Derrick A. FordConsultant| Ford Consulting Services, LLCWhitestown, In, United States
Hello community. I am really excited to put my first post here!
I am starting one of my first large consulting projects on my own. It is an IT infrastructure upgrade project. Its pretty simple....Installing 31 access points, a few switches and firewalls, installation of new cabling, moving some infrastructure from one corner of a building to another, VoIP phone configuration, and post migration support.
I am looking to see if there is anyone who may be able to give me some advice on this process. Specifically for any lessons learned from someone who has done this type of project before. Maybe some excerpts from someone's risk register on those items. Any general information on wisdom is also welcome.
I don't have an issue with building all my documents from scratch but don't want to re-invent the wheel if its already built. All of my previous engagements have been $10k and haven't had to get real formal. I am going to give them a labor and hardware proposal in the next day or two and just wanted to pick the brains of those more experienced than I before I have to hopefully generate a PM plan.
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Derrick, I have no experience in this type of projects, but I just wanted to congratulate you on your first post. I hope you will get useful answers. Best regards.
Eduard
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1 reply by Derrick A. Ford
Oct 21, 2020 10:27 PM
Derrick A. Ford
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Thank you!
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Derrick,
good that you ask, I have seen many such projects, and all are a bit different. It is not only the project you are dealing with then, you are also learning in your first project, so allow for some slack and adjustments.
Let me give you some questions.
- what the overall approach, big bang or gradual upgrade, do you have a sandbox/prototype for the access points?
- think about all stakeholders and try to get their requirements and concerns, make them aware (users of access points with a variety of devices like printers, BYOD, security people with new levels, facility management with several changes to coordinate, operations who must run the new system, HW providers with redundancies and reliant supply chains, procurement department..)
- this should fill your risk register already
- what will be benefits and dis-benefits for each stakeholder
- technical environment: is there a as-is and to-be drawing and inventory, uptodate?, electrical and cooling capacity, access to rooms - you might want to establish a configuration management system, if not already in place
- information and training for users, facility mgmt, operations, management - when what how much
- measure progress not only in work done but also in devices installed
Good luck, let us know what you learned after the project
Thomas
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1 reply by Derrick A. Ford
Oct 21, 2020 10:25 PM
Derrick A. Ford
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It was great to work in a place for a couple of weeks without having to clean up every day which saved time and money is great. All other jobs I had to cleanup each day. Now i still reset all my tools and put everything back in a room, but ceiling tiles, ladders, scaffolding, wires hanging from ceiling, such a wonderful feeling =).
The measurement of progress for management was visual as they started seeing ceiling tiles go back, they knew we were nearing the end.
Saving Changes...
Jonathan LeeBusiness Development Manager| Symphony Communication Services LLCSingapore, Singapore, Singapore
Try looking through the Templates on projectmanagement.com. I've found a few unexpected gems there in the past. Good luck!
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1 reply by Derrick A. Ford
Oct 21, 2020 10:28 PM
Derrick A. Ford
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I found a couple. Thanks for the advice. It took a while though.
I'd suggest starting by asking your client if they have any standards or templates for project management as they may want you to follow theirs.
If not, then let the complexity and size of the project dictate how much/little documentation and process you follow.
With IT infrastructure upgrade projects, you'd want to keep an eye on things like:
1. Performance
2. Rollback plans
3. Post-implementation vendor support
4. Health/safety regulations (e.g. where can cables run)
to name just a few...
Kiron
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1 reply by Derrick A. Ford
Oct 21, 2020 10:31 PM
Derrick A. Ford
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I did pay very close attention to the legacy network vs current network performance and nerd benefits that came with those.
Rollback is always scary because you can't test it unless you have a duplicate or another set of HW. This case I did when doing 1 for 1 replacement and adds. That makes the firewall switch so much easier.
This project was also nicer because I was able to take my time and document as I went at my pace and make it understandable and transferrable.
I see you got already very good feedbacks.
I would add to pay attention to the procurement part and to gather correctly the parts needed (cabling, connectors, transceivers, etc) especially when you are installing a new system.
as when you miss one of these parts in the requirement/design phase you might end up late as you have to go through the whole procurement process, not to forget that some vendors might take up to 4-6 weeks to deliver and depending on your internal procurement policies you add another 2 to 4 weeks.
As Thomas said the prototype is very important if you are selecting new technology, and ensure you have a good migration/rollback plan with the correct stakeholders well informed.
Good luck!
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1 reply by Derrick A. Ford
Oct 21, 2020 10:27 PM
Derrick A. Ford
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Thank you for hitting on the planning aspect. I am a firm believer that if you fail to plan you plan to fail. I was talking to a friend at breakfast today about just in time manufacturing and how Toyota has multiple vendors within a certain radius and how they geographically choose them for unforeseen circumstances like an ice storm which would obviously delay delivery.
Saving Changes...
Daniel SchutzbergPM Consultant| Semafone (through end April 2020) Cambridge, Ma, United States
Derrick - I have had some experience in the project scope as you describe it. A critical item (especially since you are dealing with COVID-19 and physical distancing) is a site survey. This activity should help you identify where items will be deployed and what connectivity issues (risks) you may encounter as execute. Agree with your client/stakeholders on the best way to communicate and provide updates; I wish you success on this - which by the way may not be 'on budget', but a happy, referenceable customer to help generate your $75k project (or bigger)!
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1 reply by Derrick A. Ford
Oct 21, 2020 10:34 PM
Derrick A. Ford
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Thanks for the luck. They ended scaling some back because they had a 30T HVAC malfunction a couple weeks out before I started and we were able to adjust and still came in on budget. It was much smaller around $15k but it was good overall. They had some interns working there which I got to use. They were actually pretty good. I never had to go back and correct their work.
Saving Changes...
MARK A ANNUNZIATA, SrVP/EXPERT CONSULTANCY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY| ROMAN STRUCTURES, INC WELLINGTON FLDammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
DF-
I see you are receiving great nitty-gritty technical advice here.
Let me add something from the high-level PM perspective!
As lessons learned from my experience on a high rise project in KSA, I sat through a meeting with all the su8bs and stakeholders for the communications plan for the 20 story towers and adjacent 10 story offices. this included many wap locations as well as gear at each floor. all designed to be hard-wired.
Well, being a non- structured wiring type of guy, after a 1-hour presentation of 100's of conduits exiting our main control area in the basement, I asked why we were not using F/O cable. We all collaborated on the F/O design for the next5 hour, achieving significant cost savings and much higher efficiency, not to mention the elimination of many conduits.
The client was converting the local area to F/O so this pleased his excellency greatly and allowed us a redundancy we did not have with the original design- a win for everyone!!
All the result of a suggestion from the guy in the trenches!
Good luck with your contract!
M
.
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1 reply by Derrick A. Ford
Oct 21, 2020 10:38 PM
Derrick A. Ford
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Thanks, Mark. I liked hearing that. Those lesson learned always make me smile because those are truly a win win! FO is the next item to be installed! The last piece of the ISP fiber pull will be completed by 11/8/2020. They're getting permits and locates to pull because we moved the DEMARC/MDF to the opposite corner of the building. More suitable there instead of next to city power main and sump pumps and NG lines.
Saving Changes...
Derrick A. FordConsultant| Ford Consulting Services, LLCWhitestown, In, United States
Jun 18, 2020 3:44 AM
Replying to Thomas Walenta
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Derrick,
good that you ask, I have seen many such projects, and all are a bit different. It is not only the project you are dealing with then, you are also learning in your first project, so allow for some slack and adjustments.
Let me give you some questions.
- what the overall approach, big bang or gradual upgrade, do you have a sandbox/prototype for the access points?
- think about all stakeholders and try to get their requirements and concerns, make them aware (users of access points with a variety of devices like printers, BYOD, security people with new levels, facility management with several changes to coordinate, operations who must run the new system, HW providers with redundancies and reliant supply chains, procurement department..)
- this should fill your risk register already
- what will be benefits and dis-benefits for each stakeholder
- technical environment: is there a as-is and to-be drawing and inventory, uptodate?, electrical and cooling capacity, access to rooms - you might want to establish a configuration management system, if not already in place
- information and training for users, facility mgmt, operations, management - when what how much
- measure progress not only in work done but also in devices installed
Good luck, let us know what you learned after the project
Thomas
It was great to work in a place for a couple of weeks without having to clean up every day which saved time and money is great. All other jobs I had to cleanup each day. Now i still reset all my tools and put everything back in a room, but ceiling tiles, ladders, scaffolding, wires hanging from ceiling, such a wonderful feeling =).
The measurement of progress for management was visual as they started seeing ceiling tiles go back, they knew we were nearing the end. Saving Changes...
Derrick A. FordConsultant| Ford Consulting Services, LLCWhitestown, In, United States
Jun 18, 2020 6:31 PM
Replying to Soha Karjawally
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Hi Derrick,
I see you got already very good feedbacks.
I would add to pay attention to the procurement part and to gather correctly the parts needed (cabling, connectors, transceivers, etc) especially when you are installing a new system.
as when you miss one of these parts in the requirement/design phase you might end up late as you have to go through the whole procurement process, not to forget that some vendors might take up to 4-6 weeks to deliver and depending on your internal procurement policies you add another 2 to 4 weeks.
As Thomas said the prototype is very important if you are selecting new technology, and ensure you have a good migration/rollback plan with the correct stakeholders well informed.
Good luck!
Thank you for hitting on the planning aspect. I am a firm believer that if you fail to plan you plan to fail. I was talking to a friend at breakfast today about just in time manufacturing and how Toyota has multiple vendors within a certain radius and how they geographically choose them for unforeseen circumstances like an ice storm which would obviously delay delivery. Saving Changes...
Derrick A. FordConsultant| Ford Consulting Services, LLCWhitestown, In, United States
Jun 18, 2020 2:00 AM
Replying to Eduard Hernandez
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Derrick, I have no experience in this type of projects, but I just wanted to congratulate you on your first post. I hope you will get useful answers. Best regards.
Community Champion
