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Project Lifecycle and Processes

This section contains the following topics:

About the Project Lifecycle

Project Lifecycle Processes

Project Templates

How to Work with the Idea Review Process

How to Work with the Create Major Project Process

How to Work with the Document Review Process

Create a Project from a Project Template

How to Work with the Issue Review and Escalation Process

About the Project Lifecycle

The idea can go through an approval process or can be fast tracked to project creation. When the idea is ready to be converted, the Idea Review process starts a project creation process. The process is based on the following idea type and idea category combinations. The project creation process converts the idea to a project using the applicable project template. Also copies the field values from the idea to the project.

Idea Type

Idea Category

Project Creation Process

Project Template

Major Project

Not applicable

Create Major Project

Major Project Template

Infrastructure Deployment

Not applicable

Create Infrastructure Project

Infrastructure Deployment Template

Application Change

Enhancement

Create Application Change Project

Application Change Template

Application Change

COTS Evaluation

Create Application COTS project

Application COTS Template

More information:

How to Work with the Idea Review Process

Project Lifecycle Processes

The following automated processes are included to help you manage the project lifecycle, starting from idea review and approval to project creation:

Document Review

The Document Review process manages the review workflow for Proposal or Operations types of documents.

Idea Review

Ideas let you conduct analysis that is more expedient at an earlier stage. The analysis is in an attempt to filter out poor, or financially unfeasible ideas before they become investments. You can track and convert ideas into investment opportunities.

Issue Review and Escalation

The Issue Review and Escalation process manages the review workflow for high-priority project issues.

Create Application Change Project

The Create Application Change Project process creates a project based on the Application Change Template.

Create Application COTS Project

The Create Application COTS Project process creates a project based on the Application COTS Template.

Create Infrastructure Project

The Create Infrastructure Project process creates a project based on the Infrastructure Deployment Template.

Create Major Project

The Create Major Project process creates a project based on the Major Project Template.

Project Templates

Project templates allow you to create projects based on standard tasks and role assignments for that project type. Templates help ensure consistency and efficiency in creating projects.

The Idea Review process uses these templates to create these types of projects for you. Alternatively, you can use these templates to create projects.

You can change the templates to suit your organization demands and requirements. You can also duplicate these templates to create new project templates for each of your organization project types.

Important! To use the Major Project approval and gate review processes, change the names and properties of the last tasks in each phase. But do not change the IDs. The gate review process starts when tasks with the specific IDs are completed.

For more information, see the Project Management User Guide.

The following project templates are included:

Application Change

The Application Change template helps manage projects to change software applications.

The Create Application Change Project process uses the project template. The process provides an automated workflow to create projects. You can also use the template to create new application change projects.

Application COTS

The Application COTS template is designed to manage Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) application selection. Use this project template to manage the activities when you select a vendor to provide a new product.

The Create Application COTS Project process uses the project template. The process provides an automated workflow to create projects. You can also use the template to create application COTS projects.

Infrastructure Deployment

The Infrastructure Deployment template helps manage the deployment of an infrastructure enhancement.

The Create Infrastructure Project process uses the project template. The process provides an automated workflow to create projects. You can also use the template to create IT infrastructure deployment projects.

Major Project

The Major Project template provides a framework for the application enhancement and development processes. This template helps project manager take the project through all gate reviews.

The Create Major Project process uses the project template. The process provides an automated workflow to create projects and manage the approval and gate review workflows. You can also use the template to create projects. This template includes a sample work breakdown structure (WBS). The WBS has six major phases, each with subtasks.

How to Work with the Idea Review Process

The following tasks are involved in the Idea Review process:

  1. The originating requester does the following:
    1. Creates the idea.
    2. When the idea is ready, submits the idea.
  2. The Idea Review Process starts, and does one of the following:
  3. The business owner evaluates the functional and technical benefits and analyzes the cost benefits of the idea. The business owner selects one of the following options for the action item:
  4. The project creation process starts.

    The type of process that starts is based on the idea type and idea category combination. A WBS and baseline are created. The project creation process ends except for Major projects.

  5. For a major project, the Gate Review process starts.

Create an Idea

Use the Ideas page to create an idea. You can save the idea and submit it when the idea is ready for approval. Alternatively, you can fast track the idea and bypass the approval process and convert the idea into a project.

Before you can create an idea, autonumbering must be set up for the Project ID.

Contact your CA Clarity PPM administrator or see the Administration Guide for more information.

Follow these steps:

  1. Open Home, and from Demand Management, click Ideas.

    The ideas page appears.

  2. Click New.

    The create page appears.

  3. Complete the following fields:
    Subject

    Defines the summary/name for the idea. The subject links the investment to the idea when you convert the idea into an investment. The subject of the idea becomes the description of the investment.

    Idea ID

    Defines the unique ID for the idea.

    Idea Type

    Specifies the type of idea.

    Values: Major Project, Infrastructure Deployment, or Application Change

    Required: No

    Idea Category

    Specifies the idea category. The values that are available depend on the Idea Type you select. Your CA Clarity PPM administrator defines the field associations.

    Values: New Development, Compliance/Regulatory, New Product or Service, Other, Enhancement, COTS Evaluation, Distributed, Network/Telecom, or Desktop

    Required: No

    Idea Priority

    Specifies the priority of the idea.

    Values: Low, Medium, and High

    Fast Track

    Specifies to convert the idea to a project by bypassing the review and approval step of the Idea Review process.

    Default: Cleared

    Required: No

    Objective

    Defines the objective of the idea.

    Limits: 200 characters

    Requester

    Defines the name of the resource originating the idea.

    Default: The name of the resource currently logged in

    Business Owner

    Defines the name of the business owner owning the idea and approves the conversion of the idea into a project. The business owner of the idea becomes the business owner for the project once the idea is converted.

    Note: If the Fast Track check box is cleared, the Idea Review Process requires a value for the field.

    Manager

    Defines the name of the resource that manages and owns the idea. The idea manager has access to the budget and schedule properties of the idea.

    Start Date

    Defines the start date for the idea.

    Finish Date

    Defines the finish date for the idea.

    Objective

    Defines the objective for the idea.

    Limits: 200 characters

    Organizational

    Defines the organizational OBS for the idea.

    Department

    Defines the department OBS for the idea.

  4. Do one of the following:

    The idea is created.

More information:

About Lookup Mapping

How to Work with the Create Major Project Process

The process for managing major projects is done using the following processes:

The following tasks are involved in the managing the lifecycle of a major project using an automated process:

  1. After the Create Major Process starts and the project is created, the project manager can define the Project Management Office (PMO) stakeholder.

    With the project open, go to the properties page, and in the Stakeholders section, select the Project Management Office stakeholder. Then, click Submit.

    An action item is sent to the PMO stakeholder to review and approve the project.

  2. The PMO stakeholder selects one of the following options for the action item:
  3. When the last task in the Planning phase is completed, the project manager updates the task. Also, changes the % Complete field to 100 percent and the Status field to "Completed."

    An action item is sent to the PMO stakeholder for approval to move to the next gate.

  4. The PMO stakeholder selects one of the following options for the action item:
  5. The Project Gate Review Subprocess repeats for the remaining phases.
  6. When the Closing phase is complete, the project manager closes the project.

How to Work with the Document Review Process

The Document Review process takes a submitted proposal or operations document through the following review cycle:

  1. The team member uploads the proposal or operations document and submits the document for review when ready.

    An action item is sent to the project manager.

  2. The project manager reviews the document and updates status for the action item:

    An action is sent to the document owner who is notified of the project manager decision.

Upload and Submit Documents for Review

You can use the Document Review process to move project-related documents through a review and approval process. This process starts when the category is set to Proposal or Operations and the document status is set to "Submitted."

Follow these steps:

  1. Open the project.

    The properties page appears.

  2. Click Collaboration.

    The collaboration page appears.

  3. Open the Properties menu and click Add Documents.

    The add multiple documents page appears.

  4. Complete the following fields on this page:
    Current Location

    Displays the current location of the document.

    Select Files

    Specifies the files you are adding to the folder.

    Limits: Five files at a time

    Status

    Specifies the status of the document.

    Values: Submitted, Approved, or Rejected

    Starts Review Process: Submitted

    Category

    Specifies the category for the document.

    Values: Proposal, Planning, Development, Implementation, and Operations

    Starts Review Process: Proposal or Operations

    Date Created

    Defines the date the document is uploaded.

    Owner

    Defines the owner that manages the document. The resource verifies that the document is managed and tracked appropriately through its lifecycle.

    Access

    Indicates the type of access for the document.

    Values:

    • All Participants. Indicates granting to all the participants in the group, read/write access to the folder.
    • Select Participants. Indicates that individual resources are from the existing participant group.

    Default: All Participants

    Allow Non-Participants to Access Document

    Indicates that non-participants can access the document.

    Default: Cleared

    Enable Check Out

    Indicates if resources with appropriate access can check out and edit the document.

    Default: Selected

    Enable Versioning

    Indicates resources with appropriate access can create another version of the document.

    Default: Selected

    Notify Resources/Groups

    Indicates if resources that have access to the files are notified when documents are added.

    Default: Cleared

    Description

    Defines the description of the document.

    Comments

    Specifies any comments about the document.

  5. Click Add.

    The document is uploaded and submitted for review.

Create a Project from a Project Template

Follow these steps:

  1. Open Home, and from Portfolio Management, click Projects.

    The list page appears.

  2. Click New from Template.

    The select page appears.

  3. Select one of the following templates, and click Next:

    The create project page appears.

  4. Complete the following fields:
    Project Name

    Defines the name for the project.

    Limits: 80 characters

    Required: Yes

    Project ID

    Defines the unique identifier for the project that is typically auto-numbered.

    Limits: 20 characters

    Required: Yes

    Start Date

    Displays the date of starting the project.

    Finish Date

    Displays the date of completing the project.

    Objective

    Defines the objectives for this project.

    Limits: 200 characters

    Status

    Indicates the status of the task.

    Values: Started, Not started, and Completed

    Progress

    Indicates the level of work that is completed on the tasks.

    Values:

    • Completed (100 percent)
    • Started (1 - 99 percent)
    • Not Started (0 percent)

    Default: Not Started

    Required: Yes

    Assignment Pool

    Specifies the pool of resources allowed when assigning resources to projects.

    Values:

    • Team Only. Allow only staff members.
    • Resource Pool. Allow team staff members and resources you have access to for booking to a project. With this option, when you assign a resource to a project, the resource is also added as a team staff member.
    Dashboard View

    Specifies the dashboard view selected for the project. Click the drop-down to select a view option.

    Example: Use Project Default Layout value to view the default labor and team utilization charts on the project dashboard page.

    Values: PMO-Project Status, PMO-Program Status, PMO-Project Storyboard, Program Layout, or Project Default Layout

    Default: Project Default Layout

    % Complete Calculation

    Defines the method to use for calculating percentage completion of tasks on this project.

    Values: Manual, Effort, Duration

    Organizational

    Defines the organizational OBS associated with the project.

    Department

    Defines the departmental OBS associated with the project.

    Template Name

    Displays the name of the template.

    Scale Work By

    Defines the percentage of increase or decrease in the work estimates on each task for the new project, relative to the template.

    Default: Zero percent means no change

    Scale Budget By

    Defines the percentage (positive or negative) as the scaling factor for the dollar amounts defined in project cost plans and benefit plans.

    Default: Zero percent means no change

    Convert resources to roles

    Select the option to convert all resources from the project template into roles in the new project.

    Default: Cleared

  5. Save the changes.

    The project is created.

How to Work with the Issue Review and Escalation Process

The Issue Review and Escalation process is designed to take high-priority project issues through a review and escalation workflow. To start the process for an existing issue, open the issue, and start the process using the Processes menu.

For more information, see the Project Management User Guide.

The following tasks are involved in escalating an issue:

  1. The project manager verifies that the Project Management Office and Business Owner stakeholder are defined. With the project open, review these fields from the Stakeholder section of the general properties page.
  2. With the project open, a team member creates an issue and sets the Priority field to "High."

    The Issue Review and Escalation process starts. An action item is sent to the project manager to review the issue.

  3. The project manager reviews the issue and selects one of the following options for the action item:
  4. The business owner selects one of the following options for the action item:

Create a Detailed Issue

Follow these steps:

  1. Open the project and click Risks/Issues/Changes.
  2. Open the Risks/Issues/Changes menu and click Issues.
  3. Click New.
  4. Complete the fields in the General section. The following fields require explanation:
    Owner

    Defines the name of the resource who is managing the risk. This resource is responsible for verifying that the issue is managed and tracked appropriately through its lifecycle. If you create an issue from a closed risk, the value for this field is from Owner field on the risk properties page.

    Default: The resource currently logged in

    Creator

    Displays the name of the resource who created the issue.

    Default: The resource currently logged in

  5. Complete the fields in the Details section.
  6. Attach the documents in the Attachments section.
  7. Complete the Resolution field in the Resolution section.
  8. Save your changes.