Exhibition Stand Project Management Lifecycle

Although the purpose of project teams from different industries are wide and diverse, the same project management structure can be applied in order to organise the lifecycle of the project into distinct areas. The projects may play out over extremely different timescales but this guide will help the beginner organise the project in order to supply the required results

Projects are, typically initiated in response to a problem or an opportunity to improve a product or situation. Before the project can begin the problem or opportunity will need to be defined e.g. "We need to increase our profile within the industry" or "we need to find a more effective way to promote new products".

Once the problem has been defined, potential solutions will need to be investigated and a suitable solution identified and a decision made to implement the solution. Only then can the project life cycle begin.

The project life cycle consists of the following key phases:
'Initiation
'Specification
'Design
'Build
'Installation/implementation
'Operation and review

Initiation

This is the most important phase covering the setting of objectives, budgetting, getting the required approval and setting the terms of reference.

Specification

This area can be defined in character by the word 'WHAT?' - What does the customer want to acheive?; What equipment do they require?; What finishes are to be used?; What locations are involved?; What are the deadlines? etc.

We are not, at this stage concerned with the HOW?

Design

This is the stage where we start to ask HOW? Technical experts, designers, engineers, carpenters, AV consultants may need to be involved to help shape the design of the project. This phase may result in the production of a detailed specification, technical drawings, 3 dimensional visual, scale models or prototypes. Before we can move forward from this phase the design must be agreed with the customer.

Build

This is where the bricks are laid, the code is written, the brochures are printed; namely, this is where the waiting is over and we start to produce something.

Installation/Implementation

The project has been designed and built and, hopefully, if the project has been sucessfully managed thus far, will be as specified. It is important, however, to get acceptance from your client. This may well include a period of transition - after all project management is about the management of change; you can design and supply a new software system but it will need to installed, users trained, and perhaps computers upgraded. With reference to my own industry, the design and build of exhibition stands, the implementation phase may be as simple as handing over the keys of the store to the client and showing them where the light switch is!

Operation and Review

Once your project has been in use for a period of time, you may be lucky enough to find it works perfectly and everyone is happy - in which case this section will be concluded quickly and easily. If, however, there are problems or deficiencies with the project, new requirements will need to be identified and the project cycle begins again.


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Matthew Theobald has been involved in the design and production of exhibition stands for 2 decades and has run his large-format digital printing business in Maidenhead for the last 8 years.

http://www.exdisplay.co.uk