Percent Complete

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Le Pouvoir du Pourcentage d'Achèvement : Naviguer l'État de Suspension

En gestion de projet, l'état de "suspension" signifie souvent une pause temporaire dans une activité, en attendant une condition ou une décision spécifique avant de reprendre. Déterminer la durée restante d'une activité suspendue peut être difficile, mais un outil essentiel émerge : **Le Pourcentage d'Achèvement**.

**Pourcentage d'Achèvement : Une Métrique Clé pour le Suivi de la Progression**

Le pourcentage d'achèvement agit comme un puissant indicateur de la progression d'une activité, même lorsqu'elle est en état de suspension. Il quantifie le travail déjà effectué, fournissant des informations précieuses sur :

**Travail Restant :** En soustrayant le pourcentage d'achèvement de 100%, nous pouvons déterminer l'effort restant nécessaire pour terminer l'activité. Cela nous aide à estimer le temps requis pour l'achèvement une fois la suspension levée.
**Calendriers Réalistes :** Comprendre le pourcentage d'achèvement permet des prévisions et des calendriers plus précis. Cela évite des estimations trop optimistes et aide à gérer efficacement les attentes des parties prenantes.
**Allocation des Ressources :** Connaître l'état d'achèvement des activités suspendues permet de prendre des décisions éclairées en matière d'allocation des ressources. Nous pouvons prioriser les ressources pour les activités proches de l'achèvement, garantissant une utilisation efficace.

**Définition du Pourcentage d'Achèvement en État de Suspension**

Cependant, définir le pourcentage d'achèvement pour une activité suspendue nécessite une approche nuancée. Des calculs de pourcentage simples basés sur des estimations initiales peuvent ne pas être précis. Considérez plutôt ces approches :

**Basé sur les Jalons :** Si l'activité a des jalons bien définis, attribuez une valeur de pourcentage à chaque jalon. La somme des jalons achevés reflète le pourcentage d'achèvement.
**Achèvement du Paquet de Travail :** Si l'activité est décomposée en plus petits paquets de travail, évaluez l'état d'achèvement de chaque paquet. Le pourcentage combiné représente la progression globale.
**Jugement d'Expert :** Dans les cas où des métriques concrètes ne sont pas disponibles, fiez-vous au jugement d'experts de l'équipe responsable de l'activité. Cela garantit une estimation réaliste et éclairée.

**Défis et Bonnes Pratiques**

Utiliser efficacement le pourcentage d'achèvement pendant un état de suspension peut présenter des défis :

**Subjectivité :** Déterminer le pourcentage peut être subjectif, surtout si l'activité est complexe ou manque de jalons clairs.
**Étendue Changeante :** Si l'étendue de l'activité suspendue change pendant la période de suspension, le pourcentage d'achèvement doit être recalculé.
**Retards Imprévus :** Des facteurs externes peuvent entraîner des retards lors de la reprise de l'activité, affectant le temps d'achèvement estimé.

Pour atténuer ces défis, adoptez ces bonnes pratiques :

**Communication Claire :** Assurez une communication ouverte entre les parties prenantes concernant la raison de la suspension, la durée prévue et l'impact sur le projet global.
**Mises à Jour Régulières :** Surveillez le pourcentage d'achèvement régulièrement et communiquez les changements aux parties prenantes pour maintenir la transparence.
**Planification d'Urgence :** Préparez-vous à des retards potentiels et ajustez le plan du projet en conséquence pour minimiser l'impact.

**Conclusion :**

Le pourcentage d'achèvement est un outil puissant pour naviguer l'état de suspension en gestion de projet. En comprenant son application et en relevant les défis potentiels, nous pouvons garantir un suivi précis de la progression, des calendriers réalistes et une allocation des ressources éclairée, contribuant finalement à la réussite de la livraison du projet.

Test Your Knowledge

Quiz: The Power of Percent Complete in Hold State

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What does the "hold" state in project management typically indicate? a) A permanent suspension of an activity. b) A temporary pause in an activity awaiting specific conditions or decisions. c) The completion of an activity. d) A critical milestone in the project.

Answer

b) A temporary pause in an activity awaiting specific conditions or decisions.

2. How can percent complete be used to track progress during a hold state? a) It indicates the amount of time that has passed since the activity was put on hold. b) It quantifies the work already completed, providing insights into remaining work and realistic timelines. c) It helps determine the cost of the hold state. d) It ensures the activity will be completed on time.

Answer

b) It quantifies the work already completed, providing insights into remaining work and realistic timelines.

3. Which of the following is NOT a recommended approach for defining percent complete in a hold state? a) Milestone-based approach. b) Work package completion approach. c) Simple percentage calculation based on initial estimates. d) Expert judgment approach.

Answer

c) Simple percentage calculation based on initial estimates.

4. What is a significant challenge associated with using percent complete during a hold state? a) The absence of stakeholders' involvement. b) The difficulty in accessing historical project data. c) The potential for subjectivity in determining the percentage. d) The lack of available project management tools.

Answer

c) The potential for subjectivity in determining the percentage.

5. What is a best practice for mitigating challenges associated with using percent complete in a hold state? a) Avoiding communication with stakeholders to avoid confusion. b) Focusing on completing other activities while the held activity is paused. c) Regularly monitoring and communicating the percent complete to stakeholders. d) Ignoring potential delays and assuming the activity will resume as planned.

Answer

c) Regularly monitoring and communicating the percent complete to stakeholders.

Exercise: Project Planning with a Hold State

Scenario: You are managing a project to develop a new software application. One activity, "User Interface Design", is currently on hold pending approval from the client for the design concept. This activity was initially estimated to take 10 days.

Task:

Assume that 3 days of work were completed on "User Interface Design" before it was put on hold. Calculate the percent complete for this activity.
Develop a strategy for tracking the percent complete for this activity while it's in the hold state. Consider using milestones or work packages.
Explain how this information can help you estimate the remaining time needed to complete "User Interface Design" once the hold is lifted.

Exercice Correction

**1. Percent Complete Calculation:**

Percent Complete = (Work Completed / Total Estimated Work) * 100%

Percent Complete = (3 days / 10 days) * 100% = 30%

Therefore, the "User Interface Design" activity is 30% complete.

2. Tracking Percent Complete During Hold State:

Milestone-Based Approach: Divide the "User Interface Design" activity into specific milestones:
- Milestone 1: Initial Design Concept (Completed - 30%)
- Milestone 2: Client Approval (Pending)
- Milestone 3: Detailed UI Design (Not yet started)
- Milestone 4: UI Testing (Not yet started)
Work Package Completion Approach: Break down the "User Interface Design" activity into work packages:
- Work Package 1: Wireframing (Completed - 100%)
- Work Package 2: Visual Design (Completed - 50%) - Assuming half the visual design work is completed
- Work Package 3: Prototyping (Not yet started)
- Work Package 4: User Testing (Not yet started)

3. Estimating Remaining Time:

Once the client approves the design concept (Milestone 2), you can assess the remaining work based on the chosen approach:
- Milestone-Based: Milestone 3 and 4 would need to be completed.
- Work Package Completion: Work Packages 3 and 4 would need to be completed.
By tracking the percent complete and using the defined milestones or work packages, you can accurately estimate the remaining time needed for "User Interface Design" after the hold is lifted. This will help in managing expectations and adjusting the project timeline accordingly.

Books

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) by Project Management Institute (PMI): Chapter 10, "Project Communications Management," provides a comprehensive overview of communication in project management, including the importance of accurate progress reporting.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) Agile Practice Guide: This guide discusses Agile methodologies, which emphasize frequent updates and transparency. This aligns with using percent complete to track progress even in a hold state.
Effective Project Management by Kerzner: This classic book explores various aspects of project management, including progress reporting and tracking.
Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling by Harold Kerzner: Covers in-depth strategies for effective project management, including the use of percent complete.

Articles

How to Accurately Measure Project Completion: A Guide to Percent Complete by The Project Management Institute (PMI): This article explains the importance of defining and tracking percent complete accurately, especially for complex projects.
The Importance of Percent Complete in Project Management by ProjectManager.com: This article highlights the benefits of using percent complete as a crucial metric for effective project management.
How to Track Progress in the Hold State by ProjectManagement.com: Discusses strategies for tracking progress for activities in a hold state, including the use of percent complete.

Online Resources

ProjectManagement.com: Offers various articles, tutorials, and tools related to project management, including resources on percent complete and project progress tracking.
The Project Management Institute (PMI): The official website of PMI provides resources, certifications, and training related to project management, including information on best practices for project communication and progress reporting.
Project Management Institute (PMI) Academy: Online training courses and certification programs offered by PMI, which delve into the nuances of project management, including accurate progress reporting and using percent complete.

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