Project Sizing Guideline 7 March 2014

Project Sizing Guideline

Purpose
This Project Sizing Guideline assists in determining the size of a Project. The aim of sizing a
project is to determine the minimum level of project management documentation and
governance required to enable the projects success.

Guideline- Sizing attributes
1. Budget
The following scale is used to determine the budgetary effort required for a project.
Note: The budget rating scale does not apply to construction projects
Budgetary Effort Rating Scale
1 2 3
Budget <100K 100K 500K >500K

2. Complexity
Complexity is determined by the level of interdependency with other projects and systems.
Note: Links to other systems or projects should be verified with Information Technology Services
(ITS).
Complexity Rating Scal e
1 2 3 4
Level of
interdependency
No links to
other systems
or projects
A few links to
other systems
or projects
Moderate links
to other
systems or
projects
High links to
other systems


Project Sizing Guideline 7 March 2014
3. Organisational alignment
Al ignment Rating Scal e
1 2
Operational / Tactically aligned to
solve a particular business need
or problem.
Strategically aligns to the ANU by 2020 strategy
for Effective Organisation, incorporating one or
more of the following attributes.
- Excellence in Research
- Excellence in Education
- Excellence as a National Policy Resource
- World Class Staff
- Inspired Students
- Engaged Alumni
- National and International Outreach
- Embedded Access and Equity
- Effective Organisation
- High Quality Infrastructure

4. Stakeholder relationships
Stakeholder relationships are determined by the number of groups who will be affected by the
project in some way, whether directly or indirectly. The following scale is used to determine the
relationships of a project.
Stakeholder Relationships Rating Scal e
1 2 3 4
Targeted
Audience
Small subset
(within one
group or
function)
Medium subset
(multiple groups
or functions of
the ANU and/or
external entities)
Large subset
(larger portions
of the ANU plus
multiple
external
entities)
Large group (the
entire ANU plus
external entities)

5. Risk
Evaluate the risk to the projects success and the risk to the ANU of undertaking or not
undertaking the project.
Risk
Impact 1 2 3
Legal,
operational,
financial or
reputational
Low
Minimal risk (can
manage using
routine
procedures).
Moderate
Significant risks (can
manage using standard
risk management plan).
High
Major risks (requires
senior management
sign-off on risk
management plan.


Project Sizing Guideline 7 March 2014
Assessment of size
1. If the majority of parameters fall in the upper end of the attribute scale (e.g. 3) then the
project should be determined as large in size. The exception to this is the alignment rating
scale. A score of 2 would categorise the project as medium or large.
2. If the majority of parameters fall in the lower end of the attribute scale (e.g. 1) then the
project should be determined as small in size.
3. Project scores that fall in between the measures suggested above, maybe rated as
medium in size.
4. It is important to focus on the project as a whole, not on the individual elements of the
project.
5. Interdependencies in terms of the links that the project team will need to form and how this
is going to impact management of the project, should be considered.
6. Consider all risk aspects of the project combined when determining the impact rating.
7. Remember that the aim of sizing your project is to determine the minimum level of project
management documentation and governance required to enable the projects success.

Project Sizing Assessment Grid
Please see example values for a project, defined below (highlighted in red).


















Assessment of size- the majority of parameters fall in the upper end of the attributes scale.
Result = Medium project
Category Budget

Complexity

Organisational
alignment

Stakeholder
relationships

Risk

Description Budgetary
effort required
for a project
Level of
interdependenc
y with other
projects and
systems
Alignment Rating
Scale,
Operational /
Strategic
Number of
groups who will
be affected by
the project
directly or
indirectly
Legal,
operational,
financial or
reputational
Measure 1= <100K, 2=
100K 500K,
3=>500K
1= No links,
2= A few links,
3=Moderate
links
1= Operational /
Tactically to
solve a business
need 2=
Strategically
focused ANU
2020
1= Small subset,
2= Medium, 3=
Large, 4= Large
Entire ANU plus
external entities
1= Low,
2= Moderate,
3= High
This Project
sizing
assessment
1 2 2 2 2
Project Size
Attribute Scale
3 Large,
2= Medium or
Large, 1= Small
Overall
Assessment
of this Project
Score: 2

Project Size:
Medium