astering IT Projects
Course Description:
Information Technology (IT) projects possess unique project management challenges. This course focuses on how you can best apply project management fundamentals to these projects through effective requirements definition and management, planning and scheduling, as well as ways to identify, analyze, and manage the risks associated with these projects.
The course discusses techniques for determining resource requirements, ways to best work with vendors and contractors, and methods to track and control the project. It emphasizes what must be done to complete your IT projects on schedule, within budget, and according to performance specifications to ensure client satisfaction.
In the challenging and ever changing IT environment, a disciplined project management approach is required. Project management is a formal discipline, increasingly recognized by more and more organizations, and is one of the fastest growing professions in today’s service, product development, and manufacturing industries. Project management is both an art and a science; an art because it requires skills, tact and finesse to manage people, and a science because it demands an in-depth knowledge of technical tools.
Mastering IT Projects provides a structured approach to project management. This four-day course uses project management fundamentals and applies them as appropriate to IT projects. This course uses industry best practices to teach the latest tools and techniques. It covers the key concepts in managing a project from its initiation to final closeout, discussing the project management processes in an organized framework.
The course is consistent with the knowledge areas of the Project Management Institutes’ Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 2000 Edition (known as the PMBOK® Guide). The course consists of thirteen units, which provide a comprehensive presentation of project management for IT projects.
The thirteen units and their subtopics are as follows:
Unit 1.Project Management Overview. Definitions. Project Management Applications. Why Firms Invest in IT. Motivation for IT Project Management. Project Management Advantages. History of Project Management. Triple Constraint. Knowledge Areas and Processes. Project Life Cycle. Stakeholders. Project Management Profession. Project Success.
Unit 2.Project Initiation. Initiation Process. Identifying Potential IT Projects. Requirements. Objectives. Requirements Analysis and Management. Requirements Specification. Requirements Traceability Matrix. Requirements
Allocation. Project Charter.
Unit 3.Methodologies and Models. A Systems View. Product and Project Life Cycles. SDLC Models. Unified Process. Development Technologies. IT PM Methodology.
Unit 4.Planning, Scheduling, and Estimating. Planning Process. Importance of Planning. Scope Statement. Statements of Work, Planning. Work Breakdown Structure. Network Diagramming Methods. Schedule. Critical Path. PERT. Estimating Guidelines, Factors to Consider, Estimating Guidelines and Challenges. Methodologies. Cost Budgeting. Basic Principles of Cost Management.
Unit 5.Effective IT Teams. Organizational Planning. Organizational Structures.
Virtual Teams. Roles and Responsibilities. Responsibility Assignment Matrix.
Managing IT Professionals. Team Development, Conflict Resolution. Professional Responsibility.
Unit 6.Project Risk Management. Definitions of Risk. Risk Management Planning. Risk Identification. Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Analysis. Risk Response
Strategies. Risk Monitoring and Control.
Unit 7. Project Monitoring and Control. Baselines, Project Reporting. Project Reviews.
Variances. Earned Value. Replanning. Change Control.
Unit 8. Unique Challenges of Infrastructure Projects. Evolution of Computing Solutions. Mainframe Environment. Client/Server Systems. Network Protocols. Wireless Applications. Estimating Challenges. Netcentric Computing.
Unit 9. Unique Challenges of E-Business Projects. Characteristics. E-Business and Traditional Projects. Project Management Concerns. Key Areas of Focus. Risk Factors. Role of the Customer. Hardware, Software, and Networks. System and Security. Advertising and Marketing. Operations and Maintenance. A Collaborative Approach. Tracking Issues. Closeout Concerns.
Unit 10. Unique Challenges of Software Projects. Software Eras. Characteristics. Typical Management Problems. Developmental Concerns. Software Cost Estimating. Software Metrics. Software Quality Assurance Plan. SEI Models.
Unit 11. Unique Challenges of Systems Integration Projects. Definition. Project Life Cycle. States of System Integration. Project Management for Systems Integration. Myths and Reality. Project Challenges. Architecture and Technology Strategy. Integration and Testing. Implementation Approaches. Monitoring and Control.
Unit 12. Project Closeout. Closeout Objectives. Procedures. Responsibilities. Lessons
Learned.
Class participants will receive a copy of Kathy Schwalbe’s text, Information Technology Project Management, Second Edition.
Course Objectives:
Objectives are to: apply project management concepts to IT projects; develop IT project plans; determine which methodologies will be the most successful for your environment, identify, assess, and manage risks; estimate IT projects using various techniques; work effectively with all project stakeholders; establish baselines and handle changes in project scope throughout the project life cycle; monitor and control project status; anticipate problems and implement contingency plans; and document lessons learned.
Expectations of the Students:
This is a four-day course of intensive study and no absences are permitted. There are three practice examinations, one covering each day, and a 50 question, multiple–choice final exam. Thirty-five questions must be answered correctly to pass the course. The course includes several group exercises, individual exercises, and facilitated discussions. It is expected that the students will participate fully in all the learning activities.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Develop project plans
Prepare a project charter
Develop project Work Breakdown Structures
Identify advantages and disadvantages of different systems development models
Employ scheduling techniques
Prepare a project schedule
Identify the critical path
Identify advantages and disadvantages of project organizational structures
Recognize the roles and responsibilities of project stakeholders
Manage project conflicts
Use different estimating methodologies
Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks
Develop a risk management plan
Establish baselines
Manage changes to project scope throughout the project life cycle
Use earned value techniques
Monitor progress and update the project plan using multiple techniques
Recognize the strengths and weaknesses of capability maturity models
Establish software project metrics and a measurement program
Explain the challenges associated with hardware, telecom, and systems integration projects
Close a project and capture lessons learned
PMBOK® Areas:
Project Integration Management / / Project Cost Management / / Project Communications Management / Project Scope Management / / Project Quality Management / Project Risk Management /
Project Time Management / / Project Human Resources Management / / Project Procurement Management
Duration: 4 Days
Unit / Schwalbe ReadingsDay 1
/Project Management Overview
/ Chapter 1, pp. 37-47Project Initiation
/ pp. 85-98, Chapter 12Methodologies and Models
/ pp. 25-31, 48-51Day 2
/Project Planning, Scheduling and Estimating
/ pp. 62-68, 98-107, Chapter 5, pp. 158-170, Chapter 13Effective IT Project Teams
/ pp. 34-37, Chapter 8, pp. 280-291, pp. 403-410Day 3
/Project Risk Management
/ Chapter 10Project Monitoring and Control
/ pp. 71-74, 107-109, 175-183, 272-278, Chapter 15Unique Challenges of Infrastructure Projects
Day 4
/Unique Challenges of E-Business Projects
Unique Challenges of Software Projects
/ pp. 217-220Unique Challenges of System Integration Projects
Project Closeout
/ pp. 279, 352, Chapter 16AGENDA
DAY ONE – MORNING
INTRODUCTION
Objectives
Introductions
Course Plan
PM OVERVIEW
Objectives
Definitions
Project Management Applications
Why Firms Invest in IT
Motivation for IT Project Management
History of Project Management
Triple Constraint
Project Management Knowledge Areas
Project Management Processes
Project Life Cycle
Stakeholders
Project Management Profession
Project Success
Group Activity: Project Management Issues
PROJECT INITIATION
Objectives
Initiation Process
Developing Requirements
Establishing Objectives
Requirements Analysis and Management Process
Requirements Specification
Requirements Traceability Matrix
Requirements Allocation
DAY ONE – AFTERNOON
PROJECT INITIATION (Continued)
Group Activity: Goodness of Requirements
Project Charter
Assigning the Project Manager
Constraints and Assumptions
Group Activity: Project Charter
METHODOLOGIES AND MODELS
Objectives
A Systems View of Project Management
Product and Project Life Cycles
SDLC Models
Linear Sequential
Prototyping
Rapid Application Development
Evolutionary
Informal Methods
Selecting a Model
Unified Process
Development Technologies
IT PM Methodology
Group Activity: Models and Methodologies
DAY TWO -- MORNING
Sample Test Questions from Day One and Review of the Day Two Agenda
PROJECT PLANNING, SCHEDULING, AND ESTIMATING
Objectives
Planning Processes
The Importance of Planning
Contents of a Project Plan
Scope Statement
Statement of Work
Work Breakdown Structure
Control Account and Work Package
Building a WBS
WBS Guidelines
WBS Dictionary
Group Activity: WBS Case Study
Project Network Diagram
WBS and Network Schedules
Diagramming and Scheduling Tools
Arrow Diagramming Method
Precedence Diagramming Method
Individual Activity: Calculating the Critical Path
Lead and Lag Times
Precedence Relationships
Imposed Dates
Gantt Charts
Milestones and Milestone Charts
PERT
Calculating Duration with PERT
PERT Advantages and Disadvantages
DAY TWO – AFTERNOON
PROJECT PLANNING, SCHEDULING, AND ESTIMATING (Continued)
Group Activity: Network Diagram Case Study
Challenges in IT Cost Estimating
Estimating Guidelines
Factors to Consider
Estimating Pitfalls
Types of Estimates
Estimating Methodologies
Cost Estimating Outputs
Cost Budgeting
Basic Principles of Cost Management
Group Activity: Estimating Case Study
EFFECTIVE IT PROJECT TEAMS
Objectives
Organizational Planning
Organizational Structures
Functional
Projectized
Matrix
Virtual Teams
Project Stakeholders
Roles and Responsibilities
Responsibility Assignment Matrix
Managing IT Professionals
Building a Winning Team
Conflict Management
Individual Activity: Conflict Management
Conflict Resolution
Professional Responsibility
Group Activity: Conflict Management Case Study
DAY THREE – MORNING
Sample Test Questions from Day Two and Review of the Day Three Agenda
PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT
Objectives
Risk Management Processes
Risk and the Project Life Cycle
Risk Management Planning
Risk Identification
Qualitative Risk Analysis
Quantitative Risk Analysis
Categories of Decision Making
Group Activity: Expected Value
Risk Impact Assessment
Risk Quantification Guidelines
Risk Prioritization Techniques
Risk Response Planning
House of Risk Management
Risk Monitoring and Control
Group Activity: Risk Management Case Study
PROJECT MONITORING AND CONTROL
Objectives
Project Control Processes
Baselines
Project Reporting
Project Reviews
Variances
Earned Value
Individual Exercise: Calculating Planned and Earned Value
Cost Variance
Schedule Variance
Performance Indicators
Individual Activity: CPI and SPI Calculations
DAY THREE – AFTERNOON
PROJECT MONITORING AND CONTROL (Continued)
Objectives
Project Control Processes
Baselines
Project Reporting
Project Reviews
Variances
Earned Value
Individual Exercise: Calculating Planned and Earned Value
Cost Variance
Schedule Variance
Performance Indicators
Individual Activity: CPI and SPI Calculations
Other Earned Value Measures
Earned Value and Progress Reporting
Why Change Occurs
Managing Change
Integrated Change Control Process
Change Control on IT Projects
Replanning
Group Activity: Monitoring and Control Case Study
UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Objectives
Evolution of Computing Solutions
Changing Mainframe Environment
Distributed Systems
Client/Server Systems
Advantages and Disadvantages
Network Protocols
Project Control Tools
Estimating Challenges
CPU Load
Memory Estimates
Response Time
Netcentric Computing
Framework and Architectures
The Importance of Security
Security Risk Assessment
Convergence: Computing, Communications, Knowledge
Group Activity: Infrastructure Case Study
DAY FOUR – MORNING
Sample Test Questions from Day Three and Review of the Day Four Agenda
UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF E-BUSINESS PROJECTS
Objectives
Importance of E-Business Projects
E-Business Characteristics
E-Business and Traditional Projects
Strategies
Project Management Concerns
Intranet, Internet, Extranet
Risk Factors
The Role of the Customer
E-Business Models
Architecture Concerns and Process
Hardware and Software Evaluations
Application Frameworks
System and Security
Network Architecture
Metrics
Advertising and Marketing
Operations and Maintenance
A Collaborative Approach
Tracking E-Business Projects
Project Closeout Issues
Group Activity: E-Business Case Study
UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF SOFTWARE PROJECTS
Objectives
Software Eras
Characteristics
Key Project Differences
Development Environment Challenges
Impact of Poor Requirements
Software Cost Estimating
Lines of Code
Function Points
COCOMO
Establishing Software Metrics
Software Quality Assurance Plan
Individual Activity: Metrics
DAY FOUR -- AFTERNOON
UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF SOFTWARE PROJECTS (Continued)
Overview of the SEI
Software Capability Maturity Model
Key Process Areas
Goals
Common Features
Undertaking an SEI Assessment
SEI Statistics and Status
Strengths and Weaknesses
People Capability Maturity Model
Systems Acquisition Capability Maturity Model
Systems Engineering Capability Maturity Model
Integrated Capability Maturity Model
UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF SYSTEM INTEGRATION PROJECTS
Objectives
Definition
Systems Integration Project Life Cycle
States of Systems Integration
Project Management for Systems Integration
Myths and Reality
Risk Management
Systems Integration Process
Architecture Considerations
System Sustaining Effort
System Benefit Audit
Differences in Systems Integration Project Management
Project Planning
Systems Design
Acquisition and Development
Integration and Testing
Implementation Approaches
Monitoring and Control
Group Activity: Systems Integration Case Study
PROJECT CLOSEOUT
Objectives
Contract Closeout
Administrative Closure
Closeout Objectives
Stakeholders Involved
Project Manager Responsibilities
Guidelines for a Successful Closeout
For Future Success
EXAM AND EVALUATION
1