50 Project Management
for getting your project off the ground consists of faithfully fol-
lowing four basic steps.
- Fully understand the problem or opportunity. Problems are
ordinarily complex, consisting of many aspects that require
analysis and insight. There’s frequently more to a problem than
what’s apparent at first blush. We need to invest an appropriate
amount of time to fully understand all aspects of the
problem. Very often, what
appears to be the problem
is actually masking a big-
ger, more fundamental
problem. Uncovering that
fundamental problem is
referred to as identifying
the true need. - Identify the optimum solution. The solutions we identify
through our initial, “knee-jerk” response—though they might
work to solve the problem—may not be the most effective. For
many problems, there are multiple solutions and various
approaches for carrying them out. The key to effective project
management is to determine the bestsolution—the one that’s
most attractive to the organization. This requires some careful
thought and the development of criteria by which we can evalu-
ate which solution is “best.” - Fully develop the solution and a preliminary plan.When a
solution is identified, it’s typically characterized in one or two
brief statements (install an additional production line, for exam-
ple). This solution statement must be converted into a plan. The
process begins with a full description of the solution, including
the methods for achieving it. It ends with the development of a
credible, detailed project plan that the team can use as a map
for execution. - Formally launch the project. The activities involved in the
formal initiation of project execution depend on the organiza-
tion’s specific project procedures. Project launch activities may
Identifying the
Client’s True Need
Identifying the client’s true
need—the most fundamental problem
or opportunity—is the first and the
most important step in the entire proj-
ect process.