The Importance of Testing Plans

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Testing is often an underdeveloped part of project plans. Here are circumstances that make solid testing plans critical:

Uncharted territory. If your project is delivering a product new to your company, risk increases. To address this risk, testing should include reviews throughout the project life-cycle.

Interface complexity. As interface volume and complexity increases, so does your need for rigorous testing. In your testing plan, consider impacts to people, processes, and technology from all interfaces.

Vendor touchpoints. Integrating vendor products means more interfaces with increased complexity. Expand your normal testing rigor when vendor products are involved. Increase your testing regime with vendor products. Test all assumptions. Create a data dictionary and confirm compliance with its contents.

For more on testing, watch this LinkedIn Learning testing course.

 

What Do I Do When My Sponsor is Also My Customer?

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An engaged sponsor who doubles as your primary customer has pros and cons. Here are a few tips for handling this situation:

Prioritize the triple constraints. A combined sponsor/customer makes it easier to prioritize time, cost and scope. While you should strive to meet all three constraints, your job will be easier when you understand your sponsor/customer’s views on compromising among those constraints. For example, when issues surface, you can respond quickly and in line with your sponsors wishes. When your sponsor and customer are the same person you get no significant arguments about these priorities!

Seek different perspectives. Find a management resource that can counter an overly headstrong sponsor/customer can be useful. The idea sharing that occurs when your sponsor and customer are different people won’t happen when it’s only one person holding those roles. Find a trusted resource who can present different perspectives to generate idea sharing that leads to better outcomes.

Use an inclusive review process. The sponsor/customer might feel so confident in their perspectives that they overlook the need for reviews and validation activities. Work with your sponsor to schedule team reviews and invite other interested parties to ensure the project concepts and outcomes are valid and can be easily adopted by your organization.

Leverage the energy. Work with your sponsor to share their energy and dedication to the project with project stakeholders. A combined sponsor/customer has numerous reasons for the project to succeed. They often have clear ideas as well. Sharing that energy will generate enthusiasm and clarity for the project which can support the change management aspects of your project.

 

For more on project roles, watch this LinkedIn Learning course.

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Identifying the right people to provide requirements

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Having the right resources to identify requirements gets your project off to a great start.  Here are 4 steps that can help:

  • Identity the right stakeholder groups. Identify the various stakeholder groups that will be impacted by the new product or solution. Which ones are right? The ones that will be impacted by the new solution or product. These can include internal departments and external entities such as vendors, customers and consumers. Don’t forget groups such as IT support, Legal, Procurement, Finance, Safety, Security, and Compliance.
  • Acquire the right domain expertise. Ensure all representatives have appropriate domain knowledge for the stakeholder group they represent. If not, push back to get ones who do. Ideally, getting at least two representatives from each domain helps you obtain broader perspectives.
  • Confirm resource availability. The best resources are rarely idle. Negotiate with the appropriate manager to obtain the right resources by explaining the value of requirements identification.  Design the requirements identification process to maximize the value obtained from these critical resources in the least about of time.
  • Attitude matters. The right attitude is essential. Work with your designated representatives to get them excited about participating in the requirements process. Emphasize how they can influence business outcomes for the area they represent.

With the right people are engaged in the requirements identification process, you can greatly increase your chances of achieving the desired business outcomes.

For more info on requirements, check out this LinkedIn Learning course

Managing a project during a pandemic

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Managing projects is rarely easy. Managing during a pandemic is another matter!  Here are four actions that can help:

Soft skills first! It’s time to highlight your soft skills.  Touch base with each team member to determine their ability to perform.  Based on their circumstances, you may need to adjust their availability upward or downward if they’re working from home.  Follow up frequently, understand their changing needs, and adjust project plans as required.

Accommodate unpredictability. We’re seeing change like we’ve never experienced before.  Mentally prepare for frequently-changing demands and adjust plans to support those changes.  Align your risk management plan accordingly. Now is not the time to over-commit.  Review your project schedule to determine the actual output capability of your team and adjust as required.

Leverage technology.  Have your video conference expert show others the features your tool has to offer.  The more comfortable EACH team member is with video capabilities, the more productive and relaxed they will become.

Remember self-care. Don’t forget about yourself.  Proactively communicate the project changes you believe are necessary to ensure you have the tools, resources, and emotional support you need.  The more balanced you are – the better equipped you will be to help each team member as required.

During this unpredictable time, you need to balance caring for the project mission, your team, and yourself!

#projectpointers #projectmanagement

For more, check out the LinkedIn Learning Become a Project Manager learning path