stay in touch and informed?

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Step 2: Identify Project Infrastructure

2.1. Identify relationship between the project andstrategic planning

2.2. Identify installation standards and procedures 2.3. Identify project team organization

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Step 3: Analyze Project Characteristics

3.1. Distinguish the project as either objective- orproduct-driven

3.2. Analyze other project characteristics (includingquality-based ones)

3.3. Identify high-level project risks 3.4. Take into account user requirements

concerning implementation 3.5. Select development methodology and life-

cycle approach 3.6. Review overall resource estimates

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Step 4: Identify Project Products & Activities

4.1. Identify and describe project products (or deliverables)

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4.2. Document generic product flows

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4.3. Recognize product instances 4.4. Produce ideal activity network

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4.5. Modify the ideal to take into account need for stagesand checkpoints Assumption of ideal activity network: an activity will start as soon as the preceding ones upon which it

depends have been completed. But we need to divide the project into stages and introducing

checkpoint activities to check that products of preceding activities are compatible.

Milestones represent the completion of important stages of the project of which managers would want to take particular note. Checkpoint activities are often useful milestones.

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Step 5: Estimate Effort for Each Activity

5.1. Carry out bottom-up estimates Estimates for each activity is produced about staff effort required probable elapsed time non-staff resources

Elapsed time is different from effort! Effort is the amount of work that needs to be done. Elapsed time is the time between the start and end of a

task.

5.2. Revise plan to create controllable activities

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Step 6: Identify Activity Risks

6.1. Identify and quantify activity-based risks Look at each activity in turn and assess the risks to its successful

outcome. The damage that each risk could cause and the likelyhood of its

occurrence must be evaluated.

6.2. Plan risk reduction and contingency measures where appropriate Contingency plans specify action that is to be taken if a risk

materializes.

6.3. Adjust overall plans and estimates to take account of risks

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Step 7: Allocate Resources

7.1. Identify and allocate resources 7.2. Revise plans and estimates to take into account

resource constraints

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Step 8: Review/Publicize Plan

8.1. Review quality aspects of the project plan Each task should have quality criteria. These quality checks have to be passed before the

activity can be “signed off” as completed.

8.2. Document plans and obtain agreement Plans should be carefully documented. All the parties to the project must understand and

agree on the plan.

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Steps 9/10: Execute Plan/Lower Levels of Planning

Once the project is under way, plans will need to be drawn up in greater detail for each activity as it becomes due.

Detailed planning of the later stages will need to be delayed because more information will be available nearer the start of the stage.

It is necessary to make provisional plans for the more distant tasks.

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Summary

Any planning approach should have the following elements: the establishment of project objectives the analysis of the characteristics of the project the establishment of an infrastructure consisting of an appropriate

organization and set of standards, methods and tools the identification of the products of the project and the activities

needed to generate those products the allocation of resources to activities the establishment of quality controls

Project planning is an iterative process As the time approaches for particular activities to be carried out they

should be replanned in more detail.

stepwise planning

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