Introduction to project management

Chapter 1: Introduction to Project Management Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition

Introduction Many organizations today have a new or renewed interest in project management Computer hardware, software, networks, and the use of interdisciplinary and global work teams have radically changed the work environment The U.S. spends $2.3 trillion on projects every year, or one-quarter of its gross domestic product, and the world as a whole spends nearly $10 trillion of its $40.7 gross product on projects of all kinds Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project Management Statistics Worldwide IT spending totaled more than $1.8 trillion in 2005, a 6 percent increase from 2004, and spending is projected to grow 8 percent in 2006 and 4 percent in 2007 In 2005, the total compensation for the average senior project manager was $99,183 per year in the United States, $94,646 in Australia, and $106,374 in the United Kingdom The number of people earning their Project Management Professional (PMP) certification increased by more than 70 percent from 2004 to 2005, with more than 200,000 PMPs worldwide by the end of August, 2006 Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Motivation for Studying IT Project Management IT Projects have a terrible track record A 1995 Standish Group study (CHAOS) found that Average cost of an IT application development project was >$2.3 billion for a large company, >$1.3 billion for a medium company and > $434,000 for a small company Only 16.2% of IT projects were successful in meeting scope, time, and cost goals Over 31% of IT projects were canceled before completion, costing over $81 billion in the U.S. alone Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Advantages of Using Formal Project Management Better control of financial, physical, and human resources Improved customer relations Shorter development times Lower costs Higher quality and increased reliability Higher profit margins Improved productivity Better internal coordination Higher worker morale (less stress) Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project Management Institute (PMI) PMI was founded in 1969 by five individuals who wanted to network, share process information and discuss common project problems. It is now the leading membership association for the project management profession with more than 260,000 members in over 171 countries. PMI is actively engaged in advocacy for the profession, setting professional standards, conducting research and providing access to a wealth of information and resources. PMI also promotes career and professional development and offers certification, networking and community involvement opportunities. PMIs Project Management Professional (PMP ® ) credential is the most widely recognized and the only global certification in the profession. Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project Management Certification PMI provides certification as a Project Management Professional ( PMP ) A PMP has documented sufficient project experience, has agreed to follow a code of ethics, and has passed the PMP exam The number of people earning PMP certification is increasing quickly Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Ethics in Project Management Ethics , loosely defined, is a set of principles that guide our decision making based on personal values of what is “right” and “wrong” Project managers often face ethical dilemmas In order to earn PMP certification, applicants must agree to PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Several questions on the PMP exam are related to professional responsibility, including ethics Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

PMBOK ® Twenty years ago, PMI volunteers sat down to distill the project management body of knowledge . This eventually became the PMBOK® Guide, now considered one of the most essential tools in the profession and is the de facto global standard for the industry. More than a million copies of the PMBOK® Guide-2000 Edition are in use Updates occur on a four-year cycle to ensure PMI's commitment to continually improve and revise the information contained in this essential reference manual. Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

What Is a Project? A project is “a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result” (PMBOK ® Guide, Third Edition, 2004, p. 5) Operations is work done to sustain the business Projects end when their objectives have been reached or the project has been terminated Projects can be large or small and take a short or long time to complete Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Examples of IT Projects A help desk or technical worker replaces ten laptops for a small department A small software development team adds a new feature to an internal software application for the finance department A college campus upgrades its technology infrastructure to provide wireless Internet access across the whole campus A cross-functional task force in a company decides what Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) system to purchase and how it will be implemented Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Top Ten Technology Projects in 2006 VoIP Outsourcing Data networking Customer relationship management Collaboration Supply chain management Desktop upgrades Application performance management Business analytics Compliance tracking Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Media Snapshot: Where IT Matters In 2006, Baseline Magazine published “Where I.T. Matters: How 10 Technologies Transformed 10 Industries” as a retort to Nicholas Carr’s ideas (author of “IT Doesn’t Matter”) that IT doesn’t provide companies with a competitive advantage VoIP has transformed the telecommunications industry and broadband Internet access Global Positioning Systems and Business Intelligence has changed the farming industry Digital supply chain has changed the entertainment industry’s distribution system Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project Attributes A project: Has a unique purpose Is temporary Is developed using progressive elaboration Specifications of the project are initially broad and then refined and more detailed as the project progresses Requires resources, often from various areas Should have a primary customer or sponsor The project sponsor usually provides the direction and funding for the project Involves uncertainty Unclear objectives, difficult to estimate time to complete and cost, dependence on external factors Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project and Program Managers Project managers work with project sponsors, a project team, and other people involved in a project to meet project goals Program : group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually (PMBOK ® Guide, Third Edition, 2004, p. 16) Program managers oversee programs and often act as bosses for project managers Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

The Triple Constraint of Project Management Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007 Successful project management means meeting all three goals (scope, time, and cost) – and satisfying the project’s sponsor! However, quality is the quadruple constraint

What is Project Management? Project management is “the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements” (PMBOK ® Guide, Third Edition, 2004, p. 8) Project managers strive to meet the triple constraint by balancing project scope, time, and cost goals Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project Stakeholders Stakeholders are the people involved in or affected by project activities Stakeholders include: The project sponsor The project manager The project team Support staff Customers Users Suppliers And yes - opponents to the project! Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Nine Project Management Knowledge Areas Knowledge areas describe the key competencies that project managers must develop Four core knowledge areas lead to specific project objectives (scope, time, cost, and quality) Four facilitating knowledge areas are the means through which the project objectives are achieved (human resources, communication, risk, and procurement management One knowledge area (project integration management) affects and is affected by all of the other knowledge areas All knowledge areas are important! Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

PM Tools and Techniques Project management tools and techniques assist project managers and their teams in various aspects of project management Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Super Tools “ Super tools” are those tools that have high use and high potential for improving project success, such as: Software for task scheduling (such as project management software) Scope statements Requirements analyses Lessons-learned reports Tools already extensively used that have been found to improve project importance include: Progress reports Kick-off meetings Gantt charts Change requests Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007 What Went Right? Improved Project Performance The Standish Group’s 2001 CHAOS studies show improvements in IT projects in the past decade Measure 1994 Data 2002 Data Result Successful projects 16% 34% Doubled Failed projects 31% 15% Halved Money wasted on challenged and failed projects $140B out of $250B $55B out of $255B Halved

Why the Improvements? "The reasons for the increase in successful projects vary. First, the average cost of a project has been more than cut in half. Better tools have been created to monitor and control progress and better skilled project managers with better management processes are being used. The fact that there are processes is significant in itself.”* *The Standish Group, "CHAOS 2001: A Recipe for Success" (2001). Despite these improvements, the 2004 survey showed that IT project success rates had fallen from 34% in 2002 to 29% in 2004 and failures had increased from 15% to 18%. There is still room for improvement. Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project Success There are several ways to define project success The project met scope, time, and cost goals The project satisfied the customer/sponsor even if the scope, time and/or costs goals were not met The results of the project met its main objective, such as making or saving a certain amount of money, providing a good return on investment, or simply making the sponsors happy. Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

What Helps Projects Succeed?* 1. Executive support 2. User involvement 3. Experienced project manager 4. Clear business objectives 5. Minimized scope 6. Standard software infrastructure 7. Firm basic requirements 8. Formal methodology 9. Reliable estimates 10. Other criteria, such as small milestones, proper planning, competent staff, and ownership Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007 *The Standish Group, “Extreme CHAOS,” (2001).

What the Winners Do Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007 Recent research findings show that companies that excel in project delivery capability: Use an integrated project management toolbox (use standard/advanced PM tools and lots of templates) Grow project leaders , emphasizing business and soft skills Develop a streamlined project delivery process Measure project health using metrics, like customer satisfaction or return on investment

Program and Project Portfolio Management A program is “a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually” (PMBOK® Guide, Third Edition, 2004, p. 16) A program manager provides leadership and direction for the project managers heading the projects within the program Examples of common programs in the IT field: infrastructure- wireless Internet access, upgrading h/w & s/w, developing corporate standards for IT applications development – updating an ERP system, purchasing a new off-the-shelf billing system, adding new feature to CRM system user support – daily operational support, upgrade e-mail system, develop technical training for users Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project Portfolio Management As part of project portfolio management , organizations group and manage projects and programs as a portfolio of investments that contribute to the entire enterprise’s success Portfolio managers help their organizations make wise investment decisions by helping to select and analyze projects from a strategic perspective Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Best Practice A best practice is “an optimal way recognized by industry to achieve a stated goal or objective”* Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Prof at HBS, says that visionary leaders know “the best practice secret: Stretching to learn from the best of the best in any sector can make a big vision more likely to succeed”. She also emphasizes the need to have measurable standards for best practices Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007 *Project Management Institute, Inc., Organizational Project Management Maturity Model (OPM3) Knowledge Foundation (2003), p. 13.

Best Practice Robert Butrick, author of The Project Workout , suggests that organizations need to follow basic principles of project management, including these two mentioned earlier in this chapter Make sure your projects are driven by your strategy; be able to demonstrate how each project you undertake fits your business strategy, and screen out unwanted projects as soon as possible Engage your stakeholders; ignoring stakeholders often leads to project failure Be sure to engage stakeholders at all stages of a project, and encourage teamwork and commitment at all times Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project Portfolio Management Screen Showing Project Health Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007 Provides an integrated picture of the project portfolios across the enterprise

Suggested Skills for Project Managers Project managers need a wide variety of skills They should: Be comfortable with change Understand the social, political and physical environments of the organizations they work in and with Be able to lead teams to accomplish project goals Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

The Role of the Project Manager Job descriptions vary, but most include responsibilities like planning, scheduling, coordinating, and working with people to achieve project goals Remember that 97% of successful projects were led by experienced project managers, who can often help influence success factors Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Suggested Skills for Project Managers The Project Management Body of Knowledge Application area knowledge, standards, and regulations Project environment knowledge General management knowledge and skills Soft skills or human relations skills Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Ten Most Important Skills and Competencies for Project Managers Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007 1. People skills 2. Leadership 3. Listening 4. Integrity, ethical behavior, consistent 5. Strong at building trust 6. Verbal communication 7. Strong at building teams 8. Conflict resolution, conflict management 9. Critical thinking, problem solving 10. Understands, balances priorities

Different Skills Needed in Different Situations Large projects: leadership, relevant prior experience, planning, people skills, verbal communication, and team-building skills are most important High uncertainty projects: risk management, expectation management, leadership, people skills, and planning skills are most important Very novel projects: leadership, people skills, having vision and goals, self-confidence, expectations management, and listening skills are most important Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Importance of Leadership Skills Effective project managers provide leadership by example A leader focuses on long-term goals and big-picture objectives while inspiring people to reach those goals A manager deals with the day-to-day details of meeting specific goals Project managers often take on the role of both leader and manager “ Managers do things right, leaders do the right thing” “ Leaders determine the vision, managers achieve the vision” Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

IT Project Managers SKILL PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS Project/program management 60% Business process management 55% Business analysis 53% Application development 52% Database management 49% Security 42% Enterprise architect 41% Strategist/internal consultant 40% Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007 In a 2006 survey by CIO.com, IT executives ranked project/program management the skills that would be the most in demand in the next two to five years

The Project Management Profession The profession of project management is growing at a very rapid pace It is helpful to understand the history of the field, the role of professional societies like the Project Management Institute, and the growth in project management software Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

History of Project Management Some people argue that building the Egyptian pyramids was a project, as was building the Great Wall of China Most people consider the Manhattan Project to be the first project to use “modern” project management This three-year, $2 billion (in 1946 dollars) project had a separate project manager (General Leslie Groves) and a technical manager (Dr. Robert Oppenheimer) The military realized that scientists and other technical specialists often did not have the desire or the necessary skills to manage large projects Dr. Oppenheimer was asked repeatedly for an organization chart of the teams working on the project and their responsibilities. Eventually he threw a piece of paper at his director and said “Here’s your damn organization chart.” Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

History of Project Management In 1917, Henry Gantt developed the famous Gantt chart as a tool for scheduling work in factories A Gantt chart is a standard format for displaying project schedule information by listing projects activities and their corresponding start and finish dates in a calendar format The military was the key industry behind the development of several project management techniques. Members of the US navy Polaris missile/submarine project first used network diagrams in 1958. These diagrams helped model the relationships among project tasks, which allowed them to create schedules that were more realistic. Determining the relationships among tasks helps in finding the critical path of the network. This tells the manager the earliest completion date of the project. In the 1990s, many companies created project management offices (PMO) to help them handle the increasing number and complexity of projects throughout an organization Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Project Management Software There are hundreds of different products to assist in performing project management Three main categories of tools Low-end tools: handle single or smaller projects well, cost under $200 per user Midrange tools: handle multiple projects and users, cost $200-600 per user, Project 2007 most popular High-end tools: also called enterprise project management software, often licensed on a per-user basis, like VPMi Enterprise Online (www.vcsonline.com) See the Project Management Center Web site (www.infogoal.com/pmc) or Top Ten Reviews (project-management-software-review.toptenreviews.com) for links to many companies that provide project management software Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Chapter Summary A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements A program is a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way; project portfolio management involves organizing and managing projects and programs as a portfolio of investments Project managers play a key role in helping projects and organizations succeed The project management profession continues to grow and mature Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition, Copyright 2007

Introduction to project management

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to Introduction to project management (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Introduction to project management