The project planning process
By Susan Ronning, P.E.

Project planning is often ignored in favor of doing the work. However, many people fail to realize how valuable the project plan is in saving time and money, increasing efficiencies, and reducing potential future headaches.

The project plan
As part of the internal project kick-off, project plans and the project schedule are developed.

The Human Resource Plan identifies by name the individuals and organizations with a leading role in the project. For each one, roles and responsibilities are described.

The Communications Plan documents who needs to be informed about which parts of the project, and how they will receive information. Continue Reading

Designing your new radio system
By Susan Ronning, P.E.

In a nutshell, the definition of a successfully designed radio system is one that that allows a user to talk to who they need to, where they need to, and when they need to.

The design phase includes three major project stages:

1. Needs analysis
2. Technical assessment
3. Preliminary design

1. Needs analysis
The needs analysis evaluates how and where the system is used today, what features and functions are working or not, and what is desired. It includes the following components: Continue Reading

The who, what, where? phase — getting your new radio system approved.
By Susan Ronning, P.E.

Radio system projects don’t just happen. They can take months, maybe years of planning and preparation. These projects tend to draw controversy, too, as replacement costs are significant and the impacts deep.

In simple terms, the first step in project engineering is to define the problem and develop goals to resolve them. Then, identify the tasks necessary to achieve those goals. Lastly, do the work! Before any tasks can be developed or the work can start, the project must first be approved, and that means addressing the “who?”, “what?” and “where?” questions. Continue Reading