Project Plan Samples

[Hile]

Is there a resource where I can find templates or samples of deployment plans
for:
ie8 upgrade
Dynamics CRM deployment

I have about 500 internal web apps I need to run compatibility test with for
ie8 and am looking for help in developing the test plan and overall project
plan, it's a tight deadline YE09 so I was hoping to get a jumpstart on the
project plan.

Also we're looking into Dynamics CRM deployment and integration with our SOS
(roadside asisstance) system (adding over 4M vehicles to our stack), again
very tight deadline and I'm not familiar with the product.

The office template section doesn't have this level of detailed plans. I
once found a very detailed Exchange 2000 Deployment Project Plan which was
very helpful and was looking for something similar to that. I went to the
technet site but haven't been able to find an actual template. Found a lot of
info, but I'm just looking for the .mpp.

Both these projects will require massive coordination and I rather look
through something and modify it than start from scratch and hope I covered
all my basis. We run lean here, so I have very few resources at my disposal
if any!!!

Any help would be great, I will post this at the MS Project group as well.

 

[Rod Gill]

Good reason for not using templates: each schedule should be focused on
delivering the business goals of that project. So, if you can find a very
similar company with exactly the same business goals for a previous project
that you have for this one, then the template will help. Otherwise, any
template is likely to do more harm than good!

I always recommend starting by listing all business goals, all project
constraints (when Resource etc will be available) then scheduling all tasks
needed to deliver what your managers/customer define as success for your
project. I know a template from somewhere else sounds like a great idea, but
unless you know they had a very successful project delivering exactly what
you want (and by this I mean realizing the business goals the software is
meant to help solve, not just Hey, the software is working!) then any
template will lead you astray or gloss over areas that look covered, but
really need a lot of work!

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com