Project managers strive to reduce risk in their projects. They can do this in a variety of ways, including risk assessments, historical data on similar projects, and thorough planning. While issues will inevitably arise in any project, the better identified and controlled they are, the less of a problem they will be.
But what about the
project as a whole? Will it be successful? Is it going to be cost-effective and
completed in a timely manner? Outside of the possibility of something going
wrong, there are so many questions. How can a project manager, so to speak,
test the waters to see if the project is even feasible?
A pilot study can
help with this. You've probably heard it called a pilot project, a pilot test,
or even a pilot experiment. Consider it a taste test to see if you'll want to
eat the entire meal. It's a small step for a project to ensure that the larger
journey is worthwhile.
What Is a Pilot Study?
A pilot study is a
small-scale project designed to evaluate the feasibility, duration, cost, and
risks of a larger project. Improvements to the larger project's performance can
be made as a result of this research.
The benefits of a
pilot study are self-evident. Why squander time, effort, and money on a project
that will inevitably fail? With a pilot study, it is possible to determine
whether the project is worthwhile. It's a small investment up front that could
save you a lot of money in the long run.
It's also a great way to find flaws in project design that would be expensive to fix once the project is fully operational. Those flaws, on the other hand, could be redesigned prior to the full-scale project's execution, adding efficiencies that would make the entire process more productive.
A pilot study's findings are priceless, and it's well worth the effort, money, and time. They can reveal hidden pitfalls, items that are missing from the plan, and more. All of this saves money in the long run and paves the way for a better outcome.
How to
Run a Pilot Study?
Each project feature or activity must be included in the
pilot study. The project should be broken down into tasks that are then tested.
However, this will speak to the project's overall feasibility. It's also a good
idea to look for historical data from other companies or organizations that
have case studies relevant to the project you're about to start. After that,
follow these six steps to carry out a successful pilot study.
1.
Have a Clear Goal
2.
Determine the Duration
3.
Create a Study Group
4.
Have an Onboarding Plan
5.
Get Feedback
6.
Address Issues
Want to learn more insights on the same? Go through the project management courses online.
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