What is the most significant planning challenge for transformation projects?

Transformation projects tend to follow the calendar of business activities.

By default, their completion deadlines hit predefined dates that coincide with the business calendar of a company. Go-Live Dates are thus commonly the 1st of January or the 1st day of a quarter.

Typically these dates are set before even one hour has been spent on project planning or identification of capacity. In addition, after the project team has estimated a rough plan and identified the challenge to achieve that preset date, a proposal to move the date would jeopardize the whole project.

And the next thing we know, scope is adjusted to maintain the set date and the project loses its real benefits.

What can be done in the project planning phase to ensure the project's success despite "1st of the month" deadlines and expectations?

Transformation projects, where the success is directly linked to a predefined achievement date, need backward planning but, most of all, in the beginning, a clear statement of what resources are required to achieve this preset date.

Tip 1: Alternative Dates based on capacity commitment

If the project team sees a date as unachievable because they do not judge the resource availability as sufficient, the way to address the issue is by stating dates and required resources during the planning to the project stakeholders:

Go-Live Date and related resource Requirements:

1.6.2023 Go-Live Date if 10 FTE ready on 1.3.2023 with an 80% project dedication and Project Lead nominated by 1.2.2023 or

1.8.2023 Go-Live Date if 8 FTE ready on 1.4.2023 with an 80% project dedication and Project Lead nominated by 1.4.2023.

Tip 2: State already in planning what to expect after the Go-Live of the project

Give a clear understanding of what will happen and what benefits will be achieved at what date after the Go-Live.

I can't wait to read your feedback, comments, questions, shoutouts and suggestions.

And give some thought to the following: Is your currently running project set up to meet expectations, or are you assuming "usual" delays?