FTLM, Specific Action Project Planning

The objectives of any Specific Action Project Planning activity should be as follows:

• Establish Clear and Measurable Objectives
• Establish Clear and Manageable Scope
• Establish Phases and Time to Value
• Establish Cash Flow and Total Cost to Value
• Define Resource Requirements
• Assess Risk and Plan for Mitigation
• Assimilate all Findings and Deliver a Program Charter
• Deliver a Capital Approval Request

Our analysis of project histories suggests this planning stage of work is often where the patient is first infected though the symptoms are latent, as they don’t show up until much further downstream. Additionally, it is at this stage where the first fragmentations of methods typically occur.

Failure to commit an appropriate level of resources, money and time to this stage can have disastrous consequences downstream. Additionally, it is at this planning stage of work where most teams miss the first opportunity to integrate the process analysis and design work to the software analysis & design work. Finally, it is at this planning stage of work where most teams miss opportunity to thread the planning stage deliverables to the execution stage deliverables.

During the planning stage we will execute the following work tasks and deliver the following work products:

Work Tasks & Deliverables

Review Strategic Goals

Review Operational Objectives

Establish preliminary Specific Action Project Objectives

Develop Activity Level Process Model to define initial Scope of Specific Action Project

Identify Process Related Problems

Conduct Process Analysis

Set New Targets for Design

Update Program Objectives

Establish Firm Scope of Effort

Review Justification Potential with Executive Sponsors

Secure Funding to Proceed with Planning Stage Work

Plan the Balance of the Planning Stage Work

Create a Preliminary Future State Models / Vendor Selection Use Cases

Write Request for Proposal

Plan Vendor Selection Process

Conduct Vendor RFP Meeting

Select Best Vendor(s)

Derive Detailed Implementation Plan

Assimilate Findings and Create Program Charter

Create Capital Approval Request

Secure Funding and Support to Proceed with Execution Phase

Note; while we did not focus any discussion on derivation of Cost including specification and pricing of Computer and Networking Infrastructure, cost of application licenses, maintenance, etc. We do have fully developed methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of total Time and Cost to Value for all cost elements.

To obtain a full version of the FTLM overview including details describing each Worktask & Deliverable listed above go to the Library to download a copy.

This FTLM method is Copy written and patent is pending. This method is only available for use with the expressed written permission of an authorized DSA representative.