From the course: Project Management Foundations

Identify the project goal

From the course: Project Management Foundations

Identify the project goal

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- The first step toward project success is finding out what the customer really wants. The project goal is the end result that the project wants the customer to deliver. A goal is something like a problem to solve or an opportunity to take advantage of. It drives everything that happens in the project, so you want to make sure you've got it right. You start by putting together a problem statement that clearly defines the problem or opportunity. It doesn't have to be a long winded affair. It you can fit it into one sentence, all the better. Developing a problem statement can be challenging because people often jump straight to solutions. Solutions describe the end result, not the initial motivation. In the hospital project, suppose the COO tells you that the hospital wants to implement a new scheduling system, that's an end result. One way to backtrack from a solution to the original problem or opportunity is to ask why. Why do we need a new scheduling system? Don't be afraid to ask why more than once. You can use the answers to get to the bottom of the problem or even uncover more specific objectives for the project. For example, you ask the COO why she's considering a new scheduling system. She says, hospital resources seem to be either jammed up or sitting idle. When you ask why that happens, she explains that most procedures require specific equipment, staff qualified to perform the procedure, and often a specific room to accommodate the equipment. The current scheduling system and processes don't take all that into account. The equipment might be scheduled, but the technician isn't available, or the scheduled room can't handle the equipment. In addition, the hospital has received grants and donations to fund improvements to address these issues. The problem statement for this project might be, "Hospital resources aren't being utilized efficiently "because scheduling doesn't ensure "that the necessary equipment, staff, "and facilities are available. "Funding is available to address scheduling issues." With a problem statement in hand, you can define the project goal. That is the end result the project will deliver. The goal should be simple and easy for everyone to understand. That way you can use it to get buy-in and guide the team to a successful conclusion. For the hospital project, the project goal might be, "The project will deliver scheduling improvements, "so hospital resources can be scheduled efficiently. "The project will take advantage of funding available "for productivity and technology enhancements." Knowing where you're going is the best way to start a project. Try writing a problem statement and goal for the project you're working on using the template included in the exercise files.

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