How do you manage software installation customization projects with multiple stakeholders and dependencies?

I like to follow ITIL for this, it makes you have to gather the requirements, I usually create a requirements document at this stage, then from that document move on to a design. At each step of the way I get buy in from the parties mentioned above.

To manage software installation customization projects, clearly define the scope and requirements. Understand client needs, software capabilities, constraints, and stakeholder roles. Document everything in a project charter, and secure stakeholder approval to proceed.

Develop a project plan that outlines the timeline, milestones, deliverables, and dependencies. This should include a detailed project schedule and resource plan.

Because I follow ITIL and its circular way of working, the normal project plan does not really work well. MSProject is too clunky, and it does not work well with ITIL. I would look at something that is maybe more Agile, with maybe a bit of Scrum thrown in. I would use a tool that makes it easier to move between each of these types of project management styles.

Once you have sign off on the design, you build, it may not have ot be the whole thing yet, that depends on the deadlines and such, but you can if possible build something that you can show the Stake Holders, as well as the testers (testers are usually end users that use the thing you are installing) to see if it looks like you have a good understanding of your deliverable. If not you go back to requirements and Design and change the way you were heading.

If it is a large deployment a whole project plan should be created for the rollout, this should start small and mainly hit the major users of the software, that way they can do more testing, and if they run into an issue, you can roll them back, and start at requirements again to fix the issue. After you have your super users done, then you can in waves roll out to the rest of the users.

For software customization, deploy and monitor effectively. Follow a detailed deployment plan, prepare a rollback strategy, and monitor performance to address issues swiftly.

As a deployment developer/software customization engineer, I would rarely know what the software I was working on really did. You tend to rely on your super users and Stake Holders to know what they are doing, and create the training. If I created any documentation it would be on the lines of instructions to build in a software delivery platform, maybe instructions on installing manually, and of course rolling it back either through the deployment system or manually.

Post-deployment, provide training and support for software customization. Offer user manuals, tutorials, and help desk support. Gather feedback to enhance future customizations.

While communicating with stakeholders in both written and live situations, it is important to keep in mind the experience and abilities of the stakeholders and speak to them in the appropriate voice.