Project Launch Process L320

Blog: Biz-Performance, David Brown

L320 – Review / Reconfirm / Agree Path Plan

DEFINITION

Review, and, if appropriate, revise and agree the high-level management “Path Plan” based on results from the previous segments. Appropriate level of client sign off will be required. Equivalent changes may be required in other documentation.

SUMMARY

During the Requirements Segment and again during the Selection Segment, the parameters which affect the remainder of the project may change. Therefore a review of the current Path Plan should normally be performed.

PATH PLANNING GUIDANCE

This process is normal practice.

DEPENDENCIES

Prerequisites (Finish-Finish):

QA Signoff of previous segment (Q180)
Reconfirm Approach (L310)

Dependent procedures (Finish-Finish):

Confirm or renegotiate KPMG’s contractual relationship (L150)
Detail the Segment Plan for the following segment (L120)
Detail / revise staffing, team structure and organisation for the following segment (L130)

RECEIVABLES

Project Constitution showing terms of reference, scope and objectives
Definition of business needs and anticipated benefits
current Path Plan
Quality Plan showing approach to:

project management,
change management,
use of other methods and techniques,
quality review and sign off.

Organisation structure of the client organisation
Available resources details / skill sets

DELIVERABLES

Updated high-level management Path Plan showing high-level timescales, sequencing, dependencies, deliverables, and resources requirements
Corresponding updates if appropriate to other key project documentation, for example

Project Constitution showing terms of reference, scope and objectives
Definition of business needs and anticipated benefits
Quality Plan,
Project Organigramme

TOOLS

ITPM Core Guide
Example plans
Project planning software
Estimating Model software (spreadsheets)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TASKS

In Process L310 the overall approach to the project was reviewed to reconfirm the original approach, or to define a modified approach, based upon the results of the preceding segment. This may have led to major or minor changes in the selected path for the coming segment of the project. In this process, the Path Plan is revised accordingly.

All activities carried out when originally defining the Path Plan are re-visited at the end of each segment. The reason for this is so that a more accurate high level management aide will be available for the rest of the project, based upon the knowledge gathered to date about changes to the project.

This review may need to consider the following topics:

the project boundaries,
the implementation strategy,
client sponsor commitment,
the activity plan,
high level estimates,
the resourcing requirements,
the project organisational structure,
sub-contractor relationships,
the risks and risk management,
issue resolution and change control procedures,
quality management procedures, and,
the reporting structure.

The overall approach and issues are considered in detail in Process L090 – “Produce Path Plan”. The deliverables are identical to those in L090 except that they are more up to date and only relevant for the remaining segments. Similar considerations will also apply in terms of review and agreement by the project sponsor, and other key participants. See Process L090 for full details.