Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
defined and documented project management processes. Some of the prac-
tices within these processes required new behaviors that the working groups
agreed necessary.
These workshops were highly interactive focusing on typical scenarios
occurring on real projects. Acceptable options leaders had in addressing var-
ious project conditions and constraints in carrying out the company's
processes were included. Any new behaviors the project leaders were being
asked to follow were referred to as “stretch points” and highlighted in the
workshop.
I have mentioned the importance we placed on
rationale
when asking the
people in the organization to change their behavior or “stretch.” In moving
the organization toward CMMI Level 3 project management practices, there
were a number of areas we did push behavior changes. This did not happen
quickly. It took time for these new practices to be employed in a manner
where the organization could see the tangible benefits and achieve buy-in to
the new expected behaviors.
I now want to share some of the specific practices added as “stretch points,”
and the rationale provided to the project leaders during training for these
additions.
5.6 Example Stretch Point: Adding a Project Management
Plan per Agreed Template
Initially a project management plan (PMP) document was not being pro-
duced, reviewed, and approved at the start of projects. This is not to say that
project planning was not occurring at BOND. It was happening, as it does in
many small Agile organizations. Often, the rationale for decisions, and the
specifics of the plan, are communicated verbally, and never find their way
into a documented planning artifact that provides an overall vision, scope,
and plan for the project that can be reviewed and approved by higher-level
management and other key stakeholders in the organization.
LESSON 1
When an organization is small, formal documented plans and rationale for
decisions might be unnecessary. As organizations grow, documenting overall
plans and related decisions in a consistent way begins to have greater value.
