The Power of Virtual Collaboration in Project Management

The Power of Virtual
Collaboration in Project

Management
by
Terrence Gargiulo







TABLE OF CONTENTS
This eBook will show you how to implement virtual collaboration tools throughout
the life cycle of a project to leverage the benefits of collaboration and
partnership.
Setting the Stage

The Stories of Rodrigo, Fran & Tony...................... 3


The Power of Collaboration & Partnership................ 4


Initiating Process................................ 8
1. Conducting Risk Analysis with All Stakeholders............... 10
Suggested Actions............................. 10
2. Demonstrating Executive Support..................... 12
Suggested Actions............................. 12


Planning Process............................... 13
1. Accelerating the Development & Accuracy of Estimates.......... 14
Suggested Actions............................. 16
2. Synchronizing Scope Management with Disperse Stakeholder...... 17
Suggested Actions............................. 18
©2009, MAKINGSTORIES.net - Terrence Gargiulo - http://www.makingstories.net - 415-948-8087, page 1 Executing & Monitoring/Control Processes...............19
1. Integrate Creative and Interactive Communications with Stakeholders. 20
Suggested Actions............................21
2. Maintain Easily Accessible Project Dashboards and Solicit Feedback..22
Suggested Actions............................23


Closing Process..................................................................................... 24
1. Demonstrate Acceptance and Usability................... 25
Suggested Actions............................ 26
2. Facilitate Knowledge Transfer....................... 27
Suggested Actions............................ 28


Three Opportunities Unique to Virtual Collaboration......................... 29
1. Stakeholder Outreach............................ 29
2. Accountability............................... 30
3. Project Transparency........................... 31


Pitfalls to Avoid..................................................................................... 33


Five Best Practices to Start Using Today.................. 34


About Terrence Gargiulo & MAKINGSTORIES.net............ 35
©2009, MAKINGSTORIES.net - Terrence Gargiulo - http://www.makingstories.net - 415-948-8087, page 2 SETTING THE STAGE.

Rodrigo shook his head. He was inheriting an 18-
month enterprise software development project 
intended to revolutionize the organization. The 
technology was not daunting. Rodrigo had 
tremendous confidence in his team of cracker-jack 
programmers. What troubled Rodrigo was the task of 
keeping the four central champions of the project 

located in Seoul, Houston, Guadalajara, and Frankfurt 
informed, involved and happy. 


Fran was proud of herself. Two years ago she and her 
team had adopted ITIL standards (Information 
Technology Infrastructure Library). She glanced at the 
Standard Operating Procedures for Capacity Planning 
and Availability Planning for new applications and 
saw that the process was rock solid. What troubled 
Fran was how she would manage all of the risks and 
unknowns of working with a business unit with which 
she had no prior experience and a new project 

manager she had never met. 
©2009, MAKINGSTORIES.net - Terrence Gargiulo - http://www.makingstories.net - 415-948-8087, page 3


Tony closed the door of his office to clear his head. 
After thirteen months of requirements analysis he had 
a blueprint of the new Web-based reporting system. 
These data warehousing projects kept him awake 
nights. Fifty percent of previous projects of a similar 
nature had failed. It was always an issue of scope.