{"id":4014,"date":"2010-03-18T12:01:28","date_gmt":"2010-03-18T19:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=4014"},"modified":"2010-03-18T12:57:52","modified_gmt":"2010-03-18T19:57:52","slug":"ready-set-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=4014","title":{"rendered":"Ready, Set, Go!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Congratulations!\u00a0 You have been assigned to your next project.\u00a0 Like other projects, you have been asked to deliver a project large on scope and short on deadlines.\u00a0 Are you ready?<\/p>\n

Benchmark data shows us time and time again that projects fail when there is poor communication, skills are mismatched, or there are resource shortages.\u00a0 The results of these failures usually represent project costs being higher than expected and projects taking too long to finish.\u00a0 Alternately, we know project success occurs when there is a high degree of end-user involvement, when executive management actively supports a project, when realistic expectations are set, and when there is accountability.\u00a0 Project success is further promoted through effective communications, efficient risk management, and through a hard-working, focused project team.\u00a0 Efficient operational handoffs are also a key success element.<\/p>\n

It is critical that everyone understands the project\u2019s goals, as having the project clearly defined is a great starting point to ensure everyone has the same shared vision and is working towards the same outcomes.\u00a0 In other words, everyone on the project team should be able to answer the key question, \u201cWhat are we doing?\u201d Unless everyone is capable of answering this question with confidence, accuracy and consistency, there is little chance the group assigned to execute the project will ever do so successfully, let alone transition from a group to a team during the project\u2019s lifecycle.<\/p>\n

All project team members should be able to answer key questions as the project transitions from one phase to the next.\u00a0 Using a simple, 4-phase life cycle, here are the key questions to be answers for each phase:<\/p>\n