Project Tracking System

Use this tool to track your projects in terms of Product, Channel, Item, Owner, Due Date, and Status. You can view Completed and On Hold projects and Reports for all items.

Making a Logical Bid or No-Bid Decision

The decision to bid on a contract has profound implications on reputation, profitability, and the allocation of scarce resources. In many cases, these critical decisions are made following an informal assessment, resulting in low-margin or resource-intensive work being performed with associated large opportunity costs. Implementing a formalized decision-making process will help ensure that key considerations have not been ignored. To make the correct decision to bid on an opportunity, download and customize Demand Metric’s Bid or No-Bid Assessment.

What are the Key Considerations?

• Internal Factors - Is there a strategic fit? Does senior management support the decision? Are the resources required to win and deliver in place?
• External Factors - Is the competition fierce? Does your proposal align with your prospects strategy? Are delivery requirements clearly documented?
• Risk Considerations - How much risk is involved? Are you comfortable with the technologies required to deliver on the bid? Could this be a disaster?
• Financial Considerations – Can you afford to pursue the bid? Is price a major consideration in winning the bid? Will the margins be low on this deal?

Examine Buy In with Stakeholder Analysis

Identifying the main stakeholders and their level of influence can be vital to the success of your project. Stakeholder analysis involves recognizing individuals and groups with the power to either sway or make a key decision.

Mapping can be used to get a deeper understanding of the position and motive of each stakeholder involved in the decision making process. Use Demand Metric’s Stakeholder Analysis Matrix to document key influencers and to understand how your efforts can be channeled more effectively.

What are the Key Stakeholders Types?

• Decision Makers; Executive Influencers; Executive Buyers; Technical Influencers; Technical Buyers; End Users; Consultants; Project Team, etc

What are the Drivers for Decision Support?

• Influence – how much influence does this stakeholder have in the decision?
• Interest – what is the current level of engagement and interest?
• Power – how much organizational power does this person possess?
• Buy In – to what degree does the stakeholder support the project or sale?
• Current Support – is the support level High, Moderate, or Low?
• Flexibility – how likely is this stakeholder to change their mindset?

Advanced Project Management Techniques

Once an organization undertakes the process of standardizing Project Management, the next step is to benchmark maturity levels in the 9 key project management competencies, and set goals for improving in each area.
Use Demand Metric’s downloadable Project Management Maturity Assessment to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and work to optimize your methodology.

Project Management Competencies:

• Scope Management – business requirements are well defined; stakeholders stay engaged; Change Request Forms are used to approve scope changes; adjustments to delivery timelines are made to manage expectations.
• Time Management – scheduling and resource planning is performed; projects are systematically prioritized to ensure resource allocation; formal Project Schedules and Work Breakdown Structures are used consistently.
• Cost Management – cost estimates and plans are tracked against a baseline, and integrated into project office system. Lesson learned are used to improve documented cost management processes.
• Quality Management – quality processes are well defined and documented, checkpoints are scheduled for quality assurance (QA), and Post-Project Evaluations are used to improve quality management proactively.
• Human Resources Management - formal project teams are assembled; processes exist to define how to plan/schedule projects; HR time/cost is measured; resource forecasting is used to schedule projects.
• Integration Management – cross-project integration is performed to drive efficiency; integration processes are measured and managed.
• Communications Management – Project Charters are used to document project communication plans; collaboration tools are used; communications processes and tools are consistently improved to increase effectiveness.
• Risk Management – risks are documented in project planning phase; metrics are used to inform risk management decisions; senior management is aware of key risks and stays involved to manage them.
• Procurement Management - contract management and build vs. buy decisions are made at organizational level; cost-savings are realized.