If your project methodology is a 1 pager, expect red projects
Ask yourself how much depth is there in your company’s project methodology.
A one pager is perfect for Sales decks, but your Delivery team needs more comprehensive material. All team members need to know what is expected of them, what quality looks like and aids in the access of related material.
I worked with a large firm where there was a 1 page Project Methodology. Each partner could interpret what was done within each sub phase. The firm was growing and increasingly staffers from different areas were assigned to projects. Each of the team members had divergent expectations of what should be done. As a result there were misunderstandings as to who does what, what a deliverable should include and what meetings should take place. Clients began to see the disarray. And projects began to creep into the red territory.
In a PMI white paper, Sean Whitaker writes, “a project management methodology is a defined, documented and discoverable set of policies, practices, processes, tools, techniques and templates that provide guidance on how projects are run within an organization”. It is not a one pager.
Salesforce partners must invest in a document and in depth methodology. It will drive consistency throughout your entire practice. Staff members will have more confidence as new teams form for each new project. They will know what to expect of their colleagues and the methods. And most importantly, your clients experience a smoother project of high quality.
A project methodology should include the following:
- Details of each sub phase
- Meetings
- Deliverables
- Specific workstream information
- Links to templates
- Describes how quality is baked into the methodology
- And finally, there is a formal training program
The materials for the elements above must be well organized. Each echoing what other areas have already established. Your sales literature should also echo what is established, this includes your SOW templates.
In closing, an in depth methodology is a crucial tool in ensuring the success of your delivery practice.
If you are interested in a free health check of your project methodology, contact me at [email protected]