How To Successfully Execute Large IT Projects

April 13, 2009 · Filed Under CEO, IT Estimating, Thoughts  - 0 Comment(s)

Interesting article from cioinsight.com defines the items needed to make big IT projects successful.  Of course viable effort, cost, schedule is key to the approach. 

They identify lessons learned from over 75 large projects and identified five “Execution Planning” steps:

1. Start with the steering committee: At least two or three sponsoring executives.

2. Establish the core project team: Four to six people who make 80 percent of project decisions and setup the master schedule / effort / cost plan

3. Establish sub-teams: Sub-team leaders responsible for developing and executing detailed schedule, budget, scope plans in line with the master plan

4. Define roles and responsibilities:  Build a one-page document that clearly defines objectives for all project members to remove ambiguity

5. Build a one-page master project timeline: With  key “anchor dates” against which all sub-team leads are responsible for developing and executing detailed plans. DO THIS RATHER THAN THE TRADITIONAL BOTTOMS UP Approach. “experience suggests that successful large projects start with key top-down anchor dates set forth from the core project team”

From this I surmise cost estimating is a huge component of successful IT projects.  Add rigour to the process.


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