Project Definition - Laying out the foundation for a successful project

Over the last two decades, almost every project post mortem that we have run for clients has pointed to one consistent weak spot that is continually overlooked and underappreciated – Clearly defining a project before beginning to plan or act.

While many only see progress when people are “doing things,” we know from experience that taking the time to start off on the right foot pays exponential dividends.

Before project planning and action begin, make sure that you do not skip or skimp on these crucial steps:

• Business case: regardless of the perceived enthusiasm and support, make sure that key stakeholders are on the same page with the justification and rationale for your project versus other priorities.
• Statement of work: If project goals, success metrics, deliverables, scope, approach, assumptions, executive sponsorship, timing, or budget are not formalized or agreed to by all key internal and external stakeholders, you are setting yourself up for trouble.
• Roles & Resources: before embarking on project planning or execution, make sure that roles are clearly identified and agreed upon and that you have identified the right resources (i.e. skill mix, time, budget, commitment, and equipment) to succeed.
• Communication plan: Projects are messy and things change. From the start, create a plan to get the right people the right information at the right time in the right way.

These tips will allow you to start slow to go faster.