Project Management: TheProject Management: The Project · PDF fileProject Management: TheProject Management: The Project Charter Joseph Chmielewski (C) 2005 by Joseph Chmielewski.

(C) 2005 by Joseph Chmielewski. All rights reserved.1

Project Management: TheProject Management: TheProject CharterProject Charter

Joseph Chmielewski


What is a Project Charter?What is a Project Charter?

Written description of what the project “is”and “is not”

Written description of “when” the “what”will be delivered, by “whom” to “where”,“how good” and at “what cost” with “howmany features”

Signed off written description of plans andassumptions


What is a Project?What is a Project?

Projects meet specific mission-relatedgoals– are specific, complex tasks– are planned in detail– end at a specified time– have a specific budget


Typical Project LifecycleTypical Project Lifecycle

Rush to Start ProjectWild EnthusiasmDisillusionmentChaosSearch for the GuiltyPunishment of the InnocentPromotion of Non-ParticipantsDefinition of Project’s Requirements


Project StagesProject Stages

InitiatingPlanningImplementingControllingClosing

Many Education Projects start at the“IMPLEMENTATION STAGE”


Differences between Jobs,Differences between Jobs,Projects and ProgramsProjects and ProgramsJobs are normal workProjects are planned and longer-term workPrograms are collections of projects


What challenges do you face?What challenges do you face?

You are asked to complete workimmediately, instead of just “on time”

You are asked to perform work thatrequires you to take money from yourlimited budget when, in fact, the requestorshould pay for the work


What are the Triple ConstraintsWhat are the Triple Constraints

“Good”, “Fast”, “Cheap” That is…

“Quality”, “Process” & “Budget” We want…

– Functionality – As much as possible– Features – As many as possible– Benefits – As many as possible

Process – As soon as possibleBudget – As inexpensively as possible

– You can’t have it all


What is the Most ImportantWhat is the Most ImportantConstraint for School Districts?Constraint for School Districts?BudgetBudget and unrealistic expectationsBudget and impossible edictsBudget and counter-productive

involvementBudget and responsibility w/o authority


What Else Affects SchoolWhat Else Affects SchoolDistrict ProjectsDistrict ProjectsProjects are informal requestsProjects are complaint-driven, not plan-

drivenProjects approached like normal serviceExpectations not written and signed offLittle knowledge by requestors to build a

requirements documentHigher demands on shrinking staff


What Causes Projects to FailWhat Causes Projects to Fail

Lack of clear requirementsLack of clear specificationsPoor communicationPoor documentationScope creep and never-ending

developmentPerpetual maintenance


What Causes Projects to FailWhat Causes Projects to Fail(Cont.)(Cont.)Ambiguous objectivesOverambitious objectivesWishes instead of goals define the projectCrisis planningLast minute planningLack of understanding about Technology

workload


What Causes Projects to FailWhat Causes Projects to Fail(Cont.)(Cont.)Under-funded targetsTargets funded with arbitrary budgets“We have this money that we must spend

by next Friday.” planning


What Causes Projects to FailWhat Causes Projects to Fail(Cont.)(Cont.)Multiple jurisdictionsMultiple projects at onceService requests are projects, not a single

job


What common strategy is anWhat common strategy is anantidote for a project set to fail?antidote for a project set to fail?The Project Charter


Time OverrunsTime Overruns

Your labor costs are considered “free”Requestors expect you to “make it happen”

with as much extra work as neededYour advice and cautions are seen as

insolence or incompetence


What needs to be done?What needs to be done?

Open and transparent communicationsWrite a project charter


Reasons to use Project ChartersReasons to use Project Charters


Problems that Charters MitigateProblems that Charters Mitigate


SummarySummary

Write a project charter when confrontedwith guaranteed-to-fail projects


Where to Get More InformationWhere to Get More Information

[email protected]

Project Management: TheProject Management: The Project · PDF fileProject Management: TheProject Management: The Project Charter Joseph Chmielewski (C) 2005 by Joseph Chmielewski.

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