Database Reference
In-Depth Information
consultant encompasses much more than our technical expertise and requires us to take
on roles, such as change management and project management.
Who wants to do that?
I am not going to try to convince you this is a fantastic part of your job or that it is easy.
It is not. But, as was said before, its successful execution means that you actually get to
build that “oh, so wonderful Essbase application that my company can never live with-
out” and it does not necessarily have to be painful. given how much you are impacted
by the successful delivery of a project, you need to be good at project management even
if you do not like it. hopefully, the next few sections will give you the tools needed for
a strong foundation on managing your Essbase project. Even if you are not the official
project manager, it is important for you to understand the principles of effective project
management.
11.7.1 If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail
The common theme that can be stated regarding any company's decision to implement
an Essbase solution is that effective project management and project planning techniques
are vital to achieve success. how the project will be managed cannot be an afterthought
and, no, not just anybody in the organization can do it despite what your management
says. regardless of what you may have heard from your manager, a formal plan to man-
age the project is not and should not be optional. I am not implying you have to have a
PmP (Project management Professional) certification, but you do have to have the time
and a solid understanding of project management techniques to ensure that the sched-
ule, resources, cost, scope, and quality of the project are properly managed.
There are a few basic items you should always know about the project you are manag-
ing. This information will help you steer the project away from failure and will be a huge
force in ensuring its success. The success factors are discussed next.
11.7.2 Baseline Definitions
Baseline definitions include:
• Project objectives are well defined and documented.
• Project requirements are well defined and documented.
• Project roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, and accepted by all parties
involved.
• Project baseline (cost and time) is known.
11.7.3 Active Management
Active management is essential to success. you or the project manager:
• Are able to describe how much work has been completed to date on the project,
how much remaining work there is to complete on the project, and if there is a
variance (includes scope, schedule and costs).
• Are able to describe known issues and risks facing the project and what the
plans are for resolution or mitigation.
11.7.4 he Project Charter
The project charter, a document created by the company that defines the objectives
and scope of the project that is signed by key stakeholders authorizing the project,
acts as a mechanism to describe the four baseline definitions described previously.
