OSCI How-To provides input and insight for team members, project managers, and leaders of transformational improvement initiatives at the University.
A charter serves as both the overall agreement and the plan for a project. The agreement is among team members, the project leader, and executive sponsors as to why the issue is important, what is to be achieved, when it is to be done, and the scope of the work. As a plan, the charter identifies key human resources and their role along with completion dates and key milestone dates. The charter is a living document and therefore must be reviewed and updated along the path of a project to incorporate additional information as learned. Additionally, the charter serves as the backbone for discussions around scope, objective, resources, and timeline. If any one of these components is modified once a project begins, the others must be reviewed and revised as appropriate.
Charter template and example (PPT 40 KB)
Chartering a project: Writing the business case
A business case is intended to answer two fundamental questions: Why this project? Why now?
Chartering a project: Defining the project objective
The project objective serves as the marching orders or charge for the project leader and team.
Chartering a project: Scope
Appropriately defining the scope of a project is a challenge. The analogy of a camera zoom lens is useful: How much do you need to zoom in or out in order to create the ideal picture?
Chartering a project: Resources
One of the primary resources involved in any project is people\'s time and energy. Here are some guidelines on determining the “people resources” you will need as you charter a project.
Chartering a project: Timeline
The final component of chartering a project is defining the timeline.
S-I-P-O-C
Defining what you will fix: S-I-P-O-C
In order to successfully improve a process, you must get very specific about what you will fix. Without specificity of focus, team members and stakeholders will not be clear about the work your team will do, you will regularly need to repeat your specific requirements to others, and you may be asked to address process issues that are beyond your control or begin to expand the scope of the project. A simple tool can help. SIPOC stands for Supplier, Input, Process, Output, and Client. Believe it or not, these five letters can make your life easier!
Process Mapping
Secrets of process mapping
Process mapping is the single most important visual display you have to represent \'who does what\' within your workplace. A process map will help you to identify the smartest performance measures and the greatest opportunity for improvement.
Process Value Analysis
Process value analysis
Process value analysis is a qualitative analysis procedure that can quickly and significantly improve your processes. It allows an improvement team to identify specific process steps that may not be adding value, with the goal of saving time and resources.
Quick Wins
Quick wins: improvement right now!
Improvement projects can be easy. They don't necessarily require long timelines and a wealth of resources. A project team can use a few simple tools to generate “quick-win” opportunities that meet improvement objectives virtually overnight.
Analyzing potential stakeholder resistance
Understand the environment surrounding a proposed change
Creating a project communication plan
Creating a project communication plan
Designing and executing a project communication plan builds commitment to change by increasing awareness and providing relevant information to those that need it.
Creating a project communication plan
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