Project Leadership Resolutions…

I thought I’d match the short week with three quick project leaders’ New Year’s resolutions.

1.         Test from the Beginning…

Every data point I have seen and for-sure my personal experience says that if you commit resources and start test at the beginning of a project, not only will the quality be better, but the project will complete sooner.

2.         Control the Requirements…

Write down what you are going to do. Start by writing it short, and then expand the definition as you go. Make sure everyone has some understanding of the entire deliverable and project, not just their piece. Resist last minute features that bypass the quality and test controls that you have built into the project.

More on Requirements Management...

3.         Talk More…

The best way to insure the success of a project is to have a norm in the team to talk about everything. Build a team that loves to talk to customers, relishes debating designs, and positively celebrates victories, milestones, and learning the tough lessons.