ManagetheProcessOverviewManagetheProcessembodiestwointerrelatedfunctions,projectmanagementandqualityassurance.Theframeworkprovidedwasdevelopedinresponsetoaneedidentifiedthroughoutthepractice.AsBusinessConsultingcontinuestoworkwithlargerandmorecomplexclients,itisclearthatamoreformal,consistent,andrisk-minimizingapproachisrequired.TheunderlyinggoalofthisFrameworkistohelpminimizeprojectrisk,improveclientsatisfaction,andenhancetheprojectenvironment.ThefollowingcomponentsareincludedinthisFramework:–1Descriptionsofcoremechanicsofprojectmanagementsuchasworkplanning,staffing,tracking,billing,statusreporting,etc.–2Generalguidelinesonsoft-skillissuessuchasclientrelationsandpeoplemanagement.–3Softwaretoolstoaidinprojectplanning,control,andprojectorganization.Projectmanagementsoftwarecanhelptoimproveprojectmanagementefficiency(i.e.,lesstimeconsuming,lesstimeawayfromotherprojects).Butbeforebeingabletouseanyprojectmanagementsoftwareeffectively,youmustunderstandtheprojectmanagementprocessitself.–4BCQualityAssuranceProceduresandGuidelines.Therearemanyaspectsofmanagingaproject.WhiletheFrameworkprovidesinformationrelatedtomanykeyprojectmanagementconcepts,thefollowingmaterialswereaddressedonlybriefly:·Materialsrelatedtosellingandmarketing.·In-depthinformationrelatedtodiagnosingtheclient’sproblem.·ContentthatisaddressedthroughothertrainingorCompetencyCenterefforts.Wherethisisthecase,theFrameworkwillrefertotheappropriatesourceforinformation.·SpecificmethodologiescontainedwithintheKnowledgeSpace(i.e.,RADFrame,Reengineering,etc.).ThesemethodologiesshouldbeusedinconjunctionwiththeProjectManagementFramework(onedoesnotreplacetheother).ForpurposesofthisFramework,ProjectManagementhasbeendividedintothreemajorphaseswithindividualtasksundereachphase.Thethreephasesinclude:ThePlanning,Proposal,andArrangementPhasebeginswiththeidentificationofaclientneedthroughsigningofthearrangementletter.Theclientproblemandkeyprojectparametersareusuallydefinedinthisstage.TheEngagementManagementPhaseistheprocessofdeliveringservicestotheclient.ThisphasehasbeensubdividedintoPeople,WorkManagement,FinancialManagement,andClientRelations.TheProjectEvaluationandWrap-upPhaseincludesadjourningtheproject,evaluatingprojectpersonnel,surveyingtheclientsatisfaction,andsharingexperienceslearnedwithotherpersonnel.Thestepswithineachphaseseemtoimplythatprojectmanagementisalinearprocess,withdiscretetasksfollowingdiscretetasks.Inreality,projectmanagementisacomplexenvironmentinwhichalltasksdescribedmayoccuratthesametimeoroverlap.Becauseitisdifficulttodescribeprojectmanagementinalinearway,thematerialinthisFrameworkhasbeenorganizedbytopicratherthanbyprocess(althoughthephasesrepresentahighlevelprocess).Therefore,asyoureviewthestepswithineachphaserecognizethatsomestepstakeplaceup-front,whileotherstakeplacethroughoutthelengthoftheproject.Thetopicsincludedinthemethodologyoverview(Communicate,Lead,BuildTeam,Negotiate,andManageConflict)arecriticalareasofcontentthatapplytoallphasesofprojectmanagement.Whiletheinformationincludedinthesesectionsisnotcomprehensive,itwascreatedtoprovidegeneralguidanceintherespectiveareas.Refertothe“phasehighlights”attachmenttoseeonlythekeytasks,toolsandrequireddeliverablesforthatphase.Morein-depthinformationisprovidedinthetextofeachphase.HintsFromabookentitled5-PhaseProjectManagement,byJosephW.WeissandRobertK....
