Project Management Enabling Quality Marien de Wilde, PMP April 2007

PM: Enabling Quality Projects brings people with different skills together to achieve a single purpose Projects brings people with different skills together to achieve a single purpose Conflicts often caused by misunderstanding or not appreciating the value of each others input Conflicts often caused by misunderstanding or not appreciating the value of each others input Today: increase your understanding of the PM role & how a PM influences quality Today: increase your understanding of the PM role & how a PM influences quality

Life as a team member Analyst / Programmer PM

Definitions A project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service A project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service Project management is the discipline of defining and achieving targets while optimizing the use of resources (time, money, people, materials, energy, space, etc) over the course of a project Project management is the discipline of defining and achieving targets while optimizing the use of resources (time, money, people, materials, energy, space, etc) over the course of a project

Environments have become complex…

…and therefore Projects have become complex Who does what when? Who does what when? A lot of work before the first function is written, requires a lot of planning A lot of work before the first function is written, requires a lot of planning Progress reporting is not clear cut. Stakeholders still expect progress by function, not components Progress reporting is not clear cut. Stakeholders still expect progress by function, not components Integration means more dependencies and more stakeholders > project communication Integration means more dependencies and more stakeholders > project communication

…and therefore Projects have become complex (ctd) Integration: components work together … in theory, often leads to in-flight issues Integration: components work together … in theory, often leads to in-flight issues prevent by proof of concept > takes planning and convincing of management prevent by proof of concept > takes planning and convincing of management Integration and components: harder to find source of an issue and harder to make changes Integration and components: harder to find source of an issue and harder to make changes System complexity: Harder to define requirements. Often stated as “whatever it does now + new stuff”, but who knows what it does now? System complexity: Harder to define requirements. Often stated as “whatever it does now + new stuff”, but who knows what it does now? Integration: harder to test > requires multiple levels of testing Integration: harder to test > requires multiple levels of testing Desire for Agile and iterative development > a control nightmare Desire for Agile and iterative development > a control nightmare

Typical work challenges Analyst programming roles Analyst programming roles Where does my component fit into? Where does my component fit into? Have to get up to speed with total infrastructure first Have to get up to speed with total infrastructure first Requirements are never good enough and keep changing Requirements are never good enough and keep changing How can you expect me to estimate something you can’t even specify? How can you expect me to estimate something you can’t even specify? To PM: Let me get on with the work To PM: Let me get on with the work

Typical work challenges (ctd) Business Analysts Business Analysts Challenge to keep up with technology as well as new business models Challenge to keep up with technology as well as new business models How do I get the requirements out of the user if they don’t understand what new systems can do for them? How do I get the requirements out of the user if they don’t understand what new systems can do for them? No single user can tell me what the system does currently No single user can tell me what the system does currently Testing roles Testing roles Complex environments hard to replicate in test bed Complex environments hard to replicate in test bed For proper test planning now requires more technical knowledge For proper test planning now requires more technical knowledge I wish they would involve me earlier in the project I wish they would involve me earlier in the project Why is it always the testing being squeezed in time? Why is it always the testing being squeezed in time?

Typical work challenges (ctd) Architects Architects Who can tell me the recovery objectives? Everything can be done … at a cost. Who can tell me the recovery objectives? Everything can be done … at a cost. Why does the document have to be ready? We can always improve on it? Why does the document have to be ready? We can always improve on it? Why can’t the organisation see that what they want is against the standards? Why can’t the organisation see that what they want is against the standards? What do you mean with scope? What do you mean with scope? Management Management Is the project on track (time/budget)? Is the project on track (time/budget)? Will we realise the intended benefits? Will we realise the intended benefits? What risks the success of the project What risks the success of the project Often not interested in technical complexities Often not interested in technical complexities

Role of the PM – task based Project Planning Project Planning Plan the project activities, schedule resources Plan the project activities, schedule resources Project Control Project Control Manage project schedule, cost, scope and quality Manage project schedule, cost, scope and quality Communication Communication Stakeholder management, not just your team Stakeholder management, not just your team

PM Management areas Integration Integration Scope Scope Time Time Cost Cost Quality Quality Human Resource Human Resource Communications Communications Risk Risk Procurement Procurement PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) areas. Project Management of: Triple constraints

© 2004 Project Management Institute, Inc.

Quality is … Quality is the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfil requirements. Quality is the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfil requirements. Quality Planning – Identifying which quality standards are relevant to the project and how to satisfy them Quality Planning – Identifying which quality standards are relevant to the project and how to satisfy them Quality Assurance – applying the planned quality activities to ensure the project uses the processes needed to meet requirements Quality Assurance – applying the planned quality activities to ensure the project uses the processes needed to meet requirements Quality Control – Monitoring project results for compliance with standards & identifying ways to improve Quality Control – Monitoring project results for compliance with standards & identifying ways to improve

Key PM Tools - PBS Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) is like a Bill of Materials Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) is like a Bill of Materials Ensures you don’t miss anything Helps with planning PM needs your input!

Key PM Tools - WBS Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Key PM Tools - schedule Using PBS, WBS, dependencies, skills requirements & availability, estimates etc. create the Project schedule Using PBS, WBS, dependencies, skills requirements & availability, estimates etc. create the Project schedule PM needs your input!

How can a PM help? Planning – A PM always has a plan Planning – A PM always has a plan Organise project activities and keep project team informed, yet not distracted Organise project activities and keep project team informed, yet not distracted Helps to see where the project is heading Helps to see where the project is heading Helps prioritise your tasks Helps prioritise your tasks Can help you escalate problems and facilitate finding solutions by removing obstacles Can help you escalate problems and facilitate finding solutions by removing obstacles Ensuring that the right stakeholders are involved at the right time. Drawing upon methodologies Ensuring that the right stakeholders are involved at the right time. Drawing upon methodologies Helps interaction with other teams Helps interaction with other teams

Lessons from my experience When is a team too small to warrant a PM? When is a team too small to warrant a PM? Wrong question. Depends on project complexity, clarity of requirements, number of stakeholders, risks etc Wrong question. Depends on project complexity, clarity of requirements, number of stakeholders, risks etc Project schedule is usually not a good communication tool Project schedule is usually not a good communication tool Expectation Management is critical Expectation Management is critical It’s all about People and Communication It’s all about People and Communication Technical or non technical PMs? Technical or non technical PMs? Keep the team focused and motivated Keep the team focused and motivated Project Management is challenging and fun and keeps me from being bored Project Management is challenging and fun and keeps me from being bored

Trends impacting PM Methodologies have strong impact on PM method Methodologies have strong impact on PM method Extreme Programming Extreme Programming Modern architectures have impact on PM Modern architectures have impact on PM Componentisation, layered architectures Componentisation, layered architectures SOA SOA A Connected world A Connected world More interdependencies, external vendors, more stakeholders More interdependencies, external vendors, more stakeholders

The end Time for discussion and Q&A Time for discussion and Q&A