Step One - developing an EDRM project plan

Following a project management methodology

If you are planning an EDRM procurement project then you need to follow an agreed and proven project management methodology.

You are recommended to read the JISC infoNet Project Management infoKit

This infoKit takes an approach based on the government-approved project management methodology - PRINCE2. PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is a methodology approved by government for public sector projects. The JISC infoNet method pares down PRINCE2 to a framework suitable for managing any project.

There are five main components in the JISC infoNet project management methodology:

• Project start-up

• Planning

• Managing project phases

• Controlling risks, issues, changes, quality, etc

• Project closure

Project start-up and project closure occur only once. The remaining elements - planning, managing and controlling - form an iterative cycle that may repeat many times before the project is complete. We use these five components as a base on which to review how you should define (link to section Defining your EDRM project) and manage (link to section Developing your EDRM project plan) your EDRM project.

The methodology is a framework. The infoKit contains a number of useful definitions of a project and concludes that projects are usually characterised by being:

• Instruments of change

• Non-routine

• Unique

• Composed of inter-dependent activities

• Carried out by people who do not normally work together

• Temporary with defined start and end dates

• Intended to achieve a specific outcome

• Frequently risky and involving uncertainties

The infoKit reminds us that projects frequently fail. If they do some of the usual reasons cited are:

• Poor project specification

• Unrealistic timescales

• Timescales that are too long

• Inappropriate staff

• Failure to manage user expectations

• Failure to manage the change required

So in planning your EDRM project you need to try and avoid all of those pitfalls by following the preferred JISC infoNet methodology and the advice provided here.