Collective Wisdom from the Experts 133
Next, define the scope of the project and create the work breakdown structure.
Identify the quality parameters you must satisfy. Develop the schedule. Figure
out how much money you will need. These elements (scope, quality, duration,
and cost) will be the basic ones you should monitor and control, and are the
cornerstones of your project plan.
Once you break down your project into manageable pieces, you must identify
what characteristics the final product must have to satisfy the project’s quality
requirements. After you have properly sized your project (scope) and noted
what “rules” must be complied with (quality), you will be in a better position
to determine how long it will take you to finish it.
To find out how much time you will need to complete the project, you need to
determine the duration of each individual task, the dependencies among each
of those tasks, the specific constraints, and the resources available to you. Cost
comes last in this, since it is usually a function of the work you need to do, and
the time and resources you will need to complete that work. For example, if
you hire a consultant to perform a specific task, it will not cost you the same
amount if that individual is scheduled to work for one week than it will if he or
she will be working on your project for, let’s say, 10 months. Finally, consider
procurement, communications, and human resources.
By starting with the end in mind, you have a much better chance to be successful.