When the clocks change we are encouraged to change the batteries in our smoke detectors and to inspect the furnace filters to make sure they perform as intended.  I would like to make a suggestion that CIOs and CFOs take the opportunity of the year-end to re-assess the performance of their larger IT projects to ensure they remain on target from a financial, resource, and schedule perspective; and, perhaps more importantly given the recent economic climate, to ascertain there has been no changes in the Users domain that has changed the overall project requirements. In other words it is a formal confirmation that the client still wants the project as defined and budgeted; that the project has not inadvertently slipped into the wrong project category.  

An independent assessment of large IT projects will provide a number of benefits to an organization:

• To the Project Sponsor it provides a check-point that allows stakeholders to revisit the initiative drivers and confirm that the business case is still valid. If this is not the case the project can be quickly terminated or put on hold until the economic climate is more amenable.

• To the CFO it provides an assurance that the funds spent to-date have provided an adequate return in terms of project deliverables and that the remaining budget is appropriate to complete the project.

• To the CIO a project assessment is an opportunity to assess the performance of the project-team; the applicability of the methodology applied; the viability of the schedule; the accuracy of the budget; the communications with users; the quality of deliverables; and, to incorporate the findings and lessons learned into the balance of the project.

We must never lose track of what makes a successful project -- satisfied stakeholders.  To this end periodic projects assessments allows all stakeholders to increase their comfort-level with the progress and outcome of the project.  An independent assessment conducted by experienced practitioners is a cost effective means of judging a projects status and re-establishing the Critical Success Factors.

Given that many organizations year-ends coincide with Christmas I offer, with apologies, the follow adaption of the seasonal favourite “Christmas Song”

I would like to take this opportunity to offer season’s greetings and best wishes for a very successful New Year from the Partners and Staff at Negenit Corp.