ComSoc Guide to Managing Telecommunications Projects

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.

"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)

• Preface ixAcronyms xiiiChapter 1 Evolution of The Telecommunications Industry 1Monopoly Status 1Competition for Long Distance Services 3Competition for Local Services 4Competition Starts to Spread 5Internet and Multimedia Disrupt the Basic Networks 6A New Telecom Environment 7What About the Future? 10Chapter 2 Why is PM Important, Especially in Telecommunications? 11Team Diversity 11Resource Limitations 12Time Constraints and Limitations 12Risk Management 12Ensuring Quality 12Scope Definition 13Project Objectives 15What About Telecom Projects? 17Tehnologies 17Services 18Companies in the Business 18Regulatory Environment 18Successful Business Model 19Internal Corporate Structures 19Customers 19The Best Way to Market 20Service Models 20Network Architecture 20Conclusion 21Chapter 3 Project Management Basics 25Integration 31Project Scope Management 32Time Management 32Cost Management 32Procurement Management 33Risk Management 33Communications Management 33Human Resources Management 34Quality Management 34Chapter 4 Getting Started on Your Project 37Why Do Projects? 37The Requirements 41What Happens Before the Team Arrives? 42Setting Project Objectives 44General Description, Skills Analysis, and Stakeholders, and Risk Analysis 44Chapter 5 Who Is Involved? 45Project Sponsor 45Stakeholders 46Management 48Functional Managers 48The Type of Company Hosting the Project 49Chapter 6 Setting Business and Project Objectives 51SMART Objectives 52Specific 53Measurable 53Achievable 53Realistic 54Time-Bound 54Chapter 7 What Is to be Included? 55Building the Charter 55Scope Description 56Scope Management Plan 64Where Will the Resources Come From? 70The Work Breakdown Structure 71Chapter 8 Going Outside the Company for Products and Services 77Definition of Requirements 78Solicitation 78RFI 78RFP 80RFQ 83Vendor Selection 83Contract Management 83Chapter 9 Managing Risk in Telecom Projects 85Risk Management 85Contingency is Expected to be Spent 94Chapter 10 Who Tells What to Whom? 97Communications Management 97General Communications 98Chapter 11 Creating the Timelines 103Task Duration 103Dependencies 104Finish–Start Dependency 105Start–Start Dependency 105Finish–Finish Dependency 105Start–Finish Dependency 105Mandatory and Discretionary Dependencies 108Lags and Leads 108Project Logic Diagram 109Critical Path 112Forward Pass 114Backward Pass 116Float 117Showing the Schedule 118Including Contingency 118Collapsing the Schedule 121Effort-Driven and Duration-Driven Tasks 122And then . . . 123Chapter 12 Managing the Costs 125Types of Costs 127Profitability Measures 128Estimating the Costs 130Project Budgets and Planning the Project Cost 132Managing the Costs 139Project Communications Planning and the Communications Matrix 139Status Reporting 141Meetings 142Preparing the Agenda 143Inviting the Right People 144Informing the People of Their Roles at the Meeting 146Using the Meeting Time Effectively 147Motivating People to Communicate Properly 150Electronic Tools for Communications 150Monitor and Control 151Some Suggestions 152Chapter 13 Managing the Developments 155Chapter 14 Managing the People 163Organization Structures for Projects 164Management Styles 167Autocratic 168Paternalistic 169Democratic 169Laissez-faire 169Leadership 170Team Building 172Motivation 174Conflict 175Learning Organization 177Managing the Workloads of the Team Members 178Some Suggestions for Good Participation and Good Management 178Chapter 15 What Is the Gain? 181Good People 181Understanding the Value of the Product 182Clear Project Objectives 182Clearly Defined Scope 182Good Planning 183Strong Change Control 183Well-Connected Team 184Effective Communication 184References 185Index 187