How can you align your aviation project with overall business strategy?

1 Define the project scope and objectives

The first step to align your aviation project with your business strategy is to clearly define the project scope and objectives. The project scope describes what the project will deliver, what it will not deliver, and what are the boundaries and constraints of the project. The project objectives describe what the project will achieve, how it will measure success, and how it will support the business goals and vision. You should use tools such as the project charter, the scope statement, and the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to define the project scope and objectives and communicate them to all the project stakeholders.

2 Conduct a stakeholder analysis

The next step to align your aviation project with your business strategy is to conduct a stakeholder analysis. A stakeholder analysis is a process of identifying and prioritizing the people or groups that have an interest or influence on the project, and understanding their needs, expectations, and perspectives. You should use tools such as the stakeholder register, the power-interest matrix, and the stakeholder engagement plan to conduct a stakeholder analysis and plan how to engage and communicate with each stakeholder group throughout the project lifecycle. By conducting a stakeholder analysis, you can ensure that your aviation project meets the needs and expectations of your customers, partners, sponsors, team members, and other key stakeholders, and that you can manage their feedback and issues effectively.

3 Align the project strategy with the business strategy

The third step to align your aviation project with your business strategy is to align the project strategy with the business strategy. The project strategy describes how the project will achieve its objectives and deliver its scope, and how it will align with the business strategy. The business strategy describes the long-term direction and goals of the organization, and how it will create and sustain a competitive advantage in the market. You should use tools such as the strategic alignment model, the balanced scorecard, and the SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) to align the project strategy with the business strategy and ensure that your aviation project supports the strategic priorities and values of your organization.

4 Plan and execute the project activities

The fourth step to align your aviation project with your business strategy is to plan and execute the project activities. The project activities are the tasks and actions that need to be performed to deliver the project scope and achieve the project objectives. You should use tools such as the work breakdown structure, the network diagram, the Gantt chart, and the critical path method to plan and schedule the project activities and allocate the resources, time, and budget for each activity. You should also use tools such as the risk register, the change log, the quality plan, and the communication plan to manage the risks, changes, quality, and communication of the project activities and ensure that they are performed according to the project standards and expectations.

5 Monitor and control the project performance

The fifth step to align your aviation project with your business strategy is to monitor and control the project performance. The project performance is the measurement and evaluation of the project progress, results, and outcomes against the project objectives, scope, and strategy. You should use tools such as the performance measurement baseline, the earned value management, the dashboard, and the status report to monitor and control the project performance and identify any deviations, issues, or problems that may affect the project success. You should also use tools such as the issue log, the corrective action plan, the lessons learned register, and the feedback survey to resolve any issues, implement any corrective actions, capture any lessons learned, and collect any feedback from the project stakeholders.

6 Close the project and evaluate the project value

The sixth and final step to align your aviation project with your business strategy is to close the project and evaluate the project value. The project closure is the process of finalizing and completing all the project activities, deliverables, and documents, and formally closing the project. The project value is the assessment and measurement of the benefits and impacts that the project has delivered to the organization, the customers, and the partners. You should use tools such as the project closure checklist, the project acceptance form, the project evaluation report, and the benefit realization plan to close the project and evaluate the project value and ensure that your aviation project has met or exceeded the expectations and requirements of your business strategy.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?