Tailoring the Project

Posted in management by Christopher R. Wirz on Mon Aug 05 2013

The key to successful project development is tailoring the approach to fit the unique context of the project. This includes its objectives, stakeholders, governance and environment. This means continuously adapting the approach to suit the specific needs of the project, rather than simply following a pre-determined methodology. The ultimate goal of tailoring the approach is to maximize value, manage cost, and enhance speed, while still using "just enough" process to achieve the desired outcome.

One important aspect of tailoring the approach is considering the complexity of the project and the environment in which it is being carried out. This includes factors such as the size of the project team, the degree of uncertainty involved, and the overall complexity of the project. By taking a holistic view of these interrelated complexities, project teams can tailor the appropriate framework to consistently produce positive outcomes.

In addition to adapting the approach to fit the specific needs of the project, it is also important to carefully select and mix specific elements to suit the unique characteristics of the project and its environment. This can involve adopting an existing methodology or developing a new one, as well as factoring in the time and cost of project management processes. It is crucial to communicate these tailoring decisions to all stakeholders involved in the project, as well as regularly review and adjust the approach as needed throughout the project life cycle.

Ultimately, the key to successful project development is the ability to adapt and tailor the approach to fit the specific needs of the project. By carefully considering the context of the project, its objectives, stakeholders, governance, and environment, and using "just enough" process to achieve the desired outcome, project teams can maximize value, manage cost, and enhance speed.

Key concepts:
  • Each project is unique and success depends on adapting to its specific context to determine the most appropriate methods for achieving desired outcomes.
  • Tailoring the approach involves adapting approach, governance, and processes to fit the project environment and work at hand.
  • The business environment, team size, degree of uncertainty, and complexity of the project all influence how project systems are tailored.
  • Tailoring aims to maximize value, manage constraints, and improve performance using "just enough" processes, methods, templates, and artifacts.
  • Together with the PMO and considering governance, project teams decide on the delivery approach and resources needed to produce outcomes on a project-by-project basis.
  • Tailoring decisions can involve accepting an established methodology or explicitly selecting and mixing specific elements to fit the project context.
  • Every project requires some degree of tailoring because each project exists in a particular context.
  • An existing methodology or common way of working can inform the tailoring of a project, but may still need to be adapted to fit each project.
  • Project teams can also consider the time and cost of project management processes when tailoring the approach.
  • Communicating tailoring decisions to stakeholders is important.
  • Tailoring the project approach can contribute to higher levels of performance and increased probability of success.
  • The project team should regularly review and adjust the tailored approach as needed throughout the project life cycle.