Project Management Framework
Maintenance and Operations - Deployment

For Best Results

• Monitor the progress of development of the Maintenance & Operations Plan during the project. Without a Maintenance & Operations Plan there is a risk that project staff will remain responsible for maintenance or that the product will not be maintained at all.
• Involve stakeholders and responsible maintenance staff in the development of the Maintenance & Operations Plan.
• Identify required roles and responsibilities for maintenance staff.
• Plan for staffing at the level and skill to meet maintenance needs.
• Plan for adequate facilities and other resources to meet needs of maintenance staff and related activities.
• Establish a budget commitment for maintenance activities.
• Use existing processes, methodologies and business practice in place in your organization whenever possible.
• Identify governance strategies to be used in maintenance, including decision-making and prioritization processes.
• Describe performance goals for the product or service and routinely assess actual performance against these goals.
• Establish goals and standards for performance of maintenance activities and processes and perform routine assessments against those goals and standards.
• Understand contract and licensing renewal schedules and obligations.
• Maintain documentation for all aspects of the product or service.
• Design an ongoing training plan that addresses training needs of technical staff and end users.
• Document expectations for the ongoing relationship with customers and key stakeholders. This includes development of an ongoing communication plan.
• Provide maintenance staff with access to the project library, development materials and documentation.
• Revisit and reassess the Maintenance & Operations Plan over the life of the product or service. As significant business changes or product changes occur, maintenance needs may also change.
• Monitor change to ensure product or service remains aligned with goals and IT portfolio.

Also Consider

• Involving maintenance staff in key project processes such as issue management and change management, especially if topics include work that will be eventually transitioned to maintenance staff. This will increase familiarity with the topics when they need to be addressed as part of maintenance.
• Introducing key members of the maintenance team to key stakeholders in advance of transition activities.
• Using project management strategies as part of maintenance approach for large systems.
• Keeping a maintenance change log. This will enable tracking of functionality over time.
• Using a release strategy or configuration management strategy.

Related Links:
Maintenance & Operations Planning
Maintenance & Operations Plan Example
Maintenance & Operations Plan Template

Checklists

MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS CHECKLIST
Is the Maintenance & Operations Plan finalized?
Has the Maintenance & Operations Plan been communicated to the project team, maintenance staff and internal and external stakeholders and accepted?
Do the maintenance team members understand the processes outlined in the Plan and understand the consequences of not following it?
Is system documentation being kept up to date?
Have maintenance staff been identified and assigned?
Are maintenance activities, resource requirements and other maintenance obligations included in your budget?
Has an ongoing communication plan been developed and is it being used?
Are maintenance activities and processes routinely measured against goals?
Is the product or service performing well against established standards?