Aligning the development approach, delivery rhythm, and project life cycle is key to executing projects efficiently. These elements guide the project through its phases, ensuring alignment with business goals and stakeholder expectations. The following is a brief overview of these concepts, illustrated through a community center project.
Key Components:
- Development Approach:
- Predictive: Detailed planning from the start, with minimal changes throughout.
- Hybrid: A combination of predictive and adaptive methods.
- Adaptive: Flexible and iterative, responding to feedback and changes.
- Delivery Rhythm:
- Single Delivery: One final product or result at the end.
- Multiple Deliveries: Several releases throughout the course of the project.
- Periodic Deliveries: Deliverables released on a fixed schedule.
- Continuous Delivery: Incremental updates delivered consistently.
- Project Life Cycle: Key phases include feasibility, design, build, test, deploy, and close. The chosen development approach and delivery rhythm affect how each of these phases is executed.
Case Study: Community Center Project
In the community center project, various components followed distinct development approaches and delivery rhythms. The building construction utilized a predictive approach with a single delivery at the end, ensuring minimal changes throughout its execution. Senior services followed an iterative method, with multiple incremental deliveries as the services were developed and rolled out. The website used an adaptive approach, with periodic updates delivered to the public as the project evolved. Meanwhile, CAP training was delivered incrementally, with multiple phases of training provided to ensure timely learning.
Life Cycle Phases:
- Start-Up: The initial phase focused on finalizing the business case and project charter.
- Plan: Detailed designs and plans were developed for various deliverables, such as the building design and website wireframe.
- Development: Timelines overlapped for different deliverables, with parallel development happening for the website and senior services.
- Test: The project entered a testing phase with inspections for the building and trials for the CAP training and website features.
- Deploy: Deliverables were deployed in phases, with the website launched before the community center’s grand opening.
- Close: Final evaluations were done, and the project was closed as major deliverables were completed.
Interaction with Other Performance Domains
The development approach influenced key performance domains such as planning and risk management. For example, a predictive approach in construction helped reduce risks related to schedule and cost, while the adaptive approach for the website allowed flexibility in response to ongoing feedback and changing requirements.
Conclusion
By aligning the development approach, delivery rhythm, and life cycle, project managers can enhance performance and ensure the project’s success. The community center project serves as an example of how distinct components, though managed differently, contribute to an overall cohesive strategy for achieving business objectives. Tailoring the approach to each deliverable maximizes efficiency and ensures a smooth execution from start to finish.
