Project Charter
Prepared by:
Stephen A. Vieira
Date issued:
January 27, 2010
Project Name:
Windows 7 Implementation
Project Number
200910 –User Services-P1
Project Overview:
The Community College of Rhode Island is a Microsoft operating system user like almost every higher
education institution in the country. Over the years, IT has transitioned from Windows 95 to XP to Vista and
now has the need to move to Windows 7 based upon faculty needing to provide a competitive teaching
environment.
A transition from any operating system to the next involves several factors. Each of these factors is equally
important and must be carefully analyzed before the migration begins. Hardware platforms in existence on
which the new operating system will be loaded are a key component. User Services must determine which
machines can accommodate the new operating system and which will need upgrades or replacements. In each
new operating system, there are peripheral; devices which also might not be compatible.
Naturally there is the issue of training and familiarity with the features of a new operating system which must
also be addressed. In most cases, it is extremely difficult to impact all the users who would be involved in a
system upgrade. Finally, the software imbedded in the current image is also prey to a new operating system and
whether it will continue to function as expected.
Reports on Windows 7 have been very positive. Of those institutions which have moved forward with the
migration, there have been very few issues. In fact, in most of our public facilities, the Vista software functions
quote well and if accurate, any Vista machines could easily be W7 computers.
A carefully planned but responsive migration must be made to Windows 7 during the spring 2010. Faculty and
instructors will be expecting to see this operating system in classrooms by the start of summer and be readily
available for summer classes.
Project Requirements:
Determine which hardware currently resident will not adapt to Windows 7
Determine which peripherals will not function with Windows 7
Replace hardware and peripherals which are not compatible
Acquire Windows 7 for all platforms, including dual-boot Macintoshes
Create Windows 7 images
Load images in classrooms and labs where determined by faculty/instructors
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Project Charter
Document Windows 7 for beginners
Web site for Windows 7 implementation
Communications Plan for Windows 7
Roll out Windows 7 Phase I
Assigned Project Manager, Authority and Responsibility:
Dawn Lewis – Project Manager
Organization, Authority and Stakeholders:
Coordination Areas
Primary Duties
Faculty & instructors
Adapt Windows 7 in instruction
User Services
Determine Windows7-compatibility; build image; load image
Help Desk
Prepare web site
CIO
Funding; resources
Constraints:
Windows 7 compatibility
Replacement cycle
Macintosh dual-boot labs
Faculty and instructor adoption
User services load testing
Help Desk documentation and web sites
Communications plan methodology
Assumptions:
Windows 7 compatibility
Image development successful
Faculty and instructor demand
Training is simple
Communication plan effective and widespread
Successful testing of pilot
Roll out on time for summer implementation
Summary resources, Budget and Milestone Schedule Estimates:
Milestone
Confidential
Target Date or
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Determine compatibility
Number of From
Approval
March 2010
Image development
April 2010
Pilot program
May 2010
Summer utilization
Summer 2010
Implementation
TBD
Initial Risk Assessment:
The major risk areas identified to date are given below along with a comment on a possible mitigation
strategy (to be expanded in more detail during the detailed project planning).
Major Risk
Windows 7
incompatibility
Faculty and
instructor rejection
Possible Mitigation
Large scale replacement or upgrades
Communication plan
ineffective
Training too difficult
Employ other means of communicating
Testing fails
Delay deployment
Confidential
Delay deployment
Delay deployment
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Project Charter Approval and Acceptance:
The signatures below indicate the undersigned have read and agreed to the contents of this Project Charter
and have thus given approval and acceptance for this project to be initiated.
Approval: Project Sponsor/Owner
Date
Acceptance: ITS Supervisor
Date
Confidential
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