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Working on a Project

Working on a Project. Anders P. Ravn Computer Science Aalborg University April 2007. Objective. Project progress (uses resources). Time. start. finish. A Project. Defined Objective Defined Timeframe Defined Resources (Budget).

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Working on a Project

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  1. Working on a Project Anders P. Ravn Computer Science Aalborg University April 2007

  2. Objective Project progress (uses resources) Time start finish A Project • Defined Objective • Defined Timeframe • Defined Resources (Budget) Harvey Maylor, Project Management, (3rd ed.), Prentice-Hall, 2002, pp 1-5

  3. Project versus Line Production A project has a unique objective Volume Production Paint by numbers Project As… but … First Timers Variety Maylor pp 3-4

  4. Ready, fire, aim It’s all in my head We do not have time for this stuff! We have a procedure for that Just common sense Failed before Won’t work here NO Objective NO defined Objective NO defined resources and process Resources are insufficient NO Defined process NO committed resources NO committed resources Sure Failures Maylor pp 7-9

  5. Project versus Line Management • Oversees change • Fuzzy lines of authorithy • Tasks change often • Operates within temporary project structures • Predominantly innovative • Main task is conflict resolution • Success defined by reaching stated end-goals • Uncertainties are in intrinsic in the process Maylor pp 10

  6. Constraints Result Resources Time The Process Objective Maylor pp 15-18

  7. Life-cycle • Define the project objective • Design the process • Deliver the product • Develop the process Objective Constraints Product Resources Maylor pp 19-24

  8. Defining an Objective • Conceptualisation Product Requirement Definition • Feasibility Analysis Complexity Resource Budget: - people (skills, time, availability) - tools and materials (cost, availability)

  9. Define Objective A concise description of the result expressed in natural language • Ckeck completeness by FACTOR: • Functionality for end use • Application Domain of end use • Conditions for success • Technology to be used • Objective key components and concepts • Realization conditions Lars Mathiassen, Andreas Munk-Madsen, Peter Axel Nielsen and Jan Stage, Object-oriented Analysis and Design, MARKO Publishing, Aalborg 2000.

  10. Estimating Complexity Factor Low High Organizational Resource Technical Maylor pp 28-31

  11. Feasibility - Issues to address • Strategy • Structure • Systems • Staff • Skills • Style/Culture • Stakeholders Maylor pp 24-27

  12. Designing a process • Proposal – Product Specification • Plan (activities, milestones, dependencies) • Justification (costs and benefits - SWAT) • Agreement

  13. Planning – why bother? The solution space • To be able to act rationally when – forseeable - events happen. Livet forstås baglæns, men må leves forlæns Søren Kierkegaard Project progress Customer expectations

  14. Planning – how? Deadline Activity Time Milestone

  15. Gantt Chart – a useful tool Activity A B C …

  16. Pert Diagram -dependencies C 10 G 5 A 14 D 13 H 6 E 14 I 24 B 7 F 7

  17. Example Gantt Chart

  18. Delivering the product • Start-up • Execution (check MILESTONES) • Completion • Handover (or flee!)

  19. Example: Status

  20. Develop your Process • Review the material and the result • Feedback There is no success like failure, ’though failure is no success at all Bob Dylan

  21. The Material • Journal – Agendas, Minutes, Notes • Product Components – Work Items • Schedule – Milestones, Activities

  22. Your Journal (project binder) Notes (chronologically ordered) • Project idea – the problem to be investigated • (Work Packages – subprojects in a larger project) • Issues – and ways to resolve them • Meetings and minutes • Schedules – and rationale for changes • Work Item Descriptions

  23. The Project Structuring Elements • Meetings • Group Organization

  24. Meetings - preparation • Decide on the purpose(s) • What is the agenda? - main and side points • For each point: - discussion - briefing - decision • Prepare agenda – assign duration to each point

  25. Standard Agenda • Comments to the agenda … N-1. Next meeting N. Other matters

  26. The Meeting • Keep the time • Take notes for minutes • Record issues – do not resolve them

  27. Organization - Players • Customer – has the problem and has to be satisfied with the solution • Project Team – works to find a solution • Boss – defines the resources and monitors progress • Consultant – contributes ideas and expertise

  28. Team - roles • Designer – develops solutions • Developer – develops components • Integrator (tester) – ensures consistent releases • Documenter – ensures documentation • Organizer (planner) – keeps orderly progress

  29. If you remember nothing else: • Define your objective • Have a plan • Know your resources – team roles • Have an agenda for meetings

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