Difference between revisions of "Guidelines"

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(Created page with " == The Idea == Track and document PDP projects in a lightweight and uniform fashion. == Background == The PDP group executes a rather large number of projects. The projec...")
 
 
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Note: all guidelines are subject to periodic evaluation for effectiveness.
  
== The Idea ==
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== Definition of project ==
  
Track and document PDP projects in a lightweight and uniform fashion.
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In the context of these pages, a project is a PDP activity that consumes significant resources.
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* for manpower resources, a project is significant if it will consume more than 80 hours.
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* for financial resources, a project or purchase is significant if it will consume more than 1000 euros.
  
== Background ==
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See below for motivation of these thresholds.
  
The PDP group executes a rather large number of projects. The projects are started in various ways. Alignment with the PDP strategy, cost/benefit analysis, and alignment with other running PDP projects, is carried out in an ad-hoc fashion if at all. The progress, completion, and result of projects is often not documented.
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; [[Rationale]] : Why do we define and track projects.
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; [[One Page Memo]] : 1-page memo motivating project start.
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; [[Periodic Report]] : 1-page memo about project progress each quarter.
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; [[Final Report]] : Memo and optional technical appendices accompanying project completion.
  
== How it works ==
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== Motivation of thresholds ==
  
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A project carried out according to these guidelines will cost, at the very least, five hours: one hour to construct the 1-page start memo and four hours to construct the final report.  That overhead should be low compared to the actual work of the project.  Using a figure of 10% as the '''maximum''' allowed overhead for project tracking and reporting, we get 50 hours as a threshold for manpower consumption.
  
2. Background. What conditions have arisen that led you to this recommendation? Only include information that everyone agrees upon in the Background - this is the basis for discussion, so it needs to be non-debatable.
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Similarly, the cost of the time consumed motivating a purchase should be small compared to the actual purchase cost.
3. How it Works. The details. In addition to How, also What, Who, When, Where.
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* a standard employee cost to Nikhef is 100k/yr for 1600 overhead-free hours = 62,5 euros per hour
4. Key Benefits. This is the "Why?" There are usually three benefits: the recommended action is on strategy, already proven (e.g. in test market or in another business unit), and will be profitable. You can think of these three in terms of the old Total Quality mantra of "doing right things right." The first (on strategy) means you're doing the right thing. The second and third mean you're doing things the right way, because you're being effective (proven to work) and efficient (profitable).
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* cost to construct the 1p memo is 1 hour = 62,5 euros = 10% of 625 euros.
5. Next Steps. Who has to do what and by when for this to happen?
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To err on the safe side with project overhead, these thresholds are bumped to the nice round numbers of 80 hours and 1000 euros. These thresholds should be periodically evaluated for effectiveness.

Latest revision as of 17:01, 12 November 2015

Note: all guidelines are subject to periodic evaluation for effectiveness.

Definition of project

In the context of these pages, a project is a PDP activity that consumes significant resources.

  • for manpower resources, a project is significant if it will consume more than 80 hours.
  • for financial resources, a project or purchase is significant if it will consume more than 1000 euros.

See below for motivation of these thresholds.

Rationale
Why do we define and track projects.
One Page Memo
1-page memo motivating project start.
Periodic Report
1-page memo about project progress each quarter.
Final Report
Memo and optional technical appendices accompanying project completion.

Motivation of thresholds

A project carried out according to these guidelines will cost, at the very least, five hours: one hour to construct the 1-page start memo and four hours to construct the final report. That overhead should be low compared to the actual work of the project. Using a figure of 10% as the maximum allowed overhead for project tracking and reporting, we get 50 hours as a threshold for manpower consumption.

Similarly, the cost of the time consumed motivating a purchase should be small compared to the actual purchase cost.

  • a standard employee cost to Nikhef is 100k/yr for 1600 overhead-free hours = 62,5 euros per hour
  • cost to construct the 1p memo is 1 hour = 62,5 euros = 10% of 625 euros.

To err on the safe side with project overhead, these thresholds are bumped to the nice round numbers of 80 hours and 1000 euros. These thresholds should be periodically evaluated for effectiveness.