Executive's Guide to Project Management: Organizational Processes and Practices for Supporting Complex Projects

Mapping the Project Managers and Business Analysts into the Project Landscape

The mapping all depends on the type of project.

TPM Project Managers

Some of the TPM projects will be very simple. In such cases the project management and business analysis work can be managed by the same person. Perhaps they are projects that have been done repeatedly and for which a template work breakdown structure (WBS) exists and can easily be modified for the project at hand. There might be a parts list that can be adjusted accordingly. A well-defined risk management plan has been honed over the years with previous similar projects. The skills that the project team will require are established and so staffing is straightforward. Many of the team members will have worked together on previous projects, so their work styles and habits are known by the team. For example, installing a network in a field office would fit these conditions. Everything is defined and ready to start. These projects can be managed by a PM. Conversely, many BAs will have the minimal project management skills to effectively manage these simple projects. A BA with a career goal that includes project management would be well-served by gaining experience managing such projects. The business analysis content of these TPM projects is minimal. The assignment draws more on the BA's project management skills than their business analysis skills.

Projects that will be managed using a linear TPM model will be candidates for having a BA ...