Scoping Projects
Planning a project but you have more questions than answers? Then divide the project into two phases with the first phase being a scoping project…
From concept to implementation, successful completion of any project must first begin with thoughtful and careful preparation and planning. It is absolutely natural to want to take the energy that comes with the creative concept – the “idea” of the project – and to feel ready to launch into action. But there are several critical elements that must be addressed at the very beginning to ensure the project’s success and timely completion.
A scoping project is essential to understanding the full scope and approach to a new venture, especially if it is work that the organization has never done before and might not fully understand. For example, I had a client company that wanted to implement a Learning Management System (LMS) as a new line of business and make it available to their customers. And while the concept was there and many of the necessary elements had been thought out, there were many critical decisions that were still needed, including how the project team would be staffed, what software platform would be used, how the site would be accessed by customers, whether customers would have to pay for content or if revenue would be generated in another manner, where the content would come from and how it would be kept fresh, as well as downstream reporting and analytic components. In other words, the business case was not complete. Nonetheless, my client company wanted – and needed – to proceed with this key project.
Instead of launching into a full LMS selection and implementation, I worked with my client to develop the project in two phases: a scoping phase and an implementation phase. The scoping phase was planned just like a separate project with a Project Charter, resources, scope, schedule, and executive support. This allowed the organization to think through the business case while making progress on their strategic plan. We also kicked off a software selection project to determine the best platform and associated costs.
Obviously, by digging deeper into the myriad of details and choosing an LMS platform, we created an accurate estimate of schedules, costs, timeframe, delivery model, and impact on the business. After development of a detailed implementation plan, the organization realized the project was not in their best interest and devoted its energies towards much more beneficial endeavors. Without the scoping project, the organization would have spent precious time and resources towards a non-beneficial line of business that probably would have later been scrapped.
A scoping project helps to fill in the details required to fully understand the extent of a project, better understanding of the project’s impact to your organization, and is critical in establishing more realistic timelines, resource requirements, and overall budget. I would be delighted to discuss how this essential step will help you realize the best outcomes from your next project.
