Project Management

This blog is here to help me and others if they wish to remember a small part of what I have learned in Project Management. Most of the material I will post here is cited from the book Information Technology and Project Management fifth addition by Kathy Schwalbe.

Introduction to this chapter will give you a better understanding for Project Management. Objectives include:

• Understanding the growing needs of project management
• Explain what a project is and lists attributes of projects and triple constraints
• Discuss key elements of PM framework including project stakeholders, common tools
• Relationship between project, program, and portfolio management
• Understanding the role of the Project Manager
• History of Project Management and the importance of certifications and ethics

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is a project?

The term "project" is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. Often people get this confused with the operation of something, but they are different because in projects they have a ending when the objectives are reached, where a operations might be something that could go on forever.

Projects can be very large or small, they may involve one person or even as many as thousands. They can be done in one day or even take years to complete. Some examples of Information Technology Project Management includes help desk or technical worker, software developmental team, infrastructural issues, development of new systems and more.

A 2006 baseline magazine survey pf 1,440 executives list the top ten technology projects to be VoIP, outsourcing, data networking, customer relationship management, desktop upgrades, application performance management, business analytic, and compliance tracking. These are a wide variety of projects and and organizations rely on those technologies for their success.

Project Attributes

A project has a unique purpose: Every project should have a well defined objective. For example a project management office might sponsor an information technology collaboration project to devolop a list and initial analysis of potential information technology projects that might improve operations for the company. The unique purpose of this project would be to create a collaborative report with ideas from people throughout the company. Results would provide the basis for further discussions and projects.

A project is temporary and has a definite beginning and definite end. Information technology project someone might form a team of people to work immediately and get updates every so often.

A project is developed using progressive elaboration. Projects are often defined broadly when they begin, and time passes, the specific details of the project become clearer. Therefore , projects should be developed in increments. A project team should develop initial plans and then update them with more detail based on new information.

A project requires resources, often from various areas. Resources include people, hardware, software and other assets. Many projects cross departmental or other boundaries to achieve their unique purposes.
For the information technology collaboration project, people from information technology, marketing, sales, distribution, and other areas of the company would need to work together to develop ideas. A company might also hire outside consultants to provide input. Once the project team has selected key projects for implementation, they will require additional hardware, software, and network resources. People from other companies like product suppliers and consulting companies, these will become resources for meeting new project objectives. Resources are limited, they must be used effectively to meet project and other corporate goals.

A project should have a primary customer or sponsor. Most projects have many interested parties or stakeholders, but someone must take the primary role of sponsorship. The Project sponsor usually provides direction and funding for the project. The sponsors for those projects would be senior managers in charge of the main parts of the company affected by the projects. An effective project manager is crucial to a project's success. Project managers work with the sponsors, project team, and the other people involved in a project to meet the project goals.