Mini Projects

The life cycle for mini-projects typically begins with the presentation of the idea to stakeholders. Stakeholders evaluate and rank ideas based on factors such as immediate impact on customer satisfaction, revenue growth, cost reduction, risk, and the source of the idea. Following the ranking, time slots are assigned for completion, considering business considerations and resource availability, often influenced by seasonal trends in industries like Internet retail. The final step involves creating a Vision document, akin to a business scope, known as a "Why" document, outlining the reasons behind the project. This document, usually two to three pages long, aligns well with the Initial phase proposed by PMI.

Subsequently, the project manager takes over, overseeing two to five of these small projects simultaneously. Upon receiving the signed-off Why document from stakeholders, the project manager's initial task is to create a "What" document, defining the project's scope. This document may encompass various components typically found in larger projects, as outlined in Project Management Processes applied to small projects. After approval of the What document, the project enters the execution phase. Upon completion, a formal closing, primarily based on QA assessments, marks the transition of the project to operations. These phases closely parallel the Intermediate and final phases of the project life cycle proposed by PMI.