Softengi – Taking Part in the PM Forum 2015

Gleb Krishtov, Softengi Project Manager, has recently attended the PM Forum 2015. Having had an opportunity to participate as both a speaker and an active listener, he told us about the event.

His presentation was dedicated to “Pitfalls of Fixed Bid Projects and Management of Projects with Fixed Budget and Fixed Date”.

Some of the points Gleb raised during his presentation:

• What is a Fixed Bid project? It is an agreement for software development services provision which has to be completed at a fixed rate and by a fixed date. Therefore, it is essential for an executor to have a detailed project implementation plan prepared early, as well as to be clear on the list of requirements before a contract based on such terms is signed.
• Project development adaptation and demonstration: Before taking a running leap into the software development process, a client should be aware of all the rules and specially designed instructions which a Fixed Bid project involves. Therefore, reasons of transparency, it is recommended to run a short demo session explaining all the Fixed Bid project points in detail, as well as making sure that both parties are on the same page.
• Project evaluation:Since it is a fixed price project, it is necessary to perform an accurate cost estimate. There will be no further chances to negotiate the contracted price after it is signed.
• All possible kinds of risks should be identified and planned for: For instance, the main knowledge holder disappears during the project. In order to avoid such a risk, a knowledge database containing all the core information about the project should be created right after it commences.
• Agile-oriented customer and Fixed Bid: Since it is prohibited to add tasks and make adjustments to a Fixed Bid price agreement, it is recommended that the contractor ensures that a customer understands this in no uncertain terms. If a new task arises or the scope of work somehow expands, the company will have to charge additionally to the agreed upon Fixed Bid price.

Other Forum participants had a chance to express themselves as well. Here are some of interesting points they made:

• Framework approach: Every project requires the expertise of several management methodologies, to make it possible to apply several of them at once.
• Moving away from Project Status Reporting to Online Monitoring is the latest trend supported by professionals in this sphere.
• A probability of robots taking over the human roles! This is an interesting statement worth taking note of:

- Software development professionals are unlikely to be replaced by robots (only 8% of their tasks can be covered by machines).

- IT Business Analysts, system architects and designers (only 1% of their tasks can be covered by robots)

- Routine Inspectors and testers – 98%!

- Business and financial project management – only 7% of tasks will be replaced.

- IT Project and Programme Managers – 22% of job routine can be transferred to robots.

Conclusion: do not be afraid to speak out and share your ideas, learn from your mistakes, develop, communicate and move forward!

Source: Softengi