IS  YOUR  PROJECT  A  POTENTIAL  DISASTER ?

 1.     Are your users involved in the design, implementation, and testing of your project? 

2.     Does your project have the full support of your corporate management? 

3.     Does your project have clear objectives that deal with hard-core business issues? 

4.     Did you rigorously define your basic requirements before you began your project? 

5.     Is your staff trained, competent, and rewarded for good performance?  

6.     Does your project have small milestones that can be achieved and tracked? 

7.     Does your project have an experienced project manager? 

8.     Have you thoroughly planned the design, implementation, and roll-out? 

9.     Do you have full ownership of your project?  

10. Is the project being designed and implemented by outside consultants?

 Answer above questions yes or no.  Tally points for each yes answer.  Scoring:  (1.) + 25, (2.) + 15, (3.) + 15, (4.) + 10, (5.) + 10, (6.) + 10, (7.) + 5, (8.) + 5, (9.) + 5, (10.) Subtract 25 points if answered yes. 

Summary of total points:   

80-100:  Congratulations!  You’ve got a project that has a good chance of success. 

60-75:  Your project has a possibility of success, but there is trouble ahead.  You might want to revisit some of your assumptions about planning and staffing, and create a get-well plan. 

30-55:  The average IT project.  You’re going to be late and over budget, and the system probably won’t work as advertised. 

Below 30:  Get your resume ready.  You’ve got a full-fledged disaster on your hands.  Your best bet is to cancel the project yourself and work with your top management on damage control.  It’s not pleasant, but nobody said the job was easy.  

If the above test results were not good, we suggest you review our Project Management & Control course.  It may be too late for your current project but training may help on the next project.