Project management

The following steps comprise the project management process followed at Aress Software. The steps may overlap and be iterative:

• Startup
• Define and Confirm Scope/Requirements
• Develop Plan and Secure Resources
• Track, Control, Report and Review
• Completion and Assessment

Please Note: Communication, Risk and Issue Management, and Sponsor Management are essential throughout the project -- both planned and spontaneous.

Step 1: Startup As you engage potential team members and customers, project initiation activities establish the scope, goals and preliminary plan. Key Activities:

• Document and/or confirm scope and assumptions
• Draft high level plan
• Identify who needs to provide input into plan and resources

The baseline scope is needed to kickoff the project – refinements can be made later as necessary.

Step 2: Confirm Scope and Define Requirements Engage your sponsor and business stakeholders to confirm the project scope and clarify business requirements. It is also the time to identify the technical requirements Key Activities

• Confirm baseline project scope with Sponsor
• Define, document and confirm business and technical requirements
• Identify impact on business processes
• Identify what’s not in scope

Checklists to consider

• Client

Templates to consider

• Project Scope

Step 3: Develop Plan and Secure Resources The initial detailed project plan will provide a project roadmap and baseline for all team members and clients. As the project evolves, the plan may need to be refined. Key Activities:

• Identify who needs to provide input into plan
• Develop preliminary detailed plan based on scope, requirements, etc.
• Identify skills sets needed to accomplish tasks
• Develop communication plan
• Identify and secure resources
• Conduct pre-launch meeting with the client
• Conduct risk assessment with team members

Checklists to consider

• Project Planning
• Deliverable and Quality Assurance
• Transition

Templates to consider

• Activity list
• Detailed project plan
• Project Resource Plan
• Communication matrix
• Project Risk Assessment

Step 4: Track, Control, Reporting and Review Once you kick off the project, the track, control, reporting and review activities will be iterative and comprise the bulk of the project management tasks. Key Activities:

• Implement communication plan
  • Hold regular team meetings to:
  • Share progress/status
  • Identify/resolve issues
  • Keep the client updated
  • Keep your manager informed
• Monitor progress and report status
• Monitor risks and take action as necessary
• Identify and manage issues
• Manage scope and track changes
• Update plan as needed

Checklists to Consider

• Client
• Transition

Templates to Consider

• Project scope change
• Communication matrix
• Project status snapshot
• Detailed Project Plan
• Risk Assessment
• Issue Log

Step 5: Completion and Assessment The following activities will help to ensure a smooth transition and leverage lessons learned for future projects. Key Activities

• Develop a cutover plan or checklist, if applicable
• Complete documentation, training, and knowledge transfer
• Conduct final project review
• Conduct sponsor sign-off
• Transition to support/service organization or next project team
• Close-out final tasks and issues
• Conduct lessons learned
• Celebrate success

Checklists to consider

• Transition
• Project Closeout

Templates to consider

• Issue log
• Detailed project plan
• Communications Matrix