2 Part 2: A Tour through the V-Modell

2.4 Definition of a Project

2.4.1 Project Manual

V-Modell Description: »Project Manual

The V-Modell is a generic process standard which must be adapted and concretized for an actual project. The »Project Manual specifies the adaptations and shapings required for management and development. Thus it documents how and to what extent the V-Modell is applied to the project and is a source of information and guideline for all stakeholders.

The Project Leader Dr. Odysseus wants to provide his team with project information in order to familiarize all team members with its contents. This summary will also be used as basis for all team members joining the project at a later stage. The following summary chapter of the »Project Manual will later also be included into the request for proposal and is an introduction into the project for the supplier.

Just like the team, who was introduced into the Trademark and Patent Information System project by the summary of Dr. Odysseus, the V-Modell must be "introduced" into the project. The adaptation process is called Tailoring. This tailoring is required since the V-Modell is applicable to numerous different project constellations.

In order to adapt the V-Modell to the specific project requirements for the Trademark and Patent Information System, the Project Leader Dr. Odysseus selects the adequate values from the available project characteristics. The tailoring mechanism of the V-Modell is described in detail in the »V-Modell Reference Tailoring in chapter »Directives and Instructions for Tailoring. As shown in Figure 4, the tailoring may be executed by means of the available V-Modell Project Assistant or simply by hand on a piece of paper.

Figure 4: Characterization of the Project

The result of this characterization specifies the process modules to be used in the project and the project execution strategy. Dr. Odysseus documents this result in the Subject »Project-Specific V-Modell of the »Project Manual.

The project type variant is »Project (Acquirer) with One Supplier.

The activities and work products for the project are based on the process modules. Using the project assistant, the Project Leader Dr. Odysseus can generate a V-Modell documentation which only comprises the descriptions of work products, activities, roles and other V-Modell elements of the process modules relevant for the project. Alternatively, he can use the »V-Modell Reference Tailoring in order to determine which products and activities are assigned to the process modules selected for the project.

Dr. Odysseus deals with the remaining process modules and considers if they are useful for the development of a Trademark and Patent Information System. He thinks that a further adaptation is not required.

The project type variant »Project (Acquirer) with One Supplier is specified by adapting the V-Modell specifically to the Trademark and Patent Information System.

This project type variant also determines the decision gates. First, Dr. Odysseus prepares a rough schedule for the decision gates, taking into account the requirements of the »Project Progress Decision (see Chapter »Project Progress Decision "Project Approved"). The bidding line for potential suppliers is the only important milestone which does not follow directly from the specification of the decision gates.

This »Project Execution Plan is intended to specify the dates for meetings with the Trademark and Patent Administration of the Technische Universität München and the products to be submitted on these meetings in accordance with the V-Modell. A detailed planning is included in the »Project Plan.