Plan a party

There are several similarities (if you look for them) in planning/having a party and running a project. So it could be fun using the different tools you use in work when preparing a private party.
- Planning phase
You will get a wider variety of what is needed if you kick off the project with a brainstorm/plan session and sort out what is needed. Probably more people will get commited to the task as well more people helping allowing you to keep an easier pace and not be run to the ground on the big gala-night.
- Execution
During the planning, it would be great if the actions needed could be handed out to the participants.
- Test
Follow up calls regulary will work as some kind of test-round. Here you will have instant feedback on what have been missed. If you just follow up the final days before the event, much as in real-life, to many not-solved issued may surface to late.
- Release
This would be the event itself. Good planning and preparations will result in success.
- After work
This is probably seldom done in these kind of projects, but there are always things that pop-up during the "release" that you could be improved. If you spend half an hour during your hangover and pin down some notes you should be able to redo it all with less effort next time.

What project method to use is up to you, agile processes most certainly will work as well. Prepare each sprint about what needs to prepared first etc and evaluate them when done.


My lessons learned from a party last weekend:
- Make a strong welcome drink and make sure everyone (not drivers...) obtains it. It should not be anything left. -> People should relax as fast as possible...
- Any activity before settling at the table wich force people to interact will also help getting into "party-mode"
- In the planning, do not forget the cosy-improvers in the purchase list (candles, decorations)