Conducting a Project Kick-Off Meeting

• The business reasons for the project

Where the project fits in the business
How this fit influences your chances of success

• The project customers

Identifying stakeholders and their needs
Developing strategies to effectively manage involvement

• The project objectives

What success looks like
Making the team's success visible
Managing the project to build customer confidence

Balancing Development Needs with Organizational Expectations

• Selecting software development life cycle models

Comparing SDLC models
How to identify the right model
Traditional
Iterative
Agile (RAD, XP, Scrum)

• Designing a road map for your project

Mapping your PM process to your project's SDLC
Optimizing time, cost, function and quality
Considering industry standards: PMI and PRINCE2

 Translating Stakeholder Needs into Actions 

• Structuring content for your software project plan 

Providing initial top-down estimates
Identifying tasks and phases using a WBS

Calculating realistic bottom-up estimates
Sequencing tasks into a network diagram
Constructing Gantt charts to assess resource needs

• Getting the right resources

Identifying resource needs using your plan
Delegating work effectively

• Reality check for your project plan

Testing the plan before you begin
Assessing the project using risk management
Involving the team in planning
Building confidence for your plan
Selling the plan to relevant stakeholders

Running the Project: Day-to-Day Decisions for Success

• Focusing on the project management process

Putting theory into practice
Early warning signs
Building team commitment and managing communication
Day-to-day tracking and management
Measuring progress with milestones
Defect detection and prevention

• Characterizing the software development process

Pressures to expect at each stage
The major stages and how they relate
Key events in each stage
Providing the critical deliverables

• Building successful teams 

Getting technical teams to work collaboratively
Ensuring participation
Empowering team members
Embracing the accountability factor
Taking responsibility

Driving the Implementation: Recognizing and Overcoming Challenges

• Tracking and control

Measuring software progress
Linking progress to success

• Implementing change control

Principles of change
The details of change

• Controlling risk

Analyzing project risk
Changing the risk profile
Planning for contingency

• Closing the Project: Learning from Experience

Sharpening your project management skills
Influencing the continuous improvement process of your organization