IT Project Management Chapter 6 Project Implementation

IT Project Management Chapter 6 Project Implementation

Getting the implementation phase right the first time is crucial for any  project manager or project team. This chapter offers guidelines for successfully implementing a project and ensuring that all relevant areas  have been addressed. Remember that everything the project team  planned, developed, and changed throughout the project life cycle is now ready for implementation. Implementation, in a nutshell, refers to the efficient transfer of the project into the client's "live" production environment. The logistical deployment of the project into the business operation is often complex and needs close coordination by the project team.The users of the future system are anxiously waiting for the new solution and most probably have been briefed as to when the solution will be  implemented and "up and running." If the production manager fails to deliver at the specified time and within the designed functionality, problems are bound to occur. There is no turning back! In this chapter I show how to implement a system and support it at a low cost. Failure to deploy a project correctly is one of the major causes of project failure.

The implementation of the solution is not final until sufficient attention is paid to ensure that client is

knowledgeable and has been trained to use the solution. Training the client staff can take up considerable project resources, often a significant proportion of the overall cost of the project. Therefore, the training should be carefully planned and budgeted. The staff who will maintain

and support the solution once it is implemented should also be offered training.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The implementation plan, which was developed by the project manager during the design phase, should, at this stage, be approved and communicated to all project stakeholders. A successful project can be ruined by a poor implementation plan. A working implementation schedule should be developed and maintained for all parties to use and agree upon. As the project changes, the project manager must pay close attention to the schedule and update it to reflect the latest changes to the implementation date. This schedule should then be communicated to all project stakeholders.

LESSONS LEARNED DURING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

"What could be simpler than buying some computers, throwing them on a  desktop, plugging them in and turning them on?"

The question is simple: The answer is much more complex. Complexity is almost always underestimated until well after the start of the planning process. Many of the elements of deployment require special coordination and handling due to the lack of direct control over the processes or

compounding dependencies. Complexity can come from the technical nature of a project that attempts to take advantage of a new technology not yet tested by the corporation and requires full integration into the existing systems. These factors don't surface until the project manager demands action or some form of change. Implementing a solution without testing it properly is not acceptable.

PROJECT CONCLUSION

Often the most neglected phase of any project is the closure phase. The closure phase brings the project to an orderly conclusion for the benefit of the organization and also for any future project. At this stage, the majority of project managers are looking at or have already been assigned new projects. It is exactly at this point that many project managers begin neglecting the closure phase tasks of a project.One of the main reasons for this is that there are administrative tasks to complete during this phase. However, it is important to remember that the client has paid for the project, and the client determines when the project is complete. So, remember to complete the project life cycle.
If the project does not receive the proper support until the very end, the client loses the benefits of the project and the project manager will most probably lose the recognition. In today's market, client satisfaction requires more than just implementing a quality solution. When a project is completed but the post-project support is not properly planned for, disaster strikes, leaving the client disappointed. 

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IT Project Management Chapter 6 Project Implementation by Zeeshan Bhatti