INFO SYSTEM PROJ SKILLFullscreen Mode
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CHAPTER 1
OVERVIEW OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEMS PROJECT
Definition
An individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim
Planned set of interrelated tasks to be executed over a fixed period and within certain cost and other limitations.
Basic principles of project management
While every project is unique in its own way, there are certain basics which define most project work. These are:
objectives
constraints
lifecycle
Every project takes place in its own specific context. A project may be stand-alone, part of a greater body of work, or it could be one in a series of projects. It may bring together a project team a group of people who have never worked together before or new roles to people. All of these factors need to be identified and considered in order for a project to be completed successfully.
It’s important to remember that the level of detail you need at the various project stages should remain appropriate for the size and complexity of the project.
Defining your project objectives
The main point of any project is to achieve specified business goals and objectives. Once these objectives have been fulfilled, the project is disbanded. In most cases the work will be handed over into normal operations. It is therefore vital to any project that the goals and objectives required are clearly defined, measurable and achievable. Without this, any project is likely to suffer from a lack of focus and an increased chance of failure.
Once objectives have been established, they should be clearly communicated and agreed with all staff and stakeholders on the project.
Understanding your project constraints
A constraint is any factor which can limit or have an impact on a project.
Typical constraints are funding, the scope of the project, available resources and time. It is important to understand what the constraints of any project are in order to clearly define the boundaries in which project work must be done.
Projects which do not honour their constraints are often regarded as failures and tend to incur a significant cost to their business.
Project lifecycle
Projects have a definite start and finish point within which their objectives need to be fulfilled.
This is known as the project lifecycle. While this is usually defined by a start and finish date, the lifecycle of a project can also be defined by a finite resource such as money or a fixed amount of staff time available to the project.
Any successful project will deliver its goals and objectives while honouring its constraints, and by definition do so within the lifecycle of the project.
What Is Project Management?
Project Management is the process of achieving project objectives (schedule, budget and performance) through a set of activities that start and end at certain points in time and produce quantifiable and qualifiable deliverables.
Purposes of project management
Successful project management is the art of bringing together the tasks, resources and people necessary to accomplish the business goals and objectives within the specified time constraints and within the monetary allowance. Projects and Programs are linked directly to the strategic goals and initiatives of the organization supported.
Project Team Roles and Responsibilities
Successful projects are usually the result of careful planning and the talent and collaboration of a project’s team members. Project can’t move forward without each of its key team members, but it’s not always clear who those members are, or what roles they play. Here, we’ll describe five roles – project manager, project team member, project sponsor, executive sponsor and business analyst – and describe their associated duties.
Project Manager
The project manager plays a primary role in the project, and is responsible for its successful completion. The manager‘s job is to ensure that the project proceeds within the specified time frame and under the established budget, while achieving its objectives. Project managers make sure that projects are given sufficient resources, while managing relationships with contributors and stakeholders.
