Although Program Management oversees the overall development process, achieving each milestone requires attention from different team roles, as shown in Table 4.2. Aligning a team role, or collection of team roles, with each of the four major milestones makes it clear who is responsible for achieving each milestone. This strategy creates clear accountability.
Table 4.2 Responsibility of team roles for milestones
Phase | Milestone | Primary driver |
---|---|---|
Envisioning | Vision Approved | Product Management |
Planning | Project Plan Approved | Program Management |
Developing | Scope Complete | Development, User Education |
Stabilizing | Release | Testing, Logistics Management |
At each major milestone, the responsibility for the next phase is handed to the appropriate role or roles. The transition is acknowledged by the receiving roles so that everyone is clear that the project is now moving to the next phase. The visible transitioning of responsibility is the hallmark of a healthy project.