Project Templates Help Users Get Proposals Passed

Proposing a project in the IT environment is not as simple as walking into your boss's office and pitching him in 10 seconds. At least not in most offices. It's important to package your well-thought idea in an organized briefing.

IT Business Edge's vice president of subscriber products Ken Hardin has posted the ITBE Project Proposal Template. This simple, three-page template covers the basics of top-level project justification. For larger projects, it should be accompanied or followed by more intensive financial projections, but for smaller projects these key points will prepare a prioritization committee or group of managers to green-light a proposed project for formal business requirements and functional specs.

Key points covered in the basic form include:

1. Business needs met by the proposed project
2. High-level functionality, as envisioned by the business
3. Post-launch operational costs and considerations
4. Key assumptions and corresponding risk
5. Sign-off by project sponsors and key senior managers

One other helpful project management tool in the Knowledge Network is the Project Summary Template, provided by ITManagersToolkit.com.

Three spreadsheets are included in this tool:

• Capital Supporting Spreadsheet

     This document enables you to identify the specific items that need to be purchased for the implementation of the project.

• Expense Supporting Spreadsheet

     This spreadsheet enables you to identify the specific expense items that need to be purchased for the implementation of the project.

• Benefits Supporting Spreadsheet

     This spreadsheet enables you to identify the specific benefit areas and dollar amounts for the benefits.

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