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Project Basics (Deliverable)

The Project Basics document summarizes the Project Alignment meeting and sets the strategy for DORIS's research throughout the project. It serves as a promise to the client and a roadmap for the Ops Team.

  • The Research Associate creates the Project Basics document.
  • It is delivered to the client within one week of the Project Alignment Meeting.

Start

Prepare project alignment data

Transcribe the meeting data into a Sheet or Mural (as needed). 

  • For Mural, use one sticky note per post it. 
  • For Sheets, use one cell for each post it.

Sheets Project Alignment Data Analysis Template (do not edit)

Mural PA Data Analysis Template (do not edit)

Plan

Analyze + synthesize project alignment data

Group data for the overarching categories:

  • A revised/updated fuzzy situation statement 
  • Top 3-5 project expectations 
  • Top 5-8 indicators of success at the end of the project 
  • Top 8-10 questions you will answer during the project 
  • Any questions leadership asked that are out of scope

Write Project Basics content

  • Follow the template to create a draft of the Project Basics document

Project Basics Content Template

Gate: Have the Project Lead review and approve the content

  • Make any needed revisions before making the final document

Execute + Monitor

Make Project Basics document

  1. Transfer the content into the Project Basics InDesign template
  2. Send the document to the project lead and at least one other DORIS team member for copyediting and review.
  3. Make edits.
  4. Tell the project lead when all edits have been incorporated, and export the InDesign file as a PDF.
  5. Upload the PDF file to the project's Box file under Organization > 1 - Project Launch 
  6. Send the link to the Project Lead

Project Basics InDesign template

Finish

Send the Project Basics Document

The Operations Manager sends the Project Basics document to the client liaison and the executive contact (if needed). 

Example email message to liaison

Subject: DORIS :: Project Basics
To: Liaison

Here is the Project Basics document, the recap from our leadership meeting. Can you please send it to the rest of the team with a version of the message below? Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

----
Hello, 
As promised, here is DORIS's summary of the discussion at last week's Project Alignment meeting. On the second page, you will find the research questions they identified. These are not the questions DORIS will ask in the interview but rather high-level questions that help identify what to ask in the interview and survey. 

Please review and send any feedback to ____ (___@dorisresearch.com) by the end of the week. 

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