OVERVIEW OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Whether you are developing an information system
or working on a construction project like the one in
Figure 3-2, the process is the same. The only difference is the nature of the project. Project management
for IT professionals includes planning, scheduling,
monitoring and controlling, and reporting on information system development.
What Shapes a Project?
A successful project must be completed on time,
within budget, and deliver a quality product that satisfies users and meets requirements. Project management techniques can be used throughout the SDLC.
System developers can initiate a formal project as
early as the preliminary investigation stage, or later on, as analysis, design,
and implementation activities occur.
As the sign in Figure 3-3 suggests, sometimes you have to decide what is
most important. The same concept applies to systems development, where the
factors include budget limits, time constraints, and quality standards. As long
as everything is in balance, like the see-saw in Figure 3-4, the project will be
successful. However, if one factor changes, adjustments must be made.
Because the factors interact constantly, a project manager must respond
quickly. For example, if an extremely time-critical project starts to slip, the
project manager might have to trim some features, seek approval for a budget
increase, simplify the testing plan, or a combination of all three actions.
Unfortunately, many systems projects do fail. A report by The Standish
Group noted that only a third of all software development projects were successful, in the sense that they met budget, schedule, and quality targets.
Standish chairman Jim Johnson said that improvement will require better
project management tools, more iterative methods, and better communication
between project developers and users.