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Project Definition In-House Workshops Print E-mail

Kick off your project with a Project Definition Workshop.

A good start to your project can make all the difference. It helps deliver the right solution efficiently. Working with your project team, I take a top down approach, bringing the detail into focus each step of the way. This keeps the team focused on what your project is really about. It lets your team add detail at the right time.

The earlier requirements are identified, the more likely they are to get incorporated into the final design solution. Yet requirements often end up an endless laundry list which cannot be validated until the project is finished. In fact, unseen requirements are most often contextual which means they're not identified until a concrete design exists, a UI that stakeholders can see. When this happens, the existing application and code become the single greatest constraint on the final deliverable.

The following process can be applied to many situations. It's been applied to both new applications as well as to application enhancements and those under maintenance. The workshop has been used to define whole projects and for developing a long term vision.

"The Project Definition Workshop was a huge step forward for our project. We knew our project was critical, there were a lot of stakeholders and the scope wasn't clear. With Sarah planning and running the workshop, after just two hours we had a clear vision for the project. Sarah's report captures concrete ideas and next steps, as well as more nuanced considerations. As the project moves forward, we're confident that the workshop helped us make exactly the right decisions."

Jennifer Lymneos, Senior Usability Specialist/Development Training Lead
The MathWorks

A “PDW” is a 2 hour workshop that brings together all project stakeholders. Together we look at the key drivers behind a project or application design. Taking a top down approach, the workshop explores how the project or application relates to your company’s business goals.

  • Take a top down approach, start with the vision, business goals, and the purpose of the application. Later we’ll work directly with users to make design decisions and tradeoffs.
  • List the benefits (both cost and opportunity) of the proposed project
  • Identify the target users and top 10 tasks. Everyone works from the same lists.
  • Work through the risks and costs which may happen if the project is not done
  • Define success metrics and concrete indicators to track whether we have met targeted business goals

Deliverable: Gap analysis and set of recommendations

Consulting: 2-3 days