The STS approach to Project Management maintains a primary focus on quality, on-time completion, and bottom-line management. The SPEC Methodology has been developed and implemented to achieve these goals as the standard by which
our Project Managers operate. We believe so strongly in this methodology that all of our Project Managers attend a specific STS course that includes an integrated project simulation. From the Data Center to the desktop, MDF to IDF, our clients are
covered; IP, Wireless, Structured Cabling (Fiber and Copper), Network Switches, Digital sign-age, Audio/Visual, Point of Sale, Security Camera, Servers and Desktops...we design, configure, stage, install, project manage, integrate and provide 2nd day support services.
The planning phase is when the Project Manager (PM) takes over. It
includes a thorough review of the scope of work (SOW), job package, and supporting
documentation and development of a comprehensive project plan.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT DETAILS
As the primary point of contact, a project manager is
recommended for clients who require a management resource to plan and manage projects such as network implementation, wireless implementation,
multi-site implementation, reconfiguration, or Control Center/Data Center move/consolidation/upgrade.
The Project Manager will direct a project team for the client that will include: (depending on scoped project requirements)
• On-site Network Coordinator
• Staging Manager and Network Assurance Manager
• Service Operations Manager
• Network Consultant
• Network Design Center personnel
• Account Executive
• Corporate Management
Project Manager Responsibilities
The Project Manager provides overall management to the
assigned customer/client communications project and directs the
activities of the associated project team members. He/she takes
ownership of the project. He,/she performs the day-to-day activities
required to complete the assigned project on time and with
minimal disruption to network service and business functionality.
The Project Manager is the decision maker for the project-related
issues and is responsible for the following tasks with our Partner
Project Manager: (if assigned)
• Manage/supervise equipment shipments to customer sites.
• Establish and manage installations, test and final
comprehensive implementation work plans, estimates, and schedules.
• Establish project training and staging schedules.
• Conduct planning, implementation and progress status meetings.
• Present plans and status to the customer.
• Track and report project progress, implementation
schedule, and status of Provider or Customer products
installed.
PROJECT MANAGER
• Establish and administered change control procedures as required.
• Review and approve project change requests/change orders.
• Prepare and present project status presentations for project reviews.
• Interface with the Partner Customer to establish necessary standards.
• Estimate and report estimated time and tracking for completion.
• Adjust overall project schedule, applying logical uses of resources to complete
tasks promptly and effectively.
Execute
Execute is the phase where STS actually delivers whatever
the contract promised (or whatever change control modifies
it to be). It starts with the customer kick-off meeting and
ends with customer acceptance.
Conclude
The conclusion is the wrap-up phase. It includes solidifying accounting
details, completing documentation, and addressing any remaining
client concerns.
Scope
The proper deliverables from the scope phase are provided to
the PM (from the Account Managers and Network Consultants), which include:
• All date commitments such as delivery, installation, and cut-over
• Specific or unique requirements as they relate to the project tasks
• Descriptions of project-specific processes to be used for the implementation
• Definition of legal terms, warranties, penalties, and insurance or site requirements
• Workplace rules and safety requirements
• Any non-standard requirements
• Scope of Work to be performed
• List of hardware and software to be provided by the client
• Preliminary schedule of when the work will be done (milestones)
DETAILED SPECIFIC
ACTIVITIES
Project Management Methodology
• Labor estimates (hours and rates) based upon a very high-level work breakdown structure (WBS)
• Any special quotes for equipment, services, or labor
• Insurance required by the client
• Payment schedule and terms
• Acceptance schedule and terms
• Warranty terms
• Project-specific terms
• Amendment process and terms (change orders)
Plan
The PM will accept the project and proceed with the plan phase of the methodology.
The first step for the PM in the planning phase is to review the documentation with the customer. The PM reviews the information, confirms that no issues exist with the
scope and dates, and proceeds with the actual planning.
Initial responsibilities are:
• Create a Project Summary
• Start project constraints, risk assessment, and assumption documents – these will be living documents for the life of the project and /end up a part of the final job package
during the closure phase.
• Establish best resources for project success.
• Distribute baseline documentation – SOW, equipment list, as-sold drawings, preliminary budget, and high-level WBS.
• Obtain feedback from the client/customer.
• Establish the internal reporting needs / expectations.
When all of these items have been completed, an internal kick-off
meeting will be scheduled with the team to establish mutual
project expectations. Having a plan buy-in with the client is important to
establish a unified implementation team, which is instrumental in achieving project success.
At this point, the Project Manager will establish the following:
• A detailed WBS and resource assignment (stakeholders).
• Entry of this information into a project-tracking tool.
• An update of the project constraints, assumptions, risk
assessment, and contingency plans.
Project Management Methodology
• Prepare the change control log and issues log.
• Prepare the equipment procurement as per the established timeline through STS and client.
• Schedule, if necessary, any and all lab work that may be needed before the project starts.
• Establish the final project budgets as per the detailed WBS created above.
• Prepare the task definitions and schedule the appropriate resources.
• Redistribute detailed information to the team, with the appropriate checklists attached, during the internal kick-off meeting.
Schedule kick-off meeting with the client to:
- Final review of SOW
- Present project plan and confirm customer concurrence
- Review responsibilities of both the project team and the client prior to project start.
- Review risks and contingency plans
- Establish actual project start date as allowed by our client limitations (i.e., site
constraints, carrier issues, other sub-contractors, etc.)
Execute
Upon completion and agreement to the above, the execution phase
can begin. The PM’s sole responsibility is to manage the
resources to the tasks and timelines established. The
management of risk and implementation of any contingency plans
also, rests solely on the PM. It is imperative during this phase to
always keep the client contact up to date on the project’s progress and manage any and all changes as set forth in the kick-off meeting.
During this phase, the PM will be:
• Maintaining the project timeline and task lists.
• Monitoring dates assigned to tasks.
• Keeping all project logs current.
• Maintaining, with the feedback from the implementation team, the as-built documentation.
• Staying in normal, as defined, contact with the client and the team with written
progress reports.
Conclude
The Conclude phase is the final review of the project. The goal of
this phase is to determine the project’s effectiveness, close the
project, and transition the client into Day 2 service support status.
Some of the tasks associated with this phase are as follows:
• Ensure completion as defined in the SOW.
• Obtain signed acceptance as defined in the SOW from the client during project review.
• Ensure proper billing for the original project and any changes, as per the change approval process.
• Finalize all as-built documentation, ensure proper on-going
service support is in place and distributed to the client upon acceptance.
• Finalize all logs and project folders and pass them on to the PMO for archiving/portal depository.
• Ensure final project closure as per the internal process requirements.
The STS project management team utilizes Microsoft, an
automated project management tool for project documentation.
Project personnel will utilize software tools to develop work
breakdown structure, schedules, manpower requirements,
charts, spreadsheets, and progress reports. Reports can be
custom-generated that demonstrate the overall plan, sub plans,
schedules, percentage completed, and issues jeopardizing the critical paths.
The complexity and magnitude of the client's initiative
will determine the quantity and type of personnel assigned to the account.