The ComSoc Guide to Managing Telecommunications Projects

This pocket guide provides an overview of the telecommunications environment as it has evolved over the past few years, illustrating the need for project management, the significance of project success to the companies, and the application of key project management processes within the telecom environment. Topics covered include: scope management, time management, cost management, procurement management, risk management, communications, quality, human resources, and Integration. It offers professionals a brief and accessible guide to managing telecommunication projects in the 21st century.

Preface ix

Acronyms xiii

Chapter 1 Evolution of The Telecommunications Industry 1

Monopoly Status 1

Competition for Long Distance Services 3

Competition for Local Services 4

Competition Starts to Spread 5

Internet and Multimedia Disrupt the Basic Networks 6

A New Telecom Environment 7

What About the Future? 10

Chapter 2 Why is PM Important, Especially in Telecommunications? 11

Team Diversity 11

Resource Limitations 12

Time Constraints and Limitations 12

Risk Management 12

Ensuring Quality 12

Scope Definition 13

Project Objectives 15

What About Telecom Projects? 17

Tehnologies 17

Services 18

Companies in the Business 18

Regulatory Environment 18

Successful Business Model 19

Internal Corporate Structures 19

Customers 19

The Best Way to Market 20

Service Models 20

Network Architecture 20

Conclusion 21

Chapter 3 Project Management Basics 25

Integration 31

Project Scope Management 32

Time Management 32

Cost Management 32

Procurement Management 33

Risk Management 33

Communications Management 33

Human Resources Management 34

Quality Management 34

Chapter 4 Getting Started on Your Project 37

Why Do Projects? 37

The Requirements 41

What Happens Before the Team Arrives? 42

Setting Project Objectives 44

General Description, Skills Analysis, and Stakeholders, and Risk Analysis 44

Chapter 5 Who Is Involved? 45

Project Sponsor 45

Stakeholders 46

Management 48

Functional Managers 48

The Type of Company Hosting the Project 49

Chapter 6 Setting Business and Project Objectives 51

SMART Objectives 52

Specific 53

Measurable 53

Achievable 53

Realistic 54

Time-Bound 54

Chapter 7 What Is to be Included? 55

Building the Charter 55

Scope Description 56

Scope Management Plan 64

Where Will the Resources Come From? 70

The Work Breakdown Structure 71

Chapter 8 Going Outside the Company for Products and Services 77

Definition of Requirements 78

Solicitation 78

RFI 78

RFP 80

RFQ 83

Vendor Selection 83

Contract Management 83

Chapter 9 Managing Risk in Telecom Projects 85

Risk Management 85

Contingency is Expected to be Spent 94

Chapter 10 Who Tells What to Whom? 97

Communications Management 97

General Communications 98

Chapter 11 Creating the Timelines 103

Task Duration 103

Dependencies 104

Finish–Start Dependency 105

Start–Start Dependency 105

Finish–Finish Dependency 105

Start–Finish Dependency 105

Mandatory and Discretionary Dependencies 108

Lags and Leads 108

Project Logic Diagram 109

Critical Path 112

Forward Pass 114

Backward Pass 116

Float 117

Showing the Schedule 118

Including Contingency 118

Collapsing the Schedule 121

Effort-Driven and Duration-Driven Tasks 122

And then . . . 123

Chapter 12 Managing the Costs 125

Types of Costs 127

Profitability Measures 128

Estimating the Costs 130

Project Budgets and Planning the Project Cost 132

Managing the Costs 139

Project Communications Planning and the Communications Matrix 139

Status Reporting 141

Meetings 142

Preparing the Agenda 143

Inviting the Right People 144

Informing the People of Their Roles at the Meeting 146

Using the Meeting Time Effectively 147

Motivating People to Communicate Properly 150

Electronic Tools for Communications 150

Monitor and Control 151

Some Suggestions 152

Chapter 13 Managing the Developments 155

Chapter 14 Managing the People 163

Organization Structures for Projects 164

Management Styles 167

Autocratic 168

Paternalistic 169

Democratic 169

Laissez-faire 169

Leadership 170

Team Building 172

Motivation 174

Conflict 175

Learning Organization 177

Managing the Workloads of the Team Members 178

Some Suggestions for Good Participation and Good Management 178

Chapter 15 What Is the Gain? 181

Good People 181

Understanding the Value of the Product 182

Clear Project Objectives 182

Clearly Defined Scope 182

Good Planning 183

Strong Change Control 183

Well-Connected Team 184

Effective Communication 184

References 185

Index 187

"This book is for those involved in line and staff functions at telecommunications companies who manage projects of any size. It will also be of interest to manufacturers and suppliers who serve the telecommunications industry, Internet providers, and companies that make products for the datacom industry. The book begins with an overview of the role of project management in the telecommunications industry, then gives advice on how to define the project scope. It outlines the procurement cycle, reviews issues of project risk, and addresses core aspects of project management such as building a schedule and budgeting." (Reference and Research Book News, February 2011)

Celia Desmond is President of World Class Telecommunications, which provides training in management skills in business and telecommunications engineering environments. She is the project manager for the IEEE Communications Society Certification in Wireless Communications Engineering Technologies. Desmond has taught project management at four universities. A past president of IEEE Communications Society and past vice president of IEEE Engineering Management Society, Desmond has lectured internationally on programs for success. She is a Senior Member of IEEE. A concise, authoritative guide to twenty-first-century telecom project management

As the telecommunications industry experiences ongoing rapid change, projects remain the driver of the industry's evolution. Projects continue to be crucial to the success of the companies offering products and services in this area. Written by a prominent leader in the field, this pocket guide provides an overview of the telecommunications environment as it has evolved over the past few years, illustrating the need for project management and providing a basic understanding of project management concepts. Going beyond standard processes and techniques to address the special—and changing—needs of the telecom industry, the book then demonstrates the application of project management best practices in the field.

Beginning with a clear definition of a project and an outline of the players involved, the guide then helps you set your project and business objectives (and explains why they are not always the same). It explains how to analyze your project's scope and manage procurement. Next, various aspects of project risks are reviewed, along with communications requirements. From here, you'll delve into some of the core concepts of project management—building and maintaining a schedule, managing the costs, and keeping on top of developments. Then the task of managing people is explored, addressing management styles, team building, leadership, workloads, and rewards.

The guide illustrates, via sample projects, the application of project management—as advocated by the Project Management Institute—to the special needs of the telecom industry. The chapters work through three telecom projects from different corporate perspectives: the first involves the introduction of a new wireless technology, which will allow telecom services to remote cities using fourth-generation cellular technology; the second evolves an existing landline network from circuit switched to IP-based, delivering Internet services; and the third designs and installs a corporate customer network showcasing services offered by the industry.

People in both line and staff functions at telecommunications companies who manage either large or small projects will find the featured project management techniques and their real-world applications invaluable. In addition, telecom companies, manufacturers and suppliers who serve the telecom industry, Internet providers, and companies that make products for the datacom industry will also benefit from this brief, accessible guide.