Daddy Build Me a House Project Success Through

Daddy, Build Me a House! Project Success Through Scope Definition By John Dittmer PMP, CISSP-ISSMP

Welcome and Why the Funny Title? • My goal is teach an essential lesson about Project Management in an original and entertaining manner • My son, Jack, was my inspiration in developing this presentation • Unless the project’s scope is defined well, many PM activities will fail their purpose, perhaps the whole project

My Inspiration (Part 1) • My son, Jack, is a six year old boy who likes to play with his blocks and other building toys. These are pictures of when he was three when I first developed this lecture. • Back then, when I get home, he wanted me to help him build houses, cars, planes, etc. Now, he’s quite the Lego builder. • Jack’s bright but he is still learning how to communicate (Hint: Major role of a PM)

My Inspiration (Part 2) • In many ways, Jack is in the role of a customer since he is receiving the project’s product or service • The critical activity in our projects is understanding and defining what the customer wants – Drives most of the PM activities – Until I understood that, he would get frustrated because he was not getting what he wanted while I was getting frustrated for wasting time and effort

My Inspiration (Part 3) • The primary lesson is to understand the project scope and what the customer/stakeholder wants (A. K. A. Requirements Analysis) – Break it down (WBS helps) – Clarify points which may get misunderstood (who, what, where, why and how) – Don’t be afraid to ask questions or challenge assumptions – Understand your constraints and deliverables

Someone Agrees with Me! PMI loves all of her knowledge area “children” equally, but out in the real world there is one that I believe deserves your extra undivided attention and that is scope. - The Project Scope Is King by Cindy Vandersleen

Negative Example: VH-71 Kestrel Was designed to be the next Presidential Helicopter, replacing the VH-3 D and VH-60 N • • Original projected cost was to be $6. 1 B

Negative Example: VH-71 Kestrel (Part 2) Can cell ed • Cancelled when projected cost was reaching $13 B, with unit cost at $400 M, more expensive than the VC-25 (Boeing 747) planes used for Air Force One. • PM did not anticipate changes in design and implementing new technologies.

So What is Project Scope? (Part 1) • Project Scope (Formal Definition): Any and all work that is set and or scheduled and or required to be performed or completed in order to ultimately facilitate delivery of the final required products, services, and or results that may have a series of specified features and functions associated with them. (Source – PMBOK, 4 th Edition)

So What is Project Scope? (Part 2) • Project Scope (Real Definition): It is the “what you are doing” on the project. (Source – Project Scope is King by Cindy Vandersleen, article at http: //www. pmhut. com/the-projectscope-is-king)

What does Project Scope Consist of? • Actual functions • Actual features • Actual characteristics They make up and delineate the entirety of a particular service, result, or project. (Source – http: //www. project-managementknowledge. com/definitions/p/product-scope/)

Scope is One of the Triple Constraints t s Co Tim e (Source – PMP Exam Prep Boot Camp Guide) Quality Scope Yes, it is that important!!! Changes in one constraint will affect one or more of the others.

Project Scope Activities • Link project scope to the underlying needs that created the project • Link project scope to the enterprise’s strategic goals or plans • This will lead to better Work Breakdown Structures (WBSs) and project schedules (Source – PMP Exam Prep Boot Camp Guide)

So What is Project Scope Management? • Project Scope (Formal Definition): Ensuring that the work required to complete the project successfully is done, nothing more • No gold-plating allowed! (Source – PMBOK, 4 th Edition)

Project Scope Management Processes • Scope Planning • Scope Definition • Create WBS • Scope Verification • Scope Control (Source – PMBOK, 4 th Edition)

So What is Project Scope Definition? • Project Scope Definition (Formal Definition): Updating the preliminary scope statement by further refining it and adding detail as information becomes known. • Used to create a detailed project scope statement (Source – PMBOK, 4 th Edition)

Project Scope Statement • Provides a narrative description of the entirety of the scope for the respective project. • Narrative description should include: – Any and all semblances of major deliverables – Project assumptions – Project objectives that have been determined – Project constraints – Statement of work that has been drawn up by the project management team and or the project management team leader (Source – PMBOK, 4 th Edition)

Risk Management & Scope Definition • In order to prevent scope creep, a successful PM should anticipate likely project risks and develop risk mitigation strategies • PM should establish criteria for defining excessive risk (e. g. ROI on a new technology not being achieved)

Follow-Up Activities • Scope Verification: A QA process or technique applied by the PM whereby an evaluation of a component, product or service is completed at the end of a phase or project to verify or confirm that it satisfies all of the regulations or specification requirements. • Scope Control: One of the keys to effective project management. Good PM requires managing scope so project goals can be obtained on time without leaving out resolution of items that are critical to the project’s success. (Source: – PMBOK, 4 th Edition)

Earned Value Management & Scope Definition • In order to prevent scope creep and track project progress, a successful PM could employ the use of Earned Value Management (EVM) techniques

EVM Chart Examples (Time)

EVM Chart Examples (Cost)

EVM Chart Examples (Time & Cost)

Results of Using EVM • Provides PM an opportunity to redefine the project scope • Provides an opportunity to change processes, techniques, funding, scheduling throughout the course of a project • Forces the establishment of metrics (or earning rules) which define project success

Conclusion • Any Questions? - Email: dittmer_john@bah. com • Thank you for coming! • Happy Holidays!!!