Doing Your Homework

Preparing your new project for success by gathering and reviewing all available pre-project work, documents, and information

“Nothing is more powerful for your future than being a gatherer of good ideas and information. That’s called doing your homework.” — Emanuel “Jim” Rohn

The What and Why:

Starting a new project can be a daunting task for even the most experienced project manager, especially if we are not prepared. The good news is there is often a wealth of information available to us to help begin the journey—if we’re willing to take the time to do the work of gathering and reviewing this data. Everything from business case studies, to other similar projects that have come before, and even the project proposal itself, can be chockfull of information that we should be aware of. Reviewing these documents before diving headfirst into the project can help minimize false starts and wasted effort, and help set ourselves up for success.

The How:

First, we must review things like business case analyses and studies, technical research and trades, and any risk investigations that might have been performed. Finding and studying these resources can provide valuable insights into the scope, feasibility, and potential threats to the project, as well as provide solution ideas and possible next steps. Doing this will give us a good understanding of the current state of the project and help us identify issues or challenges that we may need to address.

Next, review the project proposal (if one exists). This includes examining any prior failed proposals, along with any reviewer's comments or feedback on those previous attempts. This will give us a deeper understanding of the project goals and objectives, as well as any challenges or roadblocks that may have been encountered in the past, along with specific requirements or constraints that need to be taken into consideration. It is also helpful to re-summarize the proposal in our own words, as this can help us better understand the key points and ensure that we understand fully what needs to be done.

Besides reviewing the proposal, it is also important to learn from others who have successfully—or unsuccessfully—worked on similar projects in the past. This can include reviewing "lessons learned" documents from other projects, talking to other project managers and technical staff, and gathering any other relevant information that can help us avoid common pitfalls and ensure a successful outcome for our project.

A Caution:

Reviewing all pre-project information is important, but it is equally vital to remember that this is only a starting point. It is easy to get locked into pre-project thinking and to assume that the ideas and solutions presented in initial analyses are the best or only options. It is important that we maintain an open mind and consider all other possibilities as the project progresses. There may be better ways to approach specific aspects of the project, and it is important to remain flexible and adaptable in order to find the most effective solutions. Pre-project work can be valuable, but it can lead to sub-optimal solutions if we take that information as unquestioned gospel.

The Bottom Line:

In summary, reviewing pre-project information is an essential step in the early project management process. By gathering and analyzing all relevant data and analyses, we can help ensure we have a solid foundation to build upon and can make better, more informed decisions as we move forward with the project. Taking the time to do this work leverages resources and allows us to bootstrap the project, setting ourselves up for success. That’s called doing our homework.