What is a Project n A project q

What is a Project? n A project: q q q Is a temporary attempt undertaken to create a unique product or service; Normally involves several people performing interrelated activities; and Mainly focus on the effective use of resources to complete the project in an efficient and timely manner. Information Technology Project Management (3 rd Edition) Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe

Defining a Project n A project has a unique purpose. q Every project should have a well-defined objective. n A project is temporary. q A project has a definite beginning and a definite end. n A project requires resources, often from various areas. q Resources include people, hardware, software, or other assets. n A project should have a primary customer or sponsor. q Most projects have many interested parties or stakeholders, but someone must take the primary role of sponsorship. q The project sponsor usually provides the direction and funding for the project. n A project involves uncertainty. q It is sometimes difficult to clearly define the project’s objectives, estimate how long it will take to complete, or how much it will cost. Information Technology Project Management (3 rd Edition) Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe

What is Project Management? n Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet project requirements. n Knowledge areas of project management: q q q Project integration management – an influencing function that affects and is affected by all of the other knowledge areas. Four core knowledge areas Four facilitating knowledge areas Information Technology Project Management (3 rd Edition) Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe

What is Project Management? (Cont. ) n Four core knowledge areas q Project scope management n q Project time management n n n q Estimating how long it will take to complete the work; Developing an acceptable project schedule; and Ensuring timely completion of the project Project cost management n q Defining and managing all the work required to complete the project successfully Preparing and managing the budget for the project Project quality management n Ensuring that the project will satisfy the stated or implied needs for which it was undertaken Information Technology Project Management (3 rd Edition) Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe

What is Project Management? (Cont. ) n Four facilitating knowledge areas q Project human resource management n q Project communications management n q Generating, collecting, disseminating, and storing project information Project risk management n q Making effective use of the people involved with the project Identifying, analyzing, and responding to risks related to the project Project procurement management n Acquiring or procuring goods and services for a project from outside the performing organization Information Technology Project Management (3 rd Edition) Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe

Who are Stakeholders? n Stakeholders are the people involved in or affected by project activities and include: q q q Project manager – working with all the project stakeholders to meet their needs and expectations Project sponsors (including the customers and users for the product) – paying for the project Project team – knowing exactly what work they must do and when they need to do it Support staff – supporting other stakeholders Suppliers – expecting exact details on what items they need to provide, where and when to deliver those items Opponents or Competitors – interrupting the project or slowing the project progress Information Technology Project Management (3 rd Edition) Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe

Project Phases and Project Life Cycle n Since projects operate as part of a system and involve uncertainty, it is good practice to divide projects into several phases. n Project phases vary by project or industry. n A project life cycle is a collection of project phases, each of which must be successfully completed before moving on to the next. n Some general phases include: q Concept focusing on planning (project feasibility) q Development q Implementation focusing on delivering the actual work (project acquisition) q Close-out Information Technology Project Management (3 rd Edition) Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe

Project Phases n Concept Phase q Management plan n Briefly describe the project through a summary plan, which describes the need for the project and basic underlying concepts q Preliminary (rough) cost estimate q 3 -level work breakdown structure (WBS) n n Create and define an overview of the project work Develop a deliverable-oriented document or “deliverable” that defines the total scope of the project q A deliverable is a product, such as a report, presentation or segment of software code, produced as part of a project. Information Technology Project Management (3 rd Edition) Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe

Project Phases (Cont. ) n Development Phase q Project plan in more details q Budgetary (more accurate) cost estimate q More thorough (6+-level) WBS n Implementation Phase q Last work package as required q Definitive and very accurate cost estimate q Performance reports to stakeholders n Close-out Phase q Completed work q Lessons-learned report n q Document the project team’s experiences on the project Customer acceptance of the entire project Information Technology Project Management (3 rd Edition) Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe