Lessons learned in the implementation of a Project Methodology

 

If you are about to carry out an initiative so that all members of the organization work with a unique project methodology, the following three aspects can be useful. These refer to: What is the minimum content of a Project Methodology? What should be the approach to Develop the Methodology? What should be the approach to Implement the Methodology?

 

1. Minimum content of a Project Methodology

 

Introduction (Why a standardized methodology applicable throughout the company)

Project Definition for the Company (What is considered a Project and what is not considered a Project)

Life Cycle of a Project (Description of the stages: Definition, Construction, Implementation, Closure and Adjustments, cross stage of Change Management)

Components of the Project Definition (Objectives, Scope and Assumptions, Conceptual Model, Methodology, Organizational Chart, Schedule, Risk Matrix, Business Case)

Significant Aspects of Construction (Start-up or Kick-off Meeting, Team Work Plans, Control Model and Project Monitoring)

Significant aspects of the Implementation (Alternative implementation schemes, Implementation Planning, Implementation Dashboard)

Significant aspects of the Adjustment and Closure stage (Incident Management, Formalization of the completion of a Project, Evaluation and Results Report)

Significant aspects of Change Management (Impact of Change, Communication Plan, People’s Performance Plan)

Roles in the Organization Chart of a Project (Description of roles, Responsibilities of the different roles in the Project Life Cycle)

Performance Evaluation Scheme of the Project team members.

In Annex: Suggested Templates of the Methodology

 

2.Approach for the development of a Project Methodology

 

Create two groups: development and validation. The first group in general is composed of participants from the staff areas (systems, organization and processes, human resources, administration and finance) and the second from the business areas (commercial or operations).

The goal: to build consensus and that the methodology is the product of everyone’s work and not a few working with laboratory criteria.

 

3.Approach to the implementation of the Methodology

 

To adopt the Methodology, define the capacity and level of maturity of the organization, identifying if the most successful criterion is gradual (some projects) or total (all new projects).

The implementation always requires important training and preparation efforts of the different actors that take part in the organization of a project. A wrong timinig that does not consider the momentum of the organization can yield frustrating results for a good initiative.
   
Hope it helps!