INTRODUCTION
In this simple guide to project management I will use the analogy of the Project Management Office being like Air Traffic Control for projects and change. The Project Management Office [PMO] will want confidence that any significant project or change is clear about passengers and crew (participants), fuel (budget), destination (outcome) and route (plans). For each initiative we want to be able to give it a thumbs-up or guidance on what is required for permission to take-off or indeed a safe journey: on-time, on-budget, to-specification, low-risk and high-communication.
This simple guide is based on a blend of Waterfall approach (plan before action eg PRINCE2) and Agile (work it out as you do eg SCRUM)
ATC STEP 6 THE HAND-OVER PHASE
Hand-Over At this step we need to ensure there is a formal acceptance and hand-over to the operational teams running business as usual. Make sure you know what needs to be handed-over before you start, and make sure they have everything and agree it all before you finish/close. It is advisable to document the handover.
Key question are we trying to answer: Is everything delivered, complete and OK (Can we hand-over to business-as-usual?
Process: Make sure you know what needs to be handed-over to business as usual before you start, and make sure they have everything and agree it all before you finish/close. Get this in writing. We have a template for this.
HOW WE BEGIN
At this stage we are at the considering the quotes, specifications, proposals. This is the time when we deciding what we want, can afford, and are able to achieve, but not yet committing to how or when.
CASE STUDY
Jane will want to make sure everything is compete and OK before all the trades people leave. If there are any issues Jane will want them fixed before the final payment. If she has leant keys to someone she will want them back. If the things bought have a warranty or guarantee she will want a copy stored away safely.
CLARITY WRITTEN DOWN
There are the questions your idea phase should aim answer
Question to answer: Is everything complete & ok?(Can we hand over to business as usual?)
Question 1 What support arrangements are in place?
Question 2 Which roles need to be transferred?
Question 3 What knowledge or information needs to be transferred?
Question 4 To which team / person?
Question 5 How and when?
Question 6 Where will any documents be stored?
Question 7 Communication & managing expenctations?
Question 8 What is being communicated?
Question 9 To which team/person?
Question 10 How and when?
Question 11 What are the training requirements?
Question 12 What is the list of products the project has delivered?
Question 13 Service Level Agreement? Y/N
Question 14 Contract Location?
Question 15 What supporting documentation is available?
Question 16 What has the project done to ensure security?
USEFUL LINKS AND REFERENCES
About Agile
https://www.guru99.com/waterfall-vs-agile.html
About Waterfall and the leading approach to Waterfall which is PRINCE2
https://prince2.wiki/
ABOUT THE BLOG
This is a series of coaching blogs that eventually will become a book. By blogging each item I hope to share each element in easy to read bite size chunks, maybe invite some people to subscribe to see the next posting and hopefully encourage some comments, feedback and suggestions which will improve the content for the blog and eventually the book. All comments and feedback are therefore welcome.
