Project Scheduling & Planning

Prioritizing the ad hoc vs existing requirement

Introduction

Managing projects involves juggling numerous requirements, both planned and unplanned, which can pose significant challenges for project managers. One of the major hurdles they face is effectively managing ad hoc requirements while simultaneously prioritizing existing project commitments.

Ad hoc requirements are spontaneous, unplanned requests or changes that arise during the course of a project, often disrupting established plans and demanding immediate attention.

In this training, we will explore the key factors that need to be considered when faced with the challenge of managing ad hoc requirements and prioritizing existing projects.

We will delve into methodologies and frameworks that can aid in the decision-making process, enabling project managers to make informed choices based on business objectives, stakeholder needs, cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, and project schedules.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Evaluating the potential benefits of ad hoc and existing requirements
• Assessing the costs (time, resources, budget) associated with each requirement

Impact on Project Schedule

• Assessing the timeline implications of ad hoc and existing requirements
• Determining dependencies and potential schedule conflicts

Prioritization Methodology

• Prioritization Framework
• Establishing a prioritization framework or methodology
• Criteria and weights for evaluating requirements
• Ranking the requirements based on the evaluation results

Implementation and Monitoring

• Identifying bottlenecks
• Tracking Progress and ensuring timely completion
• Metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs)

Communication and Documentation

• Communicating the prioritization decisions to stakeholders
• Documenting the rationale behind the prioritization choices