Lecture 3: Chapter 2 _ ITPM _ Developing Project Plan

IT Project Management : Chapter 2 _ Developing Project Plan

Lecture 3  - MPhil (IT)

In this lecture we discuss the basic of Project and Project management process. The key focus of this chapter is on Developing  Project Plan.
Planning for an IT project covers coordination of management activities, phases, scheduling, timetables, and staffing. It includes the delegation of duties and responsibilities, exploration of modern technology, and system efforts in an organization. The plan focuses on integration of system hardware and software engineering and reengineering goals and principles throughout an organization. The plan also includes adoption of a reuse approach to a system's development and maintenance throughout the life cycle.

IT Project Planning

The IT project manager establishes a team that provides guidance in formalizing project planning. In Figure 1−5, only 8% of the total resources are allocated for the study and planning phase. One of the guidance criteria is to establish system infrastructure and architecture and a reuse plan and standard at early stages. Most of the hardware components are industry standard and reusable. The manager must identify the domain and evaluate and procure a limited amount of hardware, software, and computer−aided software engineering (CASE) tools necessary to support the software reuse activities. The manager must establish a system reuse dialog among the practitioners and continue to educate them in system reuse that changes the mindset from stovepipe development to domain development. The project manager allocates separate resources for these phases.
Planning for an IT project covers coordination of management activities, phases, scheduling, timetables, and staffing. It includes the delegation of duties and responsibilities, exploration of modern technology, and system efforts in an organization. The plan focuses on integration of system hardware and software engineering and reengineering goals and principles throughout an organization. The plan also includes adoption of a reuse approach to a system's development and maintenance throughout the life cycle.

Establishing Project Objectives

As part of planning, the manager must establish the project objectives, which should include scope, constraints, and assumptions. The scope consists of boundaries and contours that shape the project. Constraints are the limitations of the project environment. Assumptions may be based on guarantees of assistance in completing the project. The objectives included within management planning should be strategic, tactical, and operational. The strategy planning reflects the project goals and coincides with the corporate objectives. The project manager understands that the project goals are not achieved without determining, measuring, and completing the objectives.

The project manager properly records the objectives in the project book and openly discusses them with the concerned people. The objectives are clear, understandable, and followed by the members of the project team and should have the following characteristics:

• Objectives should be realistic.
• Management should make a firm commitment to them.
• Management should set up completion dates and costs to measure the achievement of committed objectives.
• Definite guidelines should show how to achieve the objectives.
• Manager should use effective communication to convey them.
• Objectives must be consistent with the available resources.
• Objectives must be clear, concise, and easy to understand and follow.

Lecture Notes

In today's lecture, following points were discussed from chapter 2.

• What is Project?
• What is Project Management?
• Characteristics of a Good IT Project Management
• Project Manager Role
• Project Management Checklist
• Stakeholders
• The Project Process
• Key points in Project Set-UP
• Project Management Plan
• Project Planning

Chapter 2 _ IPM _ Developing Project Plan