Managing Net Zero Montpelier as a Series of Projects

 Seeing/Managing Net Zero Montpelier as a Series of Projects

The work we’re undertaking over the next fifteen ‘Net Zero Montpelier‘ (NZM) years is to a great extent a series of projects – a series of temporary efforts building on predecessor efforts (i.e. projects) – undertaken to create a unique NZM product, service or result.  The Strategic Planning committee has identified several such series such as: measuring current/electric/thermal/transportation energy use; fuel switching; installing smart meter infrastructure. 

Managing these NZM projects will require ongoing, high standards, without confusion, waste, duplication of effort, and failure will occur.  We’ll be able to organize each project, from its initiating through its closing steps, in a common set of processes and templates which you’ll see in the following documents in this folder.  These will walk NZM project teams through core project work areas such as:

n  Agreed-upon project scope (what’s in, what’s out)

n  What work is required

n  Who does what work

n  When does the work happen (first, next, et al)

n  What resources are required to do the work

n  Surfacing project problems up front

n  Communicating on-going project details to all project stakeholders

Through this common approach, we’ll also be able to say “here’s what this project is, who’s doing what, where we’re at, what risks/issues we’re having, how we’re addressing them, when we anticipate completing this project” to MEAC, the City Council, funders and anyone else.  Project teams will also be able to hand off its work seamlessly to new project team leaders and members – crucial in a volunteer-heavy resource base.

If you’re reading this document, you may be a “Project Lead” for an NZM project.  The next document, 2. Kicking off an NZM Project.doc, will take you through your project’s first few steps.

--Barry McPhee, PMP®