The delivery plan of project deliverables is a strategic element for every Project Manager.
The goal of every project is, in fact, to produce a result that serves a specific purpose. With the word „purpose“, we can mean the most disparate goals: a software program, a chair, a building, a translation, etc.
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In project management, all these results have only one name: deliverable.
In essence, all planned activities should be directly related to the production of a deliverable. The Project Manager must have in mind what the delivery plan of the deliverables is.
Any project activity that does not directly contribute to the production of a product should be restructured or removed from the project plan. If you are not sure about the definition of deliberable, you can always read the article on how to identify the project deliverables.
Regardless of how many tasks have been completed by the project manager and his team, until a deliverable is not produced and accepted by the client, the project team may not be paid!
Since the final results are the result of some activity or effort, they must also be measurable and specific.
In the world of project management, a deliverable is defined as a “measurable, tangible, verifiable result that must be produced to complete a milestone of the project”.
Processing of the delivery strategy of the deliverables
A weighted delivery strategy of the deliverables ensures that customers’ goals are met and that agreed deadlines are respected.
Processing this delivery strategy includes the following activities:
- Definition
- Deconstruction
- Assignment
- Progress monitoring
- Quality check
Knowing these steps will increase the efficiency of teamwork and ensure that all activities add value to the project.
Definition
Understanding the client’s goals is the first step in the definition process, as the final results must be developed from this perspective.
It would be useful to collect the customer’s needs by following the SMART criteria.
Deconstruction
After a comparison with the customer, the results of the project are successfully defined.
The next goal is to break down each deliverable into as small units as possible in order to trace the activities and thus be able to delegate them.
This exercise is often referred to as the creation of a “WBS – Work Breakdown Structure“.
The correct deconstruction of the final result is fundamental for an accurate monitoring of progress.
Assignment
Once the final results have been broken down into small measurable tasks, the project manager can begin to assign individual tasks to the appropriate team member.
The first step is to hire the right people for the project team.
It is the responsibility of the project manager to understand the team’s skill set and determine who is best suited for a particular job.
After assigning the tasks, it is important to keep the communication with the team open in order to allow clarifications on any questions or concerns regarding compliance with deadlines.
Progress monitoring
Now that the final results are defined and broken down with deadlines and tasks set for each activity, it is time to keep track of progress towards the completion of each deliverable.
A variety of methods and tools are available to track the progress of the project.
For accurate status monitoring, it is important to select a project management tool that is flexible and easy to use.
Moreover, each team member should be able to easily insert updates on the activities, while the project manager needs a general overview of the project.
There are many project management tools that systematically monitor the progress that can be made as team members indicate that activities are completed. In this case, a good project management software is the key.
Quality control
Establishing and planning time for a thorough quality review is a key component of the project deliverables delivery strategy.
The quality review serves as the final status between the deliverable and the customer.
A quality control process usually includes steps to validate that the deliverable:
- Maintains consistency with other deliverables
- Fulfills contractual obligations
- Is free from errors or defects
Depending on the size and skills of the project team, a single resource or more resources can be included in the quality review process.
After carrying out the quality review process, the project manager should be sure of the acceptance of the deliverable by the client.
It is good practice to always ask the customer to send a written approval of the result.
In conclusion, developing a clear delivery plan of the deliverables is essential for the timely execution and management of any project.
Investing time from the beginning to establish the various phases of the process and selecting the right project management tool, will allow the project manager to focus on efficient project management.
