Getting Started:  Defining your Project

• model for improvement
• quality improvement project charters
• project execution

Project Execution

The GANTT, or time-task chart is a standard tool in project management.  The work of the project is broken down to key tasks and the Gantt chart specifies the order of tasks, start and stop dates, and who is responsible for each task. 

QI teams may wish to budget time for the following key tasks:

• development of project charter
• creation of a measurement plan
• analysis of the system
• improvement – PDSA cycles
• follow-up activities (e.g. reporting to management, writing up report, or planning for spread of the initiative to other sites)
  

In the improvement - PDSA cycles phase, the project will likely have multiple "ramps" of PDSA cycles, each ramp testing out different variations and combinations of related change ideas. 

Example: Time-Task Chart for Project to Reduce Congestive Heart Failure Readmissions to Hospital



An alternative tool for project execution is the IHI Project Planning Form. 
www.ihi.org/IHI/Topics/Improvement/ImprovementMethods/Tools/Project+Planning+Form.htm