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¶ System Understanding
¶ What it is
It is the activity project members carry out to understand the project background, project principles, product vision, business objectives, etc.
¶ Why it is useful
If one does not perform system understanding, he cannot make the best decision during the project. In the whole life cycle of a product, the project team must understand where the product is heading and why.
¶ When to use it
System understanding is an activity every team member must do when they first get involved in a project. Different roles get involved at different timepoint, but this is a step that no one can skip.
¶ How is it done
1. Project background & vision
- Understand the big picture no matter what role you are in. What industry, what project vision, what type of product, etc.?
2. Understand what problems the product aims to solve
- Every product must exist to solve problems. One must understand the exact problems to think like the end users.
3. Legacy assets
- Before starting your work, learn first what already exists, what can be inherited, what should be created, what needs to be fixed, etc.
4. Project goals, limitations, and regulations to follow
- Expected delivery, timelines, team capacity, resources, plans, cultures, limits, etc.
5. Stakeholders and relevant parties
- Figure out the persons in charge, RACI, and impacts on different parties. This could guarantee communication efficiency.
¶ Do's & Don't
Do's
- Understand the mission and vision first before making decisions.
- Understand both the advantages and disadvantages for better judgment.
- Figure out your position and individual assignment by understanding the big picture and your stage.
Don't
- Don’t think the project vision and background have thing to do with your job.
- Don’t be shy to ask! Better ask than be ignorant.
¶ Tools needed
System understanding is a process of understanding all kinds of Information, so the tools are related to all types of files in different formats. Here you can see the tools needed for various purposes: task management, mindmap editing, timeline management, file management, design, etc.
¶ Example
Here are some of the materials for system understanding when a project is about to start the development phase.
The development team is supposed to understand the project mission, the research synthesis, the scope and value proposition.
The concepts usually include the requirements, the target users, the touch points, platforms, and timeline
