To create your enablement timeline, you must convert the planned enablement activities into individual tasks and determine the sequence to complete them.
You can follow these steps:
- Define milestones:
Identify significant milestones in the enablement project. Milestones represent key points of achievement or completion and indicate progress. For example, a milestone can be "Content development completed" or "Pilot launch."
- Create a Gantt chart or project timeline:
Using project management software or tools, create a visual representation such as a Gantt chart or project timeline. This representation helps organize and visualize the tasks, durations, dependencies, and milestones. It gives a clear overview of the project schedule. To collaborate with the wider project, we recommend you align to whatever project-planning tool the overall project uses.
- Break down activities into tasks:
Analyze each enablement activity and break it down into smaller, manageable tasks. For example, if one activity is "Develop enablement content," break it into the tasks, "Create user guides" and "Record video tutorials".
- Sequence tasks:
Determine the logical order in which tasks complete. Identify any dependencies between tasks, where one task must be completed before another can begin. This helps create a sequential flow for the enablement project.
- Estimate task durations:
To complete each task, estimate the required duration. Consider factors such as complexity, resource availability, and dependencies. Base this estimation on the team's expertise and previous experience, accounting for any known constraints or risks.
- Assign resources:
Assign appropriate team members to each task based on their skills, availability, and workload. Ensure that the assigned resources have the necessary expertise to carry out the tasks effectively.
- Validate and adjust:
Review the timeline and task list with the enablement project team. Seek their input and ensure their agreement on the schedule's feasibility. Consider any raised feedback or concerns and, where needed, make changes to result in a realistic timeline.
- Communicate and share:
Once the timeline and task list are finalized, communicate the plan to all relevant stakeholders, including team members, executives, and other project and business stakeholders. Share the timeline in a clear and accessible format, such as through project management software, shared documents, and presentations.
- Monitor and update:
Continuously monitor the progress of tasks against the timeline. Track actual completion dates and compare them to the planned schedule. Regularly update the timeline as needed, considering any changes in scope, resource availability, or unexpected circumstances.
The following tables show an example of a high-level enablement task list:
Enablement Planning
| Task | Activities |
|---|---|
| Learning needs analysis for the project team |
|
| Enablement strategy creation |
|
| Learning needs analysis for users |
|
| Enablement project management |
|
| Enablement teams mobilization |
|
| Enablement planning and event management |
|
Enablement Execution
| Task | Activities |
|---|---|
| Enablement of the project team |
|
| Deployment of the development tool |
|
| Enablement content development |
|
| Enablement delivery |
|
| Enablement sustainability |
|