So, let’s look to what we’ve discussed up to this point:
How do all of these components fit together?
We will take a brief look at the structure of corporate projects and then elaborate on how we will adapt specific components to our discussion.
Corporate Project Charter (Basic)
A project charter is the first step in the Six Sigma methodology. It takes place in the “Define” step of DMAIC, and the charter can make or break a successful project. It can make it by specifying necessary resources and boundaries that will in turn ensure success; it can break it by reducing team focus, effectiveness and motivation. (1)
Basically, the project charter is the first document created when undertaking a big project. Without it, you cannot establish the roles and responsibilities, the objectives, the success criteria, the risks, the scope, the impact, or anything else.
Here is the layout of a basic corporate project charter.
Project description: This is a text statement that briefly describes the project. It helps someone who is not familiar with the details of the project understand what is being done.
Objective: This is a statement that captures, at a planning level, what new or enhanced capabilities the project sponsor expects the project to deliver. These requirements are functional or operational specifications set forth by the project sponsor and his/her designees.
Opportunity statement: This is a text statement that explains the business problem being addressed or resolved by the project.
Business value: This is a statement that addresses the anticipated business value expected from implementing the project deliverables.
Scope: This is a text statement or diagram that depicts what parts of the organization will be involved in or impacted by the project. It may also include a statement of functional breadth.
Approach: This is a text statement or diagram that depicts how the project will be carried out.
Deliverables: This is a list of the physical deliverables that the business is expecting as a result of this project.
Success criteria (very important): This is a text statement or checklist defining project acceptance criteria that is used by the project leader to determine if the project was successfully delivered. Once achieved, the factors defined prior to the project determine the success of the project.
Risks: This can be a text statement or a matrix that identifies key areas of risk, estimated probability of occurrence, and, if known, strategies to address the risks should they occur.
Key milestones: These are defined as the action items, sub-team deliverables, and their target dates versus their actual completion dates.
From the project charter, we can see that there are many similarities to specifically developing the Needs Analysis for an athlete.
Similarities
Similarly, both Project Charters and a Needs Analysis are:
- Defined/designed
o architecture and structure established
- Measured/evaluated
o current environment/state of preparedness
- Analyzed/constructed
o responsibilities Assigned
o timelines defined
o goals defined
- Improved
o testing (piloted)
o reevaluated/adjusted
o tested again
o refined/adjusted
o repeated throughout life cycle of project/macrocyle
- Deployed and controlled
o supported
o audited
o deliverables measured—success criteria
o improved
o maintained throughout life cycle of project/macrocyle
Gannt Chart
One way to layout the whole timeline of a project is by utilizing MS Project. MS Project has a built-in timeline called a Gantt chart. Gantt charts are useful tools for planning and scheduling projects.
A Gantt chart is a graphical representation of the duration of tasks against the progression of time. (1)
It visually displays how each item is linked progressively to the next task and how they are dependent upon each other over the timeline (duration) of the project. The key data points define the action items, the person responsible for the action items, and the due dates for these action items.
Here is how it looks:
You can see the links between deliverables, how each deliverable has a specific duration, and how it all overlays a timeline. We can take this structure and layout our own Needs Analysis for our athletes over this same type of timeline. This will help us organize their development and provide accountability and assessment points throughout the competition year.
Needs Analysis
The Needs Analysis is an athletic assessment that “closes the gap” between where the athlete is and where they need to be to meet and exceed the demands of their sport. The needs of the athlete should be monitored and adjusted as they move through their competitive year. As weaknesses become their strengths, their needs will change.
A good Needs Analysis should contain:
Key note: Peaking is not shown in this spreadsheet. Of course, it is dependent upon the sport and its competitive season.
Click here to download this excel template from the Diesel Site
So, pulling it all together, we see all the pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place.
Is all this necessary? Yes and no. The tools I have outlined in this three piece series are just guidelines to help you “layout” your ideas to address the needs of your athletes. These visual aids are what corporate America uses. Do you need to use them to address the specificity of the exercises you use, layout your strength program, determine root cause analysis of your athlete’s “defects,” and write a comprehensive needs analysis? No, but all of these things need to be done!
I hope you enjoyed the articles, and I hope that you can take some things from them and utilize them for your specific needs.
Jim Smith, CSCS, CFT, USAW (Club)
The Diesel Crew
“Achieving Beyond Potential”
Jim “Smitty” Smith is a strength coach and cofounder of the Diesel Crew (www.DieselCrew.com). Developing athletes for the last six years using a variety of training methodologies, Jim is an active student of strength athletics. He is always seeking new ways to innovate and provide a unique perspective. The Diesel Crew also regularly speaks at clinics and seminars about the importance of grip strength in athletics.
References
1. www.iSixSigma.com
2. Cook Gray (2006) Functional Movement Screen™, Functional Movement.
3. Some Excel timeline template examples, http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/timeline.html
4. Smith Jim (2006) Corporate Strength—Gartner, www.DieselCrew.com.
5. Smith Jim (2006) Corporate Strength—Six Sigma, www.DieselCrew.com.
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