Tailoring Project Management Processes

Definition

Tailoring in the project management context refers to determining the appropriate combination of processes, inputs, tools, techniques, outputs, and life cycle phases to manage a project.

Key Points

Following are some key points about Tailoring:

• All processes must be considered in every project.
• The project manager along with the project team, sponsor, organizational management and appropriate stakeholders must select the processes applicable to the project and tailor the processes according to the needs of the project.
• Tailoring is necessary for every project.
• Tailoring should address the competing project constraints of scope, time, cost, quality, risks, customer satisfaction etc.
• Other factors to consider while tailoring are: project environment, organizational culture, and stakeholder needs.

Tailoring Steps

Tailoring involves the following 4 steps:

1. Select Initial Development Approach: Choose the most appropriate development approach based on product knowledge, delivery cadence, and available options.
2. Tailor for the Organization: Align project processes with organizational policies and governance, justifying tailoring decisions to ensure they support strategic goals.
3. Tailor for the Project: Customize processes, delivery approach, life cycle, tools, methods, and artifacts based on project-specific attributes like product, team, and culture.
4. Implement Ongoing Improvement: Continuously refine and adapt processes through review points, phase gates, and retrospectives to enhance project outcomes.