For this Broadcast, my second as publisher, I want to focus on the various types of output for different projects. They typically vary among process, service, and object among others, and result in refining the scope and definition of a project. This is an excerpt from the self-study class: “7 Steps to Project Success”.
WHAT is the output of this project?
Projects always produce something tangible or intangible. The output may be an object, a service, a process, or a change in a person or organization. A school fitness project could result in stronger, leaner, more robust students. A design project could result in a set of drawings. The output of a construction project could be a building, highway, or factory.
Usually the output of a project is obvious at the top level. So answering this second question requires digging a little deeper:
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Defining the output in some detail
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Considering alternative outputs that could meet the project objective
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Identifying how the selected output meets the project objective
Defining the Output in Detail
Usually a few words can designate the intended output of a project: a house, a highway, a software program, a new style bank loan, a new skill, etc. In answering the What question, we need to move a little beyond this simplistic description. This is especially true of design projects. The output of many design projects is essentially a detailed description of a product that will be replicated many times in the future: e.g., an automobile, electronic circuit, toy, appliance, etc. So it makes no sense to say that we will be defining the project output in complete detail during the short seven-question exercise.
Somewhere between a few words and pages of drawings and specs lies the middle ground of describing the project’s outputs prior to beginning the actual work. To simply say ‘a machine’, ‘a process’, ‘a website’, or ‘a mobile app’ is not sufficient to be able to answer the remaining five questions. On the other hand, there is no point in spending weeks and resources to describe the output in every detail.
For physical objects, characteristics such as dimensions, color, and weight can be stated. For functional objects, websites, or software applications, the likely users and uses can be listed.
If the project is to produce a design for a product that will be manufactured, there are two sets of descriptions needed:
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The nature, quantity, and quality of the design documents, and
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The characteristics of the product that will be manufactured.
An opportunity is available to apply to become the Marketing Chair serving until December 31, 2022. Send an email to pmw@projectmanagementworld.org
Image source Brighton Leadership Group about a different 7 steps that provides project MANAGER success. PMW’s 7 Steps provide PROJECT success.