Basic of Project and Project Management Presentation

Basic of Project and Project Management

Presentation

Definitions

System – packaged hardware and software

Platform software – Operating System Infrastructure software – other servers,

middleware, utilities Application – custom software Project – a measurable process to build

systems

Project attributes

Special activity that it is a temporary organization it has some particular goal the result must be clearly determined in advance it has a specified time frame it requires assembled resources It has a pre-defined approach to how the result may

be achieved

Projects Need to be Managed

Benefits from project based approach

Following methodology ensures that no steps are missed

Detailed blueprint makes all the project team members more productive

Identification of specific responsibilities reduces confusion between team members

Definition of constraints increase the likelihood of staying within the project constraints (time, budget)

Having milestones simplifies project monitoring Early identification of deviations enables early correction

Project is successful when

It is completed in time It comes in at or below planned

expenditures It meets the specifications and the

deliverables are accepted by end users or assigned authority

Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

What Helps Projects Succeed?*

1. Executive support

2. User involvement

3. Experienced project manager

4. Clear business objectives

5. Minimized scope

6. Standard software infrastructure

7. Firm basic requirements

8. Formal methodology

9. Reliable estimates

10. Other criteria, such as small milestones, proper planning, competent staff, and ownership

*The Standish Group, “Extreme CHAOS,” (2001).

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Project Management Processes

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Project stakeholders

Stakeholder – anyone (individuals, or groups) who is affected by the project development

Example: Obvious:

Users Developers

Less obvious: Legal department Information security department Customer relationships department

System development tasks and roles

Business Analyst – provide the team with concise and accurate knowledge of the business

Database Architect – designing and building databases Document Architect – creates all documentation required to support

the system Infrastructure Architect – design, build, and monitors the development

and implementation infrastructures Object Architect (Designer) – create object models Object Developer (Programmer) – builds the application from object

models Project Manager – controls the scope, directs the team, monitors

issues, institutes change control, and conducts project status reporting

System development tasks and roles

Project Sponsor – sets strategic direction, selects Business Area Experts, makes the final decision for all cost-related issues

Release Manager – controls current release deliverables and sign off to production

Tester – develops test plan and implement testing Trainer – creates training curriculum, provides training material,

trains users User – business representatives to use the system


The Project Management Triangle

Successful project management means meeting all three goals (scope, time, and cost) – and satisfying the project’s sponsor!

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Project Management Job Functions

Define scope of the project Identify stakeholders, decision makers, and escalation

procedures Develop detailed tasks list (Work Breakdown Structure) Identify interdependencies Estimate time requirements Identify and evaluate risks Identify and track critical milestones Report project status


Ten Most Important Skills and Competencies for Project Managers

1. People skills2. Leadership3. Listening4. Integrity, ethical behavior, consistent5. Strong at building trust6. Verbal communication7. Strong at building teams8. Conflict resolution, conflict management9. Critical thinking, problem solving10. Understands, balances priorities

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Project Documentation

Project Management Documents Technical Documents

Project Management Documents

Project Charter, including: Communication Plan Risks management Issues Management Escalation procedures Others

Project Plan Issues Log Decisions log

Technical Documents

Business Requirements Functional Requirements Non-Functional Requirements Detailed Technical Requirements Architectural Solution Design Solution Testing Plan

A WBS is a deliverable-oriented grouping of the work involved in a project that defines the total scope of the project

WBS is a foundation document that provides the basis for planning and managing project schedules, costs, resources, and changes

Decomposition is subdividing project deliverables into smaller pieces

A work package is a task at the lowest level of the WBS

Creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

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Figure 5-6. Intranet Gantt Chart Organized by Project Management Process Groups

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Using guidelines: some organizations, like the DOD, provide guidelines for preparing WBSs

The analogy approach: review WBSs of similar projects and tailor to your project

The top-down approach: start with the largest items of the project and break them down

The bottom-up approach: start with the specific tasks and roll them up

Approaches to Developing WBSs

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The Project Management Institute

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is an international professional society for project managers founded in 1969

PMI has continued to attract and retain members, reporting 225,432 members worldwide by 12/31/06

There are specific interest groups in many areas like engineering, financial services, health care, IT, etc.

Project management research and certification programs continue to grow

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