Demoland (Compass Edition)
Welcome to Demoland, the first stop in a transformative journey spanning six towns tailored for your PMO. In Demoland, our objectives are clear:
- Validate the capabilities of your chosen software solution, particularly in Resource Demand Management and Dynamic Scheduling.
- Verify that we are equipped with the right resources, skills, and support to seamlessly implement the Roadmap. Whether you’re embarking on this journey independently or with a partner, Demoland sets the tone, laying the foundational steps for the entire expedition ahead.
Major Deliverables
Demo Point (Reporting) Dive into a preliminary view of how your solution presents data, spanning portfolio, project, work, dates, resources, issues, and risks. Understand the solution’s features and capabilities, setting expectations for enhancements in the subsequent towns.
Demonstration Amphitheater (Demo) Step into the functionalities of your solution. From Team Members to Leadership roles, gain a comprehensive overview of how each role will interact with the system, offering a window into the future evolution of your PMO.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- The Ultimate PMO Roadmap (PDF)
- 160+ RFP Solution Validation Criteria (Online-Excel)
- Navigating Enterprise Projects: Course Syllabus (PDF)
- Overall Reporting Criteria (PDF)
- Demoland Demonstration of Capabilities Template (PowerPoint)
- Demoland Implementation Schedule Template (MPP)
- Major Training Recommendations (PDF)
- Project Foundations Training Syllabus (PDF)
- Adoption Strategy (PDF)
BENEFITS
Embark on your journey with the Compass Edition of Demoland and set your organization on a path to:
- Early Validation: Ensure your chosen software solution aligns with your organization’s needs right from the beginning. Avoid costly changes or reconfigurations down the road.
- Informed Decision Making: With our comprehensive validation criteria, make informed decisions about the software solution that’s right for your organization.
- Cost Savings: By identifying and committing to the right solution early on, save on potential costs associated with switching or modifying solutions later in the process.
- Smooth Transition: Laying a solid foundation in Demoland ensures a smoother transition to subsequent towns, setting the stage for a successful PMO transformation.
- Risk Mitigation: Early validation reduces the risk of investing time, resources, and budget into a solution that might not meet all your organization’s needs.
- Stakeholder Confidence: Demonstrating a proactive approach to software selection and validation can instill confidence in stakeholders, assuring them of the project’s future success.
PREREQUISITES
Comprehensive Solution Validation:
Ensure your chosen solution not only meets technical requirements but also aligns seamlessly with your transformative vision. Our PMO Solution Validation Criteria offers a comprehensive checklist, ensuring that every facet of your desired solution is scrutinized. This criteria is designed to help you identify features, functionalities, and integrations that are pivotal for a successful PMO transformation.
Furthermore, to guarantee the effective implementation and utilization of the solution, it’s crucial to have a robust training syllabus in place. We provide a recommended training syllabus that covers essential competencies such as dynamic scheduling, resource demand management, issue and risk management, and status updates of schedules. This ensures that your project managers are well-equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive success.
Drawing from our extensive experience, we’ve observed that the synergy of Project Online within the O365 suite particularly stands out, offering a cohesive and integrated platform for businesses poised for evolution.
Assemble Your Core Team & Engage Key Stakeholders:
Whether you’re using the Compass Edition solo or with a partner, it’s crucial to involve experienced individuals familiar with PMO/EPMO implementation and Resource Demand software solutions. As you embark on this journey, it’s essential to have a dedicated point person or lead who’s not just managing tasks but championing change. They’ll serve as the central anchor, ensuring seamless communication, effective implementation, and driving the transformative vision forward.
TIMEFRAMES
When embarking on this journey, whether independently or in partnership, it’s imperative that a visible project schedule is implemented within the recommended solution. Neglecting this step is a significant oversight and raises immediate concerns. Utilizing this solution is essential, as it provides a clear view of the schedule, flags any deviations, and alerts you to potential issues. To provide some perspective, clients who embark on the Compass Edition of Demoland typically take between 3-12 months. This timeframe encompasses identifying a reliable partner, selecting an appropriate solution, configuring it for a demonstration, validating its alignment with their needs, and then crafting a plan for subsequent steps. We’ve included the Demoland Implementation Schedule Template to get you started with the key deliverables starting with the day that you choose your solution of choice that runs about 2 months to complete.
In stark contrast, those who opt for the Atlas Edition with the Demoland Map and OnDemand videos typically navigate through the entire Demoland process in just 3-6 weeks. This timeframe includes all stages: setup, testing, validation, and demonstration.
For those seeking the swiftest implementation with the GPS Edition, engaging our services for a tailored approach using Project Online and O365 can expedite the process. We’re often ready to showcase a demonstration just 1-2 weeks after gaining system access. In the rare event of delays, we leverage Project Online to provide transparent insights into any challenges or deviations faced.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Be the Wizard Behind the Curtain!
Drawing inspiration from the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz, the journey through the initial towns—Demoland, Foundationville, and Project Manager Center—is designed for the PMO or EPMO to navigate independently, away from the spotlight and influence of the broader organization. This approach, while unconventional, is strategic:
- Focused Mastery: By limiting initial involvement, your PMO and project managers can deeply immerse themselves in the solution, gaining confidence and expertise without distractions or external pressures. This ensures they become adept at resource demand management and all the intricacies of running a PMO.
- Death by Committee: We’ve observed that when too many voices are involved from the outset, the process can become muddled, leading to stagnation. By keeping the initial stages exclusive to the PMO, you streamline decision-making and maintain momentum.
- Strategic Reveal: As you progress, it’s essential to secure a budget for your Project Managers and any supporting roles for at least a year. While you’ll likely see advancements sooner, this buffer allows you to refine the system, ensuring that when you do pull back the curtain for the rest of the organization, they witness a well-oiled machine that clearly showcases the benefits and value of the transformation.
Making Progress:
Whether you’re embarking on this journey independently or in collaboration with a partner, we advocate for a parallel deliverable approach, often termed ‘Hybrid’, over the traditional end-to-end dependencies seen in ‘Waterfall’ methodologies. By allocating multiple resources, you can ensure simultaneous progress across various deliverables. This strategy not only streamlines the process but also caters to the learning curve associated with new concepts. A phased, incremental approach is especially vital for organizations transitioning into resource demand management.
TEMPLATES
Whether you’re navigating this journey solo or collaborating with partners, it’s essential to have project schedule templates for both project-related and non-project tasks. If working with a partner, ensure that they supply these templates. Additionally, make sure that resources from both your team and, if applicable, your partner’s are integrated into the resource pool, consistently utilizing the recommended solution.
KPIs
Whether you’re defining KPIs independently or in collaboration with a partner, lean towards simplicity. Begin by establishing baselines for your schedules, focusing on key metrics related to dates, work, and costs. Initially, we recommend setting variances at 5%, 15%, and 25% of the baseline for individual tasks and deliverables. It’s also crucial to maintain a transparent view of any issues and risks. While these aren’t direct KPIs, any significant variances should be flagged within the issues, ensuring there’s a direct link between Issue Impact and Variance.
Are you Ready to Start?
Download The Ultimate PMO Roadmap now and you’ll be able to start in minutes.