Project Definition and Planning Services
Services Description
It is essential for a project to get a good start - in fact, this is more than half the battle for project success. This means good planning and more: the project must be matched to the business need; expectations must be set realistically; resources must be set aside; and the right team must be put in place.
And of course the plan must be right. It must be meaningful to the executives and usable by the delivery team. It must be comprehensive, yet not exhausting to comprehend. It must provide a clear path to results.
SOMOS can help with the definition of your project, including business case development, project scoping, stakeholder analysis, and submissions for funding and executive approval.
Senior SOMOS project managers have helped define many projects for our customers, including information technology system development, telecommunications product development, e-business system development, and manufacturing process development. Specific deliverables from these engagements have included Venture Capital Funding Proposals, Treasury Board Submissions, Business Cases, and Proposals for Contract.
SOMOS can also help produce realistic, useful, understandable, and measurable plans - plans that will enable your team to achieve the greatest success possible, whatever the resource limitations, environmental constraints, and project risks.
Our project management consultants have planned hundreds of large- and small-scale projects for clients in industry and government. For a typical engagement, a SOMOS project planner will work with key stakeholders in the client's organization to identify and document concise and measurable project deliverables and to determine the resources and time to produce them. We also help with the promotion and socialization of the plan in the client organization to ensure all parties understand and buy into the project.
Working with SOMOS project management professionals will bring the clarity to set your organization on the right path to project success.
Examples of SOMOS engagements for Project Definition and Planning:
Automation System Project
Government DepartmentA SOMOS consultant evaluated alternative approaches to developing and implementing a new automation support system. Key requirements were identified and the costs and benefits were compared. The resultant plan incorporated novel strategies to achieve a 60% reduction in costs from initial estimates. Executive presentation material was prepared and the project was approved.
Production Line Set-up Project
Food Products Manufacturing CompanyA SOMOS analyst led the preparation of plans for managing the set-up and operation of a new production line within a customer's operations. The analyst then assisted in developing a commercial proposal to contract for the line set-up and for delivery of the products.
Large Database System Development
Software Vendor and IntegratorA SOMOS project management consultant assisted in the preparation of a project plan for use in a proposal to develop and implement a large information system development project. This involved learning the organization's project management policies and standards, and adapting them to the specific needs of the project.