A project assessment is an end-to-end analysis of a project’s scope, scale, deliverables, objectives, and impacts. It also involves assessing the project’s stakeholders, risks, timeline, and impacted groups and processes.
A project manager should have a very structured approach to conducting an IT project assessment to ensure that all details are accounted for and that our customer has all required info to make correct business decisions. Things to be considered are:
1. Discuss high level architecture with the client
a. Gather non-functional requirements
b. Discuss integration points
c. Discuss constraints/risks
d. Brainstorm options
2. Review of technical/process document
a. Study current system
b. Study current architecture
c. Understand functional requirements
d. Understand non-functional requirements
e. Include industry experience
f. Document risks and assumptions
g. Estimate high level design
h. Perform tech review
3. Group review with the client
a. Share assumptions, basis of assumptions
b. Discuss technical details/options
c. Discuss the recommended solution and reasons
d. Discuss risks and mitigation
e. Collect feedback
4. Rework
a. Incorporate feedback comments
b. Re-analyze assumptions, risks and mitigation
c. Perform causal analysis for review comments
d. Compile final documentation with timelines for delivery
e. Perform estimation – time and materials or fixed price
f. Internal document review
5. Final Presentation
a. Point out where review comments were incorporated
b. Stress the assumptions, risks and mitigation
c. Present estimates
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