Prescriptive Delivery Project Methodology Flowchart

Owned by Mike Deskis
Last updated: Jun 21, 2024
9 min read

The article outlines a structured methodology for implementing a project, focusing on the prescriptive delivery approach. It covers the various phases, roles, and key activities involved in the project lifecycle. It highlights that there are a list of the Outputs that have to be defined BEFORE the Phase 1 of implementation projects. It is very important to have those output parameters in place and aligned with prescriptive delivery methodology.

Pre-Delivery Outputs.jpg

NOTE: The S1 and S2 tasks are sales related activities and deliverables, as a development team we will focus on the roles of S3, S4 and S5.

Project Methodology Flowchart

The illustration depicts the Project Methodology flowchart, it outlines the phases of a project implementation process. Here's a detailed breakdown of the flowchart:

(S3) Prescriptive Solution Vision Workshop

A strategic partner has been carefully selected to actively collaborate and contribute alongside the core project team, which includes the experienced Project Manager (PM), the knowledgeable Solution Architect (SA), and the insightful Business Analyst (BA). This cross-functional group of professionals will leverage their respective areas of expertise to drive the project forward in a cohesive and coordinated manner.

The inclusion of this external partner represents a deliberate decision to expand the project's capabilities and resources, drawing upon their unique perspectives, specialized skills, and industry insights. By integrating the partner's involvement, the project will benefit from enhanced problem-solving abilities, innovative solution design, and a more comprehensive understanding of the business requirements and end-user needs.

Through this collaborative partnership, the PM, SA, BA, and the selected external partner will work in close coordination to navigate the complexities of the project, align on strategic objectives, and deliver meaningful outcomes that meet or exceed the established goals and requirements. The combined expertise and shared commitment of this multidisciplinary team will be instrumental in ensuring the overall success and effectiveness of the project's execution.

(S1 + S2) Pre-sales/Sales

The project team has undertaken a thoughtful and strategic approach to effectively persuade the customer to select the Pricefx solution. This process involves meticulously building a compelling case that highlights the significant benefits and value that Pricefx can deliver to the customer's specific business needs and challenges.

Through a thorough understanding of the customer's requirements, the team has crafted a tailored narrative that eloquently articulates how Pricefx's robust capabilities, intuitive user experience, and proven track record in the industry can provide the optimal solution to the customer's pain points. The team's in-depth knowledge of Pricefx's features and functionalities has enabled them to seamlessly map these capabilities to the customer's desired outcomes, demonstrating a clear alignment between the solution and the customer's strategic objectives.

Furthermore, the team has leveraged relevant industry insights, customer success stories, and technical demonstrations to substantiate the advantages of Pricefx and build a strong, evidence-based argument. This multifaceted approach aims to not only inform the customer but also to inspire confidence and conviction in their decision to choose Pricefx as the preferred solution.

By combining their expertise, negotiation skills, and a genuine understanding of the customer's needs, the project team is poised to navigate the selection process with professionalism and persistence, ultimately guiding the customer towards the selection of Pricefx as the optimal solution to address their unique business requirements.

(S4) Phase 1 Delivery Workshop

This signifies the formalizing of the customer engagement through the Signed Statement of Work and the collaborative efforts between the project team and the customer have culminated in the successful signing of the comprehensive Statement of Work (SoW). This milestone represents a significant step forward, as the SoW serves as the foundational document that formally outlines the scope, deliverables, and mutually agreed-upon terms and conditions governing the engagement.

The signing of the SoW signifies a shared understanding and commitment between the parties involved, solidifying the project's direction and establishing a clear framework for the effective execution of the agreed-upon scope of work. This document serves as a roadmap, providing a detailed and transparent outline of the project's objectives, key milestones, roles and responsibilities, and the timelines for delivery.

The successful signing of this document marks a significant milestone in the project's lifecycle, as it lays the groundwork for a productive and fruitful partnership between the customer and the project team.

This achievement instills confidence in the customer, as it showcases the project team's ability to navigate the contractual and legal aspects of the engagement with diligence and expertise. The signed SoW serves as a testament to the team's commitment to delivering a comprehensive and well-structured solution that aligns with the customer's specific requirements and expectations

Project Kickoff

Below are the core sprints of the customer project.

Project Initiation

The project has now officially commenced, marking the beginning of an exciting and dedicated journey towards achieving the established goals and objectives. This initiation phase represents a crucial milestone, as it formally launches the concerted efforts of the project team and the customer to bring the envisioned solution to life.

The project team is poised to dive into the foundational activities that will lay the groundwork for the project's successful execution. This phase will involve meticulously defining the scope, setting clear deliverables, establishing robust project management processes, and fostering effective communication channels between all stakeholders.

Through a collaborative approach, the project team will work closely with the customer to ensure a shared understanding of the project's vision, timeline, and resource requirements. By aligning on these critical elements upfront, the team can strategically plan and allocate the necessary resources, optimize workflows, and establish a solid foundation for the subsequent phases of the project lifecycle.

KEY INSIGHT: This initiation stage represents a pivotal moment, as it sets the tone for the entire project journey. The project team will leverage their expertise, creativity, and problem-solving skills to navigate the complexities and dependencies inherent in the initial phase, ultimately paving the way for a smooth and efficient execution of the project.

Feature Sprints

The project now will embrace an Agile Approach with Feature-Focused Development Sprints, it has now transitioned into a dynamic and iterative phase of feature-focused development, where the team will leverage the principles of Agile methodologies to systematically deliver specific functionality in a series of structured sprints.

This agile approach reflects the project team's commitment to a flexible and responsive development process, one that is centered on continuous collaboration, rapid iterations, and the timely delivery of tangible features. By breaking down the overall scope into smaller, manageable chunks, the team can better adapt to evolving requirements, gather meaningful feedback, and ensure the seamless integration of the individual features into the final solution.

Each feature sprint will be meticulously planned, with the team aligning on the specific objectives, technical specifications, and success criteria for the deliverables. This level of granularity and focus allows the team to maintain a laser-sharp concentration on the tasks at hand, optimizing resources, and maintaining a steady pace of progress.

Throughout these iterative development phases, the project team will work in close collaboration with the customer, fostering an environment of open communication, frequent demonstrations, and collaborative decision-making. This partnership-driven approach ensures that the features being developed not only meet the customer's technical requirements but also align with their evolving business needs and user expectations.

KEY INSIGHT: As the team navigates these feature sprints, they will leverage their expertise, creativity, and problem-solving skills to overcome any challenges that arise, continually refining and enhancing the solution to deliver maximum value to the customer. The agility and responsiveness inherent in this approach empower the team to be nimble, innovative, and adaptable, ultimately positioning the project for ongoing success.

UAT Sprint

With the initiation of this phase, the project has now reached a pivotal milestone, as the team prepares to embark on the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) sprint. It represents a crucial step in the project's lifecycle, where the focus shifts to thoroughly validating that the developed solution aligns with the customer's business requirements and meets their defined acceptance criteria.

The project team will work closely with the customer to meticulously plan and execute the UAT sprint, it involves carefully defining the testing scenarios, aligning on the success metrics, and establishing clear communication and feedback channels to ensure a seamless and transparent evaluation process.

During this UAT sprint, the customer will have the opportunity to interact with the solution, providing valuable feedback and insights that will enable the team to fine-tune the functionality, refine the user experience, and address any identified gaps or issues. The team's responsiveness and adaptability during this phase will be instrumental in ensuring that the solution truly meets the customer's expectations and strategic objectives.

Cutover Preparation Sprint

As the team shifts its focus to the Cutover Preparation Sprint, this important phase is dedicated to thoroughly planning and orchestrating the seamless transition from the customer's existing system to the newly implemented solution.

The team will meticulously map out the cutover strategy, ensuring that every aspect of the migration process is carefully considered and addressed, it involves extensive collaboration with the customer to align on the timeline, identify potential risks and dependencies, and establish robust contingency plans to mitigate any unforeseen challenges.

Throughout this phase, the project team maintains a commitment to minimizing disruptions to the customer's operations and ensuring the continuity of critical business functions. They will work closely with the customer to define the data migration strategies, testing protocols, and user onboarding procedures, leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of a seamless and efficient cutover

Stabilization Sprint

As the project reaches its final stages, the team now turns its attention to the critical Stabilization Sprint, it is dedicated to ensuring that the newly implemented system is functioning at an optimal level, providing the customer with a reliable and robust solution that meets their evolving business needs.

The project team will engage in a comprehensive series of activities to identify, diagnose, and resolve any potential issues or performance bottlenecks that may arise during the initial go-live period. It will involve rigorous testing, close monitoring of system behaviors, and the swift implementation of targeted fixes and enhancements.

Leveraging their technical expertise and problem-solving skills, the team will work closely with the customer to establish clear success criteria and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will guide the stabilization process. They will meticulously analyze system data, gather user feedback, and collaborate with the customer to pinpoint areas for optimization, ensuring that the solution is performing at the highest levels of reliability, efficiency, and user satisfaction.

As the Stabilization Sprint progresses, the project team will remain agile and responsive, quickly adapting to any challenges that arise and implementing tailored solutions to ensure the long-term success and stability of the system.

Project Delivery Closure

As the project reaches its pinnacle, the team now embarks on the critical phase of Project Delivery Closure, it marks the formal conclusion of the collaborative efforts between the customer and the project team and signifies the successful implementation and stabilization of the solution.

The team will document and review the project's achievements, milestones, and lessons learned and this comprehensive closure process will involve the formal acceptance of the delivered solution by the customer, and a retrospective on the evaluation of the project's performance against the established success criteria and key objectives.

The Project Delivery Closure phase will also serve as an opportunity for the team to reflect on the challenges overcome, the innovations introduced, and the valuable insights gained throughout the project's execution. This introspective process will enable the team to capture and document the lessons learned, further enhancing their capabilities and preparing them for future engagements.

Key Insights of Prescriptive Delivery Project Methodology

  • The methodology emphasizes a structured approach, beginning with pre-sales activities and ending with project closure.

  • It highlights the importance of involving key roles (PM, SA, BA) early in the process.

  • The flowchart underscores iterative development (Feature Sprints) and rigorous testing (UAT Sprint) to ensure quality.

  • The inclusion of a Cutover Preparation Sprint indicates a focus on smooth transition and minimal disruption.

  • Stabilization is considered crucial before project closure, ensuring the solution is stable and reliable.

  • The process aims to set up the project for success and achieve short Time-to-Value (TTV), indicating a focus on delivering value quickly to the customer.