Blog Assignment: Learning from a Project "Post-mortem"

What processes, project artifacts, or activities did you include in the project that contributed to its success?  What processes, project artifacts, or activities did you not include in the project that might have made the project more successful?  This was a tough one for me since I have not worked in 16 years.  I really cannot remember any “post-mortem” project s I was working on before I stopped working.  I do know that projects require organizing, planning, budgeting, scheduling, resources, team members, communication, progress documentation and final evaluation.  According to our textbook, Project Management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects, “a project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.  It is specific, timely, usually multidisciplinary, and always conflict ridden.  Projects also vary greatly.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P. 2)    

There are many aspects of a project:

• “Projects may be large or small.
• Projects may involve many persons or just one.
• Projects may be planned formally or informally.
• Projects may be tracked formally or informally.
• Projects may be performed for external or internal clients and customers.
• Projects may be defined by a legal contract or an informal agreement.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  2-3)

“Project management is the process of guiding a project from its beginning through its performance to its closure.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  3)  Part of the project management process is planning, organizing and controlling.  In order for a project to be successful; outcome, schedule, and resources are essential.

In order for a project to be defined, project managers need to know the background, scope, and strategy of the project.  Project managers should have strategies and objectives laid out.  A project strategy is “the general approach project mangers plan to take to perform the work necessary to achieve a project’s outcome.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  34)  A project objective is “results to be achieved through the performance of a project.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  34)  Project objectives include a statement, measures, and performance targets. 

In addition to strategies and objectives, a project requires a Statement of Work (SOW).  A SOW is a “written confirmation of what a project will produce and the terms and conditions under which the project team will perform the work.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  42)  Also, a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is equally as important.  A WBS is “an organized, detailed, and hierarchical representation of all work to be performed in a project.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  86)

All key elements need to be incorporated in a project in order for its success.  No one wants a project to fail.  There are a lot of people involved in a project and all must work together.  Keeping the lines of communication open are also key. 

 

Reference:

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008).  Project Management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects.  Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc