I mostly deal with technical topics regarding fiber optic projects, but in addition to the technical aspects, it’s important to plan for project management. Recently, in discussing a large fiber optic network project with the people behind it, we started sketching out a timeline for the project, adding topics and subtopics as they flow in the project itself. The timeline below is what we sketched.

Note: The timeline is not to scale. Parts of the project can take days or weeks, others may take years! We’ll deal with that shortly.

A fiber optic project can be broken down into stages—planning, design, installation and operation—with various subtopics like the ones shown here. These stages operate in overlapping time frames and will have different timing depending on the size and complexity of the project plus the issues that can occur at various stages.

 For some projects, planning is the hardest part. It all begins with the need for communications services, but sometimes even that may not be clear to all interested parties. One project might involve nothing but fiber to the home, CATV or wireless smart cells, while another might be an open-access network intended for many service providers using the cable plant.

Next, the responsibility for the project needs to be assigned. This is easier on private projects, harder on public projects, and even more difficult on public/private partnerships. Approvals and funding can be real bottlenecks. Bidding and contracting sounds simple, but FOA is now getting calls for help where projects are finding it hard to get bidders because contractors are already so busy or cannot find sufficient workforce. 

Compared to planning, the design, installation and operation stages can be easy. They generally start when the hard part has already been done.

 Four important things to consider early in the project

Below the timeline, we have added four topics in red that should begin early in the planning stage and will continue throughout the whole project. Planning includes project management and continues throughout the project, which everyone realizes. The other three may not get as much attention as they deserve. 

We have seen many projects sidelined by bad public relations, especially those by the public sector such as municipal broadband networks. To support the project, the public needs to understand the project, including the features and benefits of the proposed network, especially when incumbent service providers begin well-funded campaigns opposing them. That has been the fate of many proposed networks over the years.

Planning and managing fiber optic projects require competent staff, who must be recruited early in the project. Experience with this kind of project is really important for anticipating issues before they become problems. Novice managers need to have advisors experienced with fiber optic projects to provide guidance.

One of the biggest problems today is finding workers and contractors to do the actual installation. Fiber optics is in need of a lot more competent workers, and it takes time to find them and get them trained. The focus should be on recruiting, setting up training programs and working with potential contractors where these newly trained recruits can get hired to work under experienced supervisors and continue learning through on-the-job training.

 Keeping track with the Gantt Chart

The most common way to track projects is the Gantt Chart, a chart of activities that tracks the progress of projects along a timeline. Each activity is represented by a bar, and the position and length of the bar represents the starting date and duration of the activity. This allows you to see what activities are needed for the project, and when the activities start and end, so it can be used to track the progress of the project visually.

Here is what a Gantt Chart for a fiber project might look like:

This Gantt Chart above is simply the timeline from earlier converted to a Gantt Chart using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. You can download a copy of the FOA Gantt Chart spreadsheet and use it to create your own Gantt Chart for any project. All you have to do is to input your own data and change the activity names as necessary. Microsoft also offers directions for creating your own version.

A well thought-out and constantly updated Gantt Chart can tell everyone the status of a project in a glance.