Project Management Workshop Overview By Tarek Lahdhiri Region 4 PACE Chair IEEE Region 4 Meeting January 30/31, 2004

Introduction: Definition of a Project Starting and Planning a project Managing a project Running Meetings Closing a project Workshop Subjects

Definition of a project What is wrong with our projects? Types of projects Typical phases of a project –Concept/Planning –Development –Approval Testing –Deployment & Close-out Introduction

Idea –What do we need? –Questions to ask at the start of a project Team –Who is in the team? –Roles and responsibilities Scope –Create a vision –Identify the deliverables Starting and Planning

Goals: Balance the following objectives –Development speed (time to market) –Development cost –Product cost –Product performance Requirements: create documents that details: –Requirements and performance of each deliverable –User Acceptance Tests Risks: identify and analyze the risks Starting and Planning (continued)

Scheduling and Estimating Steps: –Create a work breakdown structure –Estimate work to complete the tasks –Identify dependencies among tasks –Assign resources to tasks –Identify critical issues to track –Include contingency plans –Identify milestones to track Refining the Plans Understand task dependency Tradeoff decisions Starting and Planning (continued)

How do we use planning deliverables to tell if we are on track? –Track using milestones –Track using defect trend data How do we use meetings and status to measure progress? –Team meeting members –Team meeting minutes –Effective status updates Managing a Project

How are design reviews and testing critical to gauging project progress? –Judging design completeness –Design reviews throughout the project to prevent defects –Judging product quality Risk management Managing a Project (continued)

Planning a meeting Meeting Sequence Attendee list (who to invite?) Attitude: pre-selling, pre-coaching Meeting Roles –Leader –Facilitator –Recorder –Participants Running Meetings

Identify ongoing assessment of customer satisfaction Ensure adequate hand-offs to all groups (service, manufacturing, marketing, sales...) Archive project documents Conduct a lessons-learned meeting Closing the Project

The workshop will include: –Study case –Many examples of forms: risk/issue form meeting minute form responsibility matrix form Workbook tracking form –An example of workbook project tracking from automotive industry Illustrations and Examples

Projects come in many sizes & complexities Every project can benefit from –Creation of a Project Vision document –Establishment of a strong cross-functional team –Early assessment and testing of risks –Strong planning and estimating –Practical management and meeting approaches Every team member can help make sure these techniques are used well. Summary