You're overseeing outsourced IT projects. How can you ensure they stay on track for timely completion?
To maintain the momentum of outsourced IT projects, consider these strategies:
How do you keep your outsourced projects aligned with your expectations?
You're overseeing outsourced IT projects. How can you ensure they stay on track for timely completion?
To maintain the momentum of outsourced IT projects, consider these strategies:
How do you keep your outsourced projects aligned with your expectations?
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1. Clear definition of roles and responsibilities. Have a small team on your side who maps to the outsourced team, clearly calling out Individual and Joint responsibilities with clear hand-offs 2. Unambiguous and verifiable "Definition of Done" 3. Transparent single view of the Work breakdown structure in any tool - JIRA board etc. so that progress and dependencies can be tracked and calibrated with the status reporting 4. Lead indicators that identify potential delays early on 5. Skin in the game - SLAs for timely and "functional" deliveries that meet the acceptance criteria 6. Show and Tell - Demo for each deliverable before marking it Done.
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The culture you create will dictate success: 1: Set realistic, thought-through timelines and expectations that allow for progress without completely destroying your environment, your working relationship with your vendor partners, or the soul of everyone on your teams. 2: Build in contingencies because something will almost always go wrong. 3: Maintain a problem solving mindset and approach. Giving space for this every step of the way means you’ll deal with problems much more expediently than if you don’t. 4: Create rules and structures around your teams that allow for flexibility. Don’t let rigidity or perfection get in the way of progress. 5: MAINTAIN RESPECT. Team members generally work better/faster in healthy environments.
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1. Make sure you have a clear scope and timeline. 2. You will need to have well defined roles and responsibilities of each party involved in the service being delivered. 3. Make sure there are SLA's with financial penalties associated in the contract. 4. Have liabilities guaranteed in the SOW.
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The people who negotiate these deals are often not the people who have to deliver them. This can apply on both sides. Involve those affected as early as possible and ensure there is a common understanding of the contract, the vision and the deliverables. For those who do have to deliver, again on both sides, this is a team effort not a war. Not all change costs money or time, be open where savings can be made this will build trust and allow room for the changes that will cost time and money. Then apply all of your classic programme and project principles with deliverables clearly stated for all parties. Monitor carefully and counter intuitively watch out for green elements because the red projects know what their problem is. Celebrate.
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There is no difference if the project is outsourced or not, you track any project progress the same way. The best practices will be to use PMBOK (Project Management Book of Knowledge). In nutshell: - set the clear objectives, deliverables and acceptance criteria - elaborate clear WBS (work breakdown structure) with milestones and responsible and due dates for each item - track milestones completion according to due dates and acceptance criteria - review and refine WBS periodically (plans and estimations always imperfect) - perform risk management exercise and refine WBS in case of risk realization And the most important: manage people's motivation. Ensure each team member understands WHY and interested to get the job done.
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I ensure each milestone is clearly defined and tied to specific deliverables. Regular check-ins, like weekly status calls, keep communication consistent and allow quick course corrections if needed. Additionally, I incorporate periodic quality reviews, comparing deliverables to our standards to catch issues early.
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We should prioritize: Clear Communication: Set expectations upfront with detailed documentation and requirements. Maintain transparency through regular updates. Defined Milestones & Check-points: Establish clear project milestones and bi-weekly check-ins. This keeps the team aligned, allowing for timely adjustments. Project Tools: Use tools like Asana or Jira to track progress, set deadlines, and assign accountability, which improves on-time delivery. Risk Management & Quality Assurance: Identify risks early and implement quality checks to ensure standards are met. Feedback Loop & Cultural Awareness: Encourage open feedback and be mindful of cultural differences to foster a collaborative environment.
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To keep outsourced IT projects on track, clear communication and well-defined goals are key. Start by establishing a detailed project roadmap with milestones and deadlines, and set up regular check-ins to ensure alignment. Leverage project management tools like Jira or Trello to monitor progress, address issues, and maintain transparency. It’s also important to assign dedicated points of contact to streamline communication and prevent delays. Finally, foster a collaborative environment by encouraging feedback and resolving any blockers early. These strategies collectively help ensure timely, successful project delivery.
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To ensure outsourced IT projects stay on track for timely completion, establish clear communication through regular updates and project management tools. Define measurable goals and deadlines from the start, and select partners with a proven track record. Monitor progress with regular check-ins, address risks proactively, and encourage feedback from both teams. Maintain thorough documentation to avoid misunderstandings, and foster cultural alignment for better collaboration. Finally, consider performance incentives to motivate the outsourced team and ensure accountability for deliverables.
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