Deployment management made easy

[vc_row bg_color=”#f1f1f1″ top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389152501{margin-bottom: 150px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]When the deployment plan has been carefully planned and tested with the Cutover practice, the actual deployment management is easier than expected.

In short, this is how it should work:

Make sure you have the time to take the lead. Cancel all other activities during the deployment period. Make sure the risks listed in the plan won’t be realized.
Make sure every resource knows its function.
Release tasks that you need to perform. Usually it means activities up to the next Go / NoGo decision point.
Track and make sure that every activity is done in time.
The instruction is to report open issues to ProjectTOP, so that you have the ability to manage deployment.
Solve open issues quickly. Don’t let them accumulate to become problems.
Remember information and communication. A happy lively mind keeps the project team performing efficiently.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ class=”green-right-bg” full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514040267846{margin-top: -150px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-image: url(https://vip.projecttop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laptop-bg.png?id=1533) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2968″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3″ width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Go / NoGo decision points” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525277357419{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389199656{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 70px !important;}”]Each development project has its own nature, as well as the deployments made in them. The deployment plan should include at least these Go / NoGo decision points.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#f1f1f1″ top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Readiness to start Go-Live activities” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:20px|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525277644039{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389272791{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]

All development work is completed
User acceptance test is ready
Cutover practice is done and accepted
No critical or high-level issues open. Only a few lower categories issues are open
Business change management completed
Cutover resource plan is ready and communicated
Support plan is ready and communicated
Communication plan is ready
End-user training has been completed.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Readiness to start production use” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:20px|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525277657678{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389272791{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]

Pre-tasks are completed
No critical open issues
End user manuals are in place
Normal business activities are completed in schedule.

All planned Cutover tasks are completed
Production validation completed
No critical or high-level open issues
Project is available to support production use

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#ffffff” top_padding=”80″ bottom_padding=”30″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column text_align=”center” width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”Which problems may arise if the criteria for implementation are not met” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525277740775{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1515741241009{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]Successful deployment is based on the focus of deployment. If the tasks in the previous steps have not yet been completed, this does not work. Then the focus is only on critical and visible issues. There is no time to think about how to prevent the emergence of future problems. A few examples:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#ffffff” top_padding=”30″ bottom_padding=”50″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column bg_color=”#f9f9f9″ column_padding=”padding-5″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Development work is not completed and user acceptance test is not ready.” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:18px|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525277874504{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text]

The resources focus on finalizing the previous step. Taking up of deployment tasks is delayed.
The project does not have time to lead to business change.
The business outcomes collapse a few months after the deployment, as the solution was not ready to be deployed.
Key resources workload will be a challenge. Business support takes up all resources
The staff are tired and angry.
Customers are angry because the service level deteriorates
The desired benefits will not be reached

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column bg_color=”#efefef” column_padding=”padding-5″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Business change management and end user trainings are not completed” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:18px|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525277866687{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text]

Users do not know how to use the system. Work is slowing down.
Users make mistakes that will degrade the customer service level.
Key resources workload will be challenging.Business support takes all resources
The staff are tired and angry.
Customers are angry because the service level deteriorates
The desired benefits will not be reached

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#f9f9f9″ top_padding=”80″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column text_align=”center” width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”Three tight situations (But this does not happen naturally, if you use ProjectTOP Process)” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525278015284{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#f9f9f9″ top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”80″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389272791{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]1. The project does not have real visibility for the project’s degree of readiness. This is why the decision to switch to deployment is taken, even if there is really no readiness. Problems with the deployment will come as a surprise.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389272791{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]2. The go to deployment decision is made even if the criteria are not met. The schedule is king. The management believes that the company’s solvency is sufficient to overcome the problems that may arise. Generally, however, the number of problems is surprising. The number of visible costs is high but the amount of hidden costs and customer losses is even greater.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389272791{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]3. The timing of deployment must be delayed. Usually the most difficult decision, but the most affordable. Prolonging the project is costly, but is generally cheaper than deployment of an unfinished solution.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_section” top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ class=”yellow-left-bg” full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514040240954{margin-top: -150px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-image: url(https://vip.projecttop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laptop-bg2.png?id=1541) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3″ width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2993″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3″ width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Cutover management” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389379477{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 70px !important;}”]Let me present the cutover management by example.
An example case:

Large business critical development project.
Company is working 18 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Maintaining the level of service is important
Challenging multi-vendor environment
The activities are supervised by the authorities.
The cutover from current solutions to new solutions will take place during the weekend

Development work is completed
User acceptance test is ready and accepted
Cutover practice is done and accepted

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389272791{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]

All critical or high-level issues are solved. Only a few lower categories issues are open.
Business change management is completed
Cutover resource plan is ready and communicated

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389272791{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]

Support plan is ready and communicated
Communication plan is ready
End-user training has been completed.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#00c3e9″ text_color=”light” text_align=”center” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column text_color=”light” text_align=”center” width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”Cutover schedule from Wednesday to Monday” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1515062799699{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]Schedule at the top level

Wednesday:

All pre-tasks done before 16:00
Go/NoGo “Readiness to start Go-Live activities”
A small celebration to thank members for the good work.

Thursday = Day off

Resources are resting to be able to do the weekend work.
This is more important than you can imagine. A hard weekend is coming up and
you need a well-rested project group.

Friday

Execution of planned activities
Make sure everything is ready for cutover.
Make sure the risks do not materialize

Saturday

Business finalizes work on current systems
Come Saturday there must not be any work left undone, so that on Sunday they can focus on the use of the new system.

Saturday – Sunday night

Action time 7:00 pm to 2:00 am.
Go/NoGo decision: “Readiness to start actual Cutover “
Downtime starts
Migration from current to new solution.
Production validations
Go/NoGo decision: “Readiness to start production use”
Communication that we are ready to start production use.

Sunday –>

Production use starts
The project supports business
Follow up status meeting
Final Go/NoGo decision!

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][mvc_timeline_father][mvc_timeline_son centerstyle=”dot” date=”Wednesday” clr=”#00c3e9″ size=”40px” bgclr=”#a3d630″]

All pretasks are done
Go-decision
A small celebration to thank for the good work

[/mvc_timeline_son][mvc_timeline_son centerstyle=”dot” date=”Thursday” clr=”#00c3e9″ size=”40px” bgclr=”#a3d630″]

Day off.
Resources are resting to make the weekend work

[/mvc_timeline_son][mvc_timeline_son centerstyle=”dot” date=”Friday” clr=”#00c3e9″ size=”40px” bgclr=”#a3d630″]

Planned activites
Make sure everything is ready for cutover

[/mvc_timeline_son][mvc_timeline_son centerstyle=”dot” date=”Saturday” clr=”#00c3e9″ size=”40px” bgclr=”#a3d630″]

Business finalize works at current systems

[/mvc_timeline_son][mvc_timeline_son centerstyle=”dot” date=”Saturday – Sunday night” clr=”#00c3e9″ size=”40px” bgclr=”#a3d630″]

Action time 19:00 pm to 02:00 am.
Planned cut over activities

[/mvc_timeline_son][mvc_timeline_son centerstyle=”dot” date=”Sunday –>” clr=”#00c3e9″ size=”40px” bgclr=”#a3d630″]

Production use starts at 08:00
The project supports business

[/mvc_timeline_son][/mvc_timeline_father][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_section” full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column bg_color=”#f9f9f9″ column_padding=”padding-3″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”My activities / personal worklists” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525279162721{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389437365{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]For the sake of success, it is important for everyone to know their own tasks. What should be done and by what time. For this purpose, ProjectTOP My activities – view has been developed.

Below the picture in My activities view. Let’s focus on the view

If Status is Open – you can execute activity
If status is Waiting – You should wait, before activity will be opened.
Deadline and time = Time when the activity must be completed

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column bg_color=”#f2f2f2″ column_padding=”padding-3″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Observatory / Dynamic listing for all activities” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525279168075{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389437365{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]Do not even think about managing critical deployment with excel and emails. The Observatory is a dynamic, all-in-one view of activities. After you’ve released a Deployment Plan from Gantt, you can follow the implementation of the Observatory in real-time

Below the picture in observatory view. Let’s focus on the view

Assigned to = Person to promote the activity
Activity type: Open issue= A finding or a question. A decision and actions are needed to resolve.
Activity type: Defect = Error in solution, master data, interface etc.
If Status is Open – Activity is released for execution
If status is Waiting = The execution of the activity has not yet been authorized to start.
Start date = Planned start date
End date (deadline) and time = Time when the activity must be completed

You can create views to the observatory and share them with the users.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_section” full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Actual Cutover – how to organize at a critical time” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525279265907{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389437365{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]In the case of critical business deployment, it makes sense to gather people in the same space. Of course, this is not always possible, but management is easier if the project group is on site.

But the number of people in the same space should be limited. There should only be people who have activities. Insufficient people slow down the promotion of the right activities. Now, it focuses only on the essentials.

It’s important that you remember the food supply. If work is done outside of office space, there should be enough energy available for resources.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389437365{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]Get started actively. Collect everything in the scene and go through the events of the coming hours. You will probably have to resort to these phrases:

We have been prepared for this for the whole project.
If you have nothing to do, then do not steal the others time
Don’t panic. We will certainly be able to solve all the prevalent problems
If anyone can do this, then it is us!
Let’s get started. and remember to be careful out there

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_section” full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column bg_color=”#f9f9f9″ column_padding=”padding-3″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Findings and repairing” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525279339944{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389437365{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]The easiest step is the management of the planned activities. Solving of unplanned activities reveals your leadership skills. Do not let issues accumulate as a problem. Here is the way to do it.

Plan issue reporting and the solving process
Communicate how to report issues and how you can get support.
Each finding should be registered to ProjectTOP, so that the need of support can be derived. Remember to use ProjectTOP’s e-mail integration and form functionality.
Make sure the support is provided from the right level. The best professionals are solving the most challenging problems, and easy business users are responsible for the user’s problems.
Make sure the reporting of findings is of high quality to make the solutions effective.
Book the status meetings in advance. The meetings will assess the situation, resolve open issues and agree on how to proceed.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column bg_color=”#f2f2f2″ column_padding=”padding-3″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”People and you” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525279359370{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389437365{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]Heroic stories are nice to read, but painstaking to create. Remember that key resources need to get rest in order to be able to work efficiently. Just as you yourself. It’s no shame to rest. It’s embarrassing if everyone finds you in a panic because you’re tired.

The resource plan must be based on the assumption that work can be done within normal working hours. This way you have the resources available if unexpected problems arise. If the resources can not afford to respond to the findings, then you are in trouble. The business is beginning to suffer because the project’s solving ability is poor.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Jyrki Autio