Many projects have a long list of requirements, from product features to design standards to quality metrics. Each of these requirements originated from a stakeholder, manager, or company policy. To make matters difficult, the stakeholder often can't even articulate their requirements or how they would like it implemented into a solution, or company policies … [Read more...]
Do you need a Requirements Traceability Matrix?
A Requirements Traceability Matrix is a project management tool that provides a formal way to track project requirements. It links project (or product) requirements from their origins to the deliverables that satisfy them. At the outset of each project, prior to even the scope statement, the requirements should be identified and prioritized. Things like paint quality … [Read more...]
Do You need a Requirements Management Plan?
I once had a project where an adjacent landowner almost came to blows with my site inspector before any ground was broken. Although we purchased a piece of his land and showed him the plans before the construction bagan, he decided once he saw construction folks arriving on site that the project was going to impact the drainage on the land he still owned (we … [Read more...]
Project Scope Management according to the PMBOK
Scope management, or rather the lack of it, is one of the biggest reasons for project failure. Correctly defining what is and is not included in the project is absolutely foundational to good project management. I've seen many projects go south even though they had the right expertise, schedule, high quality deliverables, and even satisfied clients. But if the dreaded … [Read more...]