How to Deliver a Successful Project – Part 1 – What Does “Successful” Mean?

Posted in: Blog, Methodologies, Project Delivery | Jan 10, 2013 at 10:01 PM

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I am starting a new series on how to deliver a successful project. Please note that my background is in IT therefore the examples used in this series maybe related to IT. I believe however, that the same methodology can be applied with any kind of projects.

INTRODUCTION

This is a series:

Part 1. What Does “Successful” Mean?
Part 2. Start It By Defining THE Business Requirements
Part 3. Accurate Estimates, Quoting and Proposals
Part 4. The Project Plan and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Part 5. Delivery: Communication is Key
Part 6. Managing Changes
Part 7. Project Closure

So, what is a successful project? For me a successful project means the following:
1. The project is finished within the deadline and budget;
2. The client gets the promised deliverables;
3. The client is happy and would like to be in a long-term relationship with you;
4. Your project team is happy and no one is leaving the team or moving to an another company.

If I have to lead a project and any of the above is missing, I would consider the project failed. For example: there is no point of delivering a project within a deadline and budget but there are still missing deliverables (ie. you have to cut down some of the deliverables simply because you don’t have enough remaining budget). Or, you deliver everything within the budget, deadlines and you’ve delivered all of your functionalities but you have get your team members to work 12 hours a day for the whole month. In the end, your team members are burned out and they are wanting to get an another job.

For me a successful project is satisfying all of the project teams and stakeholders: the clients, you – as the project manager – and your team members.

To be continued….

PS:
In this series I will introduce various tips and tricks that can help you delivering a successful project. Again, all of the information you are going to read on this series come from my experience only. I don’t have a degree or certification in project management. However, the methodologies and processes that I am using have been proven successful for many of the projects I am leading.

Just in case you have not known me nor heard about me, my name is Tommy Segoro and I have been in the IT industry for more than 10 years now. I have been in various positions and roles and have developed and led so many IT projects. Please read more about my profile in the About page.

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