Software Project Implementation Management
Managing Project Delivery is Crucial to Deliver Change to Business
Jan 4, 2009
Managing project delivery is essential to avoid the common problems of the software solution not working as expected or crashing out due to multiple users accessing the system at the same time. The keys to project delivery are: successful implementation of the software, managing the business change and scaling up the business use quickly.
Successful Implementation
Successful implementation of the software must be planned carefully. In short there are two key options for delivering the software -- big bang or phased release:
- A "big bang" deployment or release software to all users at the same time
- Phased deployment or release software to users over a period of time for example by department or by geographical location
The project needs to make a considered decision on the best way to release a software solution to the business. Business will often choose a phased deployment, consequently reducing project risk because if there is some problem the business impact is reduced. In addition, the project deployment of software includes:
- Cleanup of the "test" environment following successful completion of testing
- Preparation of project deployment to the business such as setting up user accounts to access the system and ensuring any lists of values have valid values
- Deploying the software to the "production" environment ready for normal business use
- Plan and mechanism to back out of production software deployment if the process goes wrong for some unexpected reason, restoring the business to its pre-deployment state
Some of these ideas have developed from IT Service Management and its discipline of Release Management - for more background read: Release Management: Where to Start? Project management should borrow and evolve good ideas whenever needed.
Managing the Business Change of Project Delivery
Project deployment of the software to the business units such that they are able to use it from a specified date/time is not enough by itself. Managing the business change is an essential part of project delivery and that needs to include:
- Building awareness within the business of the software solution through communication
- Developing business support and momentum to use the solution through stakeholder engagement
- Planning and executing the training plan for business users and administrators
- Business plan to exploit the use of the solution and to scale up the numbers of users
- Setting up and operating a customer board to manage the evolution of the solution
Software Implementation Management
Project delivery combines the deployment of the software with managing the business change. This software implementation management is crucial to avoid a software solution that:
- Is not delivered successfully
- Is delivered but is not used or used minimally
- Is delivered but its level of business use and therefore benefit does not justify the project cost.
A successful implementation will need the project delivery to include effective project planning and active project risk management.
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