Projects are becoming increasingly complex – be it driven from technical requirements or expectations.
Scope of projects can often be mis-interpreted, misunderstood or not altogether well defined. Given the demands on-time and on-budget project delivery, it has now become more important than ever to manage scope and scope changes to ensure successful project delivery.
For smooth and successful project scope delivery, I believe there are three core ingredients:
- Documentation
- Process
- People
Let me explain…
Documentation
This covers all documents produced using the Initiation or definition and specification phase of project, including documents such as: business case & requirements, timeframes, budgets, solution design, wireframes, user scenarios/stories etc. See recent article titled ‘Technical & Business Project Management Methods’ for a comprehensive listing.
Process
It is important to put structure around the project documentation to help guide how all project participants are to work together. Whether a classic, agile or hybrid project approach be adopted, it is important that your project processes be in tune with the project approach taken.
People
Documentation and Process will provide the foundations for a good project delivery however, without People, projects don’t get delivered. The key to project delivery is to ensure all stakeholders and PEOPLE are properly engaged, consulted and invited to provide feedback is needed or decisions are required to be made. This will serve to ensure buy-in and commitment is maintained from start to finish of the project.