Why planning is decisive
According to the Standish Group, 66% of IT projects fail partially or totally, mainly due to insufficient planning. Good planning goes beyond a schedule: it structures the vision, aligns stakeholders and anticipates risks.
Step 1: Project scoping
Scoping lays the foundations. It involves answering three essential questions:
- What? Define the functional scope and expected deliverables
- Why? Identify the business value and expected ROI
- For whom? Map stakeholders and end users
The deliverable from this step is the requirements document or Product Brief, which will serve as a reference throughout the project.
Step 2: Estimation and costing
Estimation is a delicate exercise that requires experience:
| Method | Principle | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Poker | Collaborative team estimation | ±20% |
| Function Points | Based on functionalities | ±15% |
| Analogy | Comparison with similar projects | ±25% |
| Parametric | Statistical models (COCOMO) | ±10% |
Golden rule: always multiply your first estimate by 1.5 to account for unforeseen events. This is called the contingency buffer.
Step 3: Building the schedule
The schedule must be realistic and shared. Key tools:
- Gantt chart: temporal visualisation of tasks and their dependencies
- Critical path: identification of tasks that directly impact the delivery date
- Milestones: checkpoints to validate progress
In Agile methodology, the schedule translates into a prioritised Product Backlog and sprints of 2 to 4 weeks.
Step 4: Risk management
Every project carries risks. The method involves:
The most common risks in IT projects:
- Uncontrolled scope change (scope creep)
- Underestimation of technical complexity
- Team turnover
- Unanticipated external dependencies
Step 5: Resource allocation
The project team must be properly sized:
- Project Manager / Scrum Master: steering and coordination
- Product Owner: product vision and prioritisation
- Developers: front-end, back-end, mobile
- QA / Testers: quality assurance
- DevOps: infrastructure and deployment
At Neoshore, we help you build your team with qualified profiles, available quickly and at an optimised cost.
Step 6: Monitoring and steering
A project without monitoring is a project that drifts. Key indicators:
- Velocity: number of points delivered per sprint
- Burndown chart: progress towards the sprint goal
- Budget consumed vs planned budget
- Bug count and technical debt
Agile rituals (daily standup, sprint review, retrospective) ensure continuous monitoring and permanent improvement.
Neoshore, your project partner
Our project management experts support your teams in planning and executing your IT projects. With our centres of excellence in Madagascar, Tunisia and Mauritius, we bring you the expertise and flexibility you need.
Let's plan your next project together →