Project Management Articles
Program Management Suggested Steps
By Gar Houston
11 Oct, 2007 - 10:43:35 PM

The following are proposed high level steps to the Project Management process:

Concept / Idea

• The original concept / idea is documented
• The concept / idea must necessarily be based on some business objective
• High level rough business case developed 

Investigation

• The initial concept / idea is fleshed out and investigated to verify the viability of the proposal
• There are any ways of measuring viability but one of the most common measures are Return on Investment (ROI)
• If the idea / concept appears to be viable then the next step should be preparation of a formal business case
• Documentation of the Program Business Objectives
• Objectives to be stated in clearly measurable outcomes
• Preparing the Program Business Case
• Development of a program budget estimate
• Preparation of a detailed case

Developing the Program Delivery Plan

• Preparation of a program delivery plan / schedule including a list of related projects
• Development of individual project plans / schedules
• Development of Training Strategy / Plan
• Development of Communications Strategy / Plan
• Preparation of a program delivery plan / schedule including a list of related projects
• Development of individual project plans / schedules
• Development of Training Strategy / Plan
• Development of Communications Strategy / Plan
• Preparation of a program delivery plan / schedule including a list of related projects

Communications

• Publish Communications Strategy / Plan
• Implement Communication Plan

Requirements Capture

• Capture of requirements in unambiguous language
• Requirements to be mapped back to business objectives and prioritised
• Review of requirements with business sponsor and key stakeholders
• Solution Design and Mapping to the Requirements and Business Objectives
• Design of solution based on the requirements documented
• Solution design to be mapped to the requirements
• Review of solution design with business sponsor and key stakeholders Solution

  Development of solution

• Development of solution based on the solution design
• Mapping of solution to the requirements
• Review of solution with business sponsor and key stakeholders Solution
• Development of solution based on the solution design
• Mapping of solution to the requirements
• Review of solution with business sponsor and key stakeholders Solution
• Development of solution based on the solution design
• Mapping of solution to the requirements
• Review of solution with business sponsor and key stakeholders Solution

Testing of solution

• Preparation of Test Objectives Matrix and Test Strategy
• Development of Test Plans (System Integration, User Acceptance, Performance, Business Readiness)

Training

• Training for Testers
• Training for Super Users
• Training for other users

Implementation of solution

• Preparation of Implementation plans
• Migration planning
• Solution implementation

Closure

• Project Post Implementation Reviews
• Hold Post Implementation Reviews for projects
• Document and publish PIR findings
• Post Project Benefits Realisation Review
• Hold Post Project Benefits Review against the original Business Case
• Review outcomes and publish findings for future programs.