The first thing I try to ascertain is how realistic it is to deliver the on
the objectives outlined in the proposal and then revise initial planning
expectations accordingly.
In effect, what I like to see in a project is sufficient effort going in to
planning an initiation phase. This is where full requirements are derived,
prototyping is carried out, resourcing needs planned and expectations set. Only
at the end of this phase will you be able to form a definitive plan for what
needs to be done, by whom, by when and using which skills and technologies i.e
the project can be 'initiated'.
Project proposals are only really high level business cases for funding, and
as of the moment project plans are required a month after funding allocated,
which never leaves enough time to initiate the work effectively.
I'd personally like to see for a 2 year project, an initiation phase plan as
the first JISC deliverable, no more than a month after funding, with a full
project initiation plan expected after 3 months. This plan should be reviewed
with the programme to see if it is still desirable/realistic to meet the
initial aims. This might even extend to retracting the funding offer in extreme
cases (so long as the initiation phase is funded)...
Sure, recruitment and so on is more complicated the further into the project
you get, but results would be better
