12

  • Introductory Project Concepts

    Project characteristics
    Triple constraint
    Project stakeholders
    Project success / risk factors
    Project manager skills / role

    Project Management and IT context

    Systems view – systems approach – systems philosophy, systems analysis and systems management.

    3 sphere model for systems management (business, organisation, technology)

    Stakeholder management and top management role in project success.

    project life cycle and software development process

    Diverse nature of IT projects

    Stage gates, delivering a project in incremental iterations, methodologies, e.g. waterfall, spiral, XP, PPDIOO, scrum etc.

    Organisational structure – Functional, Project, Matrix – and implications for project management.

    Standards in software project management, PRINCE2

    5 project management process groups:
    project initiation,
    project planning,
    project execution,
    project monitoring and controlling,
    project closing.

    Strategic Planning and Project Selection

    SWOT analysis,

    Financial analysis of competing projects – Average gross annual rate of return, NPV, ROI, Payback, IRR

    Project Scope Management

    WBS,
    work package specifications,
    Gantt charts.

    Project Time Management

    Network activity diagrams, critical path(s), float table, milestones.

    Using the critical path to shorten a schedule – crashing, fast tracking. Project buffers.

    Risk Management

    Risk Identification and Analysis

    Risk management strategies
    Information security

    Importance of risk management, positive and negative risks, response strategies for negative risk (risk avoidance, risk mitigation (reduction), risk transference, risk acceptance, contingency planning), risk register, probability/impact risk analysis, risk response strategies for positive risks (risk exploitation, risk sharing, risk enhancement, risk acceptance).

    Information security including client data protection.

  • Quality Management

    Quality Management Frameworks

    Quality Planning

    Importance of quality management, quality planning, quality assurance, quality control, including techniques, e.g. cause and effect diagram (Ishikawa), CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) model.

    Testing – importance and role. Types of testing – unit, integration, system, acceptance testing.

    Project Procurement Management

    Understand the importance of project procurement management and the increasing use of outsourcing for information technology (IT) projects

    Project procurement management: Acquiring goods and services for a project from outside the performing organization.

    Processes include:
    Planning procurement management:
    Conducting procurements
    Controlling procurements and
    Closing procurements

    Closing Procurements

    Involves completing and settling contracts and resolving any open items

    The project team should:
    Determine if all work was completed correctly and satisfactorily
    Update records to reflect final results
    Archive information for future use

    The contract itself should include requirements for formal acceptance and closure

  • Project Stakeholder Management

    Understand the importance of project stakeholder management throughout the life of a project
    Discuss the process of identifying stakeholders,
    stakeholder register
    Project stakeholder management process

    Project Stakeholder Management Processes

    Identifying stakeholders: Identifying everyone involved in the project or affected by it, and determining the best ways to manage relationships with them.

    Planning stakeholder management: Determining strategies to effectively engage stakeholders

    Managing stakeholder engagement: Communicating and working with project stakeholders to satisfy their needs and expectations, resolving issues, and fostering engagement in project decisions and activities

    Controlling stakeholder engagement: Monitoring stakeholder relationships and adjusting plans and strategies for engaging stakeholders as needed

    Name Position Internal/External Project Role Contact Information
    Stephen VP of Operations Internal Project sponsor stephen@globaloil.com
    Betsy CFO Internal Senior manager, approves funds betsy@globaloil.com
    Chien CIO Internal Senior manager, PM's boss chien@globaloil.com
    Ryan IT Analyst Internal Team member ryan@globaloil.com
    Lori Director, Accounting Internal Senior manager lori@globaloil.com
    Sanjay Director, Refineries Internal Senior manager of largest refinery sanjay@globaloil.com
    Debra Consultant External Project manager debra@gmail.com
    Suppliers Suppliers External Supply software suppliers@gmail.com
    Table 13-1. Sample Stakeholder Register

    Professional Issues in IT Projects

    Data Protection Act 1998,
    Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Act 2000, Ethical Issues.
    Computer Misuse Act,
    employee and employer law,
    Professional Codes of Conduct