Defining clear project goals

®

Defining Clear Project GoalsDefining Clear Project Goals

359W/CN/A.1/109/A.1

© 2011 Learning Tree International. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without prior written consent.®

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Session ObjectivesSession Objectives

• Introduce you to Learning Tree International

• Provide information on defining clear project goals— Why we need clear project goals— The project life cycle— Goal statement and deliverables— Planning and managing implementation— Smooth project closure


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About Learning Tree InternationalAbout Learning Tree International

• Learning Tree International was founded in 1974 — More than 2.1 million technology professionals and managers from more

than 65,000 organizations trained to date

• In-depth course curriculum—more than 225 titles and growing— Includes more than 90 management titles

• Courses are developed and taught by technology and business professionals actively working in the field


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About Learning Tree International(continued)About Learning Tree International(continued)

• Public and on-site courses are available at Learning Tree and client locations worldwide

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Course DeliveryCourse Delivery

• All courses are presented using MagnaLearn®, our proprietary, patented* instructional enhancement technology

• We also provide courses via our Learning Tree AnyWare™ platform— Our (patent pending) training delivery solution that connects online

participants to a live, instructor-led classroom

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—just as in the classroom

*Covered by one or more of the following patents: United States 7,058,891, 7,131,068, 7,134,079, and 7,454,708; South Africa 2005/09799; India 222822; and Australia 2002310120 and 2005266901. Other patents pending in EU, Israel, India, and Australia.


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About Your InstructorAbout Your Instructor

• Background and education

• Current position

• Experience


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Why Do We Need Clear Project Goals?

The Project Life Cycle

Project Goals

Deliverables

Creating Clear and Agreed-Upon Goals

Using Goals During the Project

Certification Programmes

Next Steps


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Why Do We Need Clear Project Goals?Why Do We Need Clear Project Goals?

• Provides clarity to all stakeholders

• Describes what must be achieved for the project to be a success

• So you will know when you have finished

• Provides the starting point for the planning process

• Scopes the project

• Prevents unnecessary work

• Surveys show consistently that clear goals are a key to project success


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Project Goals

Deliverables




Next Steps


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The Project Life CycleThe Project Life Cycle

Plan Deliver & Monitor CloseDefine


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Process, Techniques, and PeopleProcess, Techniques, and People

• Project management consists of — Process— Techniques— People

• Defining clear goals uses all these elements

• Processes: Steps to create the goals

• Techniques: The objectives meeting

• People: Involving key stakeholders

Processes

TechniquesPeople


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Project Goals

Deliverables




Next Steps


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Goal Statement and DeliverablesGoal Statement and Deliverables

• Project scope consists of— A goal statement or executive summary— A list of deliverables

• Goal statements should be less than a page

• Deliverables should represent the key products, services or results

• Needs to be explicit enough so that achievement can be measured

• Needs to be broad enough to allow flexibility of delivery


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Purpose of Goal StatementPurpose of Goal Statement

• Clarify the scope of the project

• Outline the reasons for the project

• Obtain buy-in and commitment from stakeholders

• Act as the basis for planning the project

• Serve as a foundation for change control

• Briefing document to introduce people to the project

• Provide the top-level acceptance criteria


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The 5 WsThe 5 Ws

• A goal statement should include the five Ws— What is to be achieved by the end of the project?— Why do we want to achieve this?— Where will it happen?— Who will be involved?— When will it be completed?

What

When

Why

Who

Where?


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Example Goal Statement Example Goal Statement

A project to move house:

• The Smith family has decided to move to an area that will provide a better education for their children, easy access to public transport, and more room for the family

• This project aims to move the Smith family (two adults and two children) from their current location in Townsville to an area that has easy access to great schools for the children

• The move must be completed before the start of the new school year


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Project Goals

Deliverables




Next Steps


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Deliverables DefinitionDeliverables Definition

• Anything that the project has to create or amend is a deliverable

• Sometimes called products, services or results

• Things the project has to deliver to customers or users

• Also interim deliverables to enable delivery

• Includes evidence of completion of activities, such as trained staff

• Deliverables also include the management and administrative tools and reports used to manage the project to completion— Example: progress reports, time sheets, forecasts, risk reports, etc.


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Types of DeliverablesTypes of Deliverables

• Management documents— Project plan— Project charter— PID— Progress reports

• Specialist documents— Design specifications— Test plans

• Software

• Services

• Buildings

• Trained staff

• Etc.


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Example Deliverables for House MoveExample Deliverables for House Move

• Project plan

• House requirements specifications

• Real estate agent list

• Contract

• Completed purchase

• Completed move


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Project Goals

Deliverables




Next Steps


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The StepsThe Steps

• Stakeholder identification and analysis

• Assemble list of key stakeholders

• Distribute briefing documents

• Each stakeholder produces list of key words or phrases

• Workshop— All lists of key words or phrases on whiteboard— Consolidate list— Draft goal statement and deliverables list— Agree


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Facilitating the WorkshopFacilitating the Workshop

• To get the full value from the workshop, facilitation skills are needed

• Ensure that the rules are followed

• Don’t let one person produce the statement and others simply agree

• Get all lists up before the discussions start

• Everyone should contribute

• All opinions should be listened to without criticizing


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Benefits of This ApproachBenefits of This Approach

• Team building

• Buy-in and commitment

• Wide ownership of the goals and therefore the project

• Improved quality of the goals by involvement of stakeholders


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Project Goals

Deliverables




Next Steps


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PlanningPlanning

• Clear objectives give an excellent starting point for planning

• Deliverables list can be used to provide the top-level plan

• All deliverables must be on the plan

• The “What” allows us to check that the plan shows how to achieve the goals

• The “When” gives us dates to work back from

• The “Where” enables us to plan locations

• The “Who” gives us a start for resources


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Managing Implementation & Monitoring Managing Implementation & Monitoring

• Basis for change control and baseline progress reports

• Progress reports help forecast properly

• Clear plans facilitate risk management

• Is the “beacon” to which the project is managed

• Movement away from the agreed-upon goals needs approval from all key stakeholders

• The “Why” guides the decision-making processes

• Stakeholder commitment makes the project easier to manage

• Stakeholders will make sure that the project is a success


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Smooth ClosureSmooth Closure

• Clear objectives means no discussion or dispute at closure

• If the objectives have been achieved and all deliverables produced, we are finished

• Should plan to measure the benefits post-project to check that the “why” has worked

• Stakeholders should all be involved in the celebration


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Project Goals

Deliverables




Next Steps


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Related Certification ProgramsRelated Certification Programs

• Learning Tree courses help you prepare for key industry certifications — Including ITIL®, PRINCE2®, several PMI® certifications, IIBA CBAP®, MCTS,

CompTIA A+®, CompTIA Security+™, CompTIA Network+®, ISTQB/ISEB, and APMG Change Management

• PDUs are earned for most management courses

• Learning Tree Professional Certification Programs— Program details at www.learningtree.ca/cpd

PDU = PMI Professional Development Unit


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Project Goals

Deliverables




Next Steps


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Project Management CoursesProject Management Courses

• Project management core competencies— Course 296, Project Management: Skills for Success— Course 340, Project Management for Software Development— Course 346, Project Leadership: Building High-Performance Teams— Course 286, Project Risk Management— Course 923, Project Budgeting and Estimating: Taking Control of Your

Projects— Course 315, Developing User Requirements: The Key to Project Success

• Advanced project management skills— Course 287, Complex Project Management— Course 918, Agile Project Management With Scrum— Course 3620, Managing Global Projects— Course 3610, Building a Successful Project Management Office


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Project Management Courses(continued)Project Management Courses(continued)

• Professional credential courses— Course 3601, Preparing for the Certified Associate in Project Management

Exam— Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)

Exam— Course 177, PRINCE2: Achieving Practitioner Certification

• Project management systems and tools— Course 299, Microsoft Project 2007: A Comprehensive Hands-On

Introduction— Course 3702, Microsoft Project 2010: A Comprehensive Hands-On

Introduction— Course 924, Microsoft Project Server 2010— Course 919, SharePoint for Project Management

• Visit our Project Management blog for more expert insights from our instructors - http://project-management.learningtree.com


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Session Objectives RevisitedSession Objectives Revisited

• Introduced you to Learning Tree International

• Provided information on defining clear project goals— Why we need project goals— The project life cycle— Goal statement and deliverables— Planning and managing implementation— Smooth closure


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Your Guarantee of SatisfactionYour Guarantee of Satisfaction

Unless you feel 100% satisfied that Learning Tree delivered even more than you expected, there is no fee for your course attendance. Our Guarantee of Quality lets you experience the value of the course—and then pay only if you feel the course was well worth the tuition.


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Thank You for Your ParticipationThank You for Your Participation

• Any questions?— Visit us at www.learningtree.ca— Call us at 1-800-THE-TREE

• We wish you every success in the future

• We hope to see you in class soon!

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Defining clear project goals