Project Delivery Process D664

D664 - Implement Live Communications and Network

DEFINITION

Establish the communication software environment and the new production networks required for the new application in the production region in accordance with the implementation technical plan.

SUMMARY

The purpose of this activity is to acquire, install, configure, and test those communication network elements of the target production technical environment that have not already been implemented, and to make whatever changes are required in local and wide area networks, including communications software and equipment, at both central and remote sites to create the target production networks necessary to go live.

PATH PLANNING GUIDANCE

This process is optional.  It is used where new or changed communications facilities are required.  Also, the required work may have already been conducted as part of Process D130 - install hardware, software, and communications equipment.

DEPENDENCIES

Prerequisites (Finish-Start):

• Review technical environment and plan installation (D110)

Dependent procedures(Finish-Finish):

• D810 - Technical testing and tuning

Dependent procedures (Finish-Start):

• Decision to go live (D900)

RECEIVABLES

• Technical Plan (D110)
• installation standards and procedures
• hardware and software inventory reports
• capacity and performance analysis reports
• vendor technical documentation
• operations standards, procedures, and schedules

DELIVERABLES

• communications software orders
• configured communications software and network
• communications network configuration and inventory documentation.

TOOL

• (none)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TASKS

The project manager should ensure that the communications software is installed in a timely manner in relation to dependent project activities.  The full configuration may be required prior to live running where it is used in user testing, training, data loading or volume testing.  The vendor will normally provide detail of considerations concerning the implementation of communications software.

Work of this nature normally requires the close co-operation of the client organisation’s technical communications specialists.  In many cases the work will be conducted entirely by them.

Needs for equipment

Details of requirements for equipment should be finalised.  In particular, it will be necessary to agree the needs and proposed solutions with departmental managers, along with the placement of equipment.  This will be largely based on the predicted user population and predicted usage.  Network sizing and design may require specialist resources.

Consider and agree any options.  For example, minimum specification equipment and lines may adequately meet the new system’s needs, but not represent the best value for money for the organisation which might benefit from larger capacity which could then be used for other purposes in addition to the new system.

Establish and agree which budgets the equipment costs should be charged to.  In some cases the client organisation will expect costs of local equipment to be accepted by the local office or user departments rather than being centrally funded or funded out of the project budget.

Planning and documenting the network

The detailed documentation should reflect the entire communications architecture and be in sufficient detail to provide for a thorough review and determination of the required communications network environment to support the system.  Information should be portrayed in reports, charts, diagrams, and text as appropriate.  Styles and standards for the documentation will normally be defined by the client organisation’s existing approach.

Details should be prepared for the following :

• itemised compilation of all communications equipment components including those previously existing and those components acquired for the new system,
• charts showing placement and configuration of communications equipment components in the local and any remote sites,
• communications equipment inventory.

Any network reconfiguration necessary should be performed in a timely manner in relation to dependent project activities, including tests of the production local and wide area networks as necessary to support the new application.

Testing and Implementing

Once installed, the communications software and equipment should be tested and any required local training or guidance should be provided.

Testing is not normally required on a formal basis - it is usually sufficient to demonstrate that it works.  It is, however, normal to subject the network to some form of volume testing if there is any doubt over its capacity (see Process D810).

In some cases it may be necessary to train local staff in the use of the equipment.  Where this is a significant effort or has a critical impact on the overall business solution, it should normally have been included in the user training programme (see Process D760).

Some minor procedures may need to be defined and publicised to deal with:

• operation of the equipment,
• access by new users,
• updates to the local systems,
• how to deal with problems.