Download Gis Project Management Msc Thesis - Unigis

Master Thesis: GIS Project management Final Version
3.3. The project stages
Many inexperienced project managers make the mistake of starting a project by taking a
piece of paper or a product like MS-PROJECT and filling in the blanks. This is not project
management!
Looking at a project the following stages can always be recognized:
1. Planning;
2. Delivery;
3. Support.
The main focus of this thesis is on planning and delivery though support will be discussed
briefly later on.
The urge to jump the delivery phase is only human but needs to be avoided if the project is
to be successful. Specially the planning stage where the objectives of the project are clearly
stated and are agreed upon is of paramount importance.
How does a project start? Some examples are:
♦ Champion; somebody in the organization who is very enthusiastic about the
possibilities of GIS will start a decision making process;
♦ Management; on the basis of their strategic planning process, contacts with other
organizations management recognizes the need for a GIS;
♦ Customer demand; customers of the organization ask questions which can only be
handled if a GIS is used;
♦ External consultant; an external party which has been invited to give advice
proposes a GIS to solve certain problems/questions in the organization.
© 1997 Hans Bestebreurtje, MSc UNIGIS 50