Technology Projects: Delivery Management

When conducting a health check or a lookback on a technology project, it's important to assess the delivery management aspects of the project. Delivery management encompasses the planning, execution, and control of the project to ensure successful implementation. Here are some key delivery management questions to ask:

1. Project Planning:

• How was the project planned, including the definition of goals, objectives, and deliverables?
• Were the project scope and requirements clearly defined and documented?
• Was there a realistic and achievable project timeline and budget in place?

2. Resource Management:

• Were the necessary resources (human, financial, and technological) adequately allocated to the project?
• Were there any resource constraints or challenges that impacted project delivery?
• Were the skills and capabilities of the project team aligned with the project requirements?

3. Project Execution:

• How effectively was the project executed in terms of adhering to the project plan and schedule?
• Were project milestones and deliverables achieved on time and within budget?
• Were there any deviations from the project plan, and if so, how were they managed?

4. Stakeholder Management:

• How were project stakeholders identified and managed throughout the project?
• Were their expectations and concerns adequately addressed?
• Were there any conflicts or challenges in managing stakeholder relationships?

5. Quality Assurance:

• How was the quality of project deliverables and outcomes assured?
• Were there established quality standards and processes in place?
• Were there any deficiencies or quality issues identified during the project?

6. Risk and Issue Management:

• How were risks and issues identified, assessed, and managed throughout the project?
• Were there effective risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans in place?
• Were there any unforeseen risks or issues that had a significant impact on project delivery?

7. Change Control:

• How were changes to project scope, requirements, or timeline managed?
• Were there proper change control processes in place to assess the impacts of changes?
• Were changes adequately documented and communicated to relevant stakeholders?

8. Vendor Management:

• If vendors were involved in the project, how well were they managed?
• Were there clear vendor contracts, SLAs, and performance metrics in place?
• Were there any issues or challenges with vendor performance or delivery?

9. Project Governance and Oversight:

• How was the project governed and monitored by the project sponsors or steering committee?
• Were there regular project status updates and reporting mechanisms in place?
• Were there any governance gaps or issues that affected project delivery?

10. Lessons Learned and Knowledge Transfer:

• Were lessons learned captured and documented throughout the project?
• Were the lessons learned shared with relevant stakeholders and future project teams?
• What steps have been taken to improve future project success based on the lessons learned?