Chapter Extension 18 Large-Scale Systems Development © 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke

CE18-2 Study Questions What characterizes large-scale information systems development projects? What are the trade-offs in requirements, cost, and time? What is the PMBOK ® Guide for project management? How does a work-breakdown structure drive project management? What are the biggest challenges for planning a large-scale systems development project? What are the biggest challenges for managing a large-scale systems development project? What is the single most important task for users on a large- scale systems development project?

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-3 Large-Scale Information Systems Many functions and features Necessitate creation of large, complex computer programs Process multiple relationship databases Support hundreds of users Require large development teams May be localized for different languages

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-4 Development of Large-Scale Systems Requires large development teams – Systems analysts, programmers, PQA engineers, managers Often simultaneously developed at multiple sites May involve integration of products and services from different companies Localized for different languages Require extended development intervals

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-5 Characteristics of Large-Scale Systems Development Projects Figure CE 18-1

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-6 Emerson Pharmaceuticals Large-scale project to modernize order system Existing system is a thick-client system – Required installation of software on clients’ computers New system is thin-client, Web browser version – Changes way orders are received and processed – Localized for three languages Development team consists of more than 75 people and several contractors

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-7 Balancing Drivers Three critical drivers – Requirements (scope), cost, and time Trade-offs exist in any project against time and costs – Time can only be reduced to a point – Adding more people can create diseconomies of scale – Increasing time may reduce or increase costs

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-8 Baseline Plan Consists of: – Tasks to accomplish – Resources (human and materials) – Schedule for completion Things don’t always go according to plan – Requires project managers to re-assess trade- offs between requirements, costs, and time

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-9 PMBOK ® Project Management Guide Project Management Institute (PMI) compiled best practices, processes, techniques – Endorsed by ANSI and ISO – PMP certification Five process groups – Stages in life of project Nine knowledge areas – Factors that must be managed throughout life of project

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-10 Structure of PMBOK ® Guide 2004 Figure CE 18-4

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-11 PMI Knowledge Areas Project integration Scope (requirements) Time Cost Quality Human resources Communications Risk Procurement

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-12 PMI Project Management Processes Initiating Planning Executing Monitoring and Controlling Closing

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-13 Work-Breakdown Structure WBS – Hierarchy of tasks required to complete project – Each task is broken into smaller tasks that can be managed and estimated – Define task dependencies – Estimate task durations – May be inputted into project management software Final WBS plan is baseline WBS

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-14 Sample WBS Figure CE 18-4

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-15 Gantt Chart of WBS Figure CE 18-5

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-16 Critical Path Analysis Sequence of activities charted Used to determine the earliest date a project can be finished Longest path through the network of activities – Task dependencies compressed as much as possible – Tasks may be moved to non-critical paths to shorten critical path

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-17 Planning Large-Scale Systems Development Projects Biggest challenge is scheduling – Errors accumulate – Difficult to do credible planning – Every task may be on critical path Software development solutions – Don’t develop in-house – Abandon SDLC and invest resources in project, managing as well as possible, accepting schedule – Schedule using estimation techniques Base on data from similar projects, estimate lines of code, estimate function points

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-18 Managing Large-Scale Systems Development Project Challenges – Coordination Projects often organized into independent groups – Diseconomies of scale Adding people increases coordination requirements – Configuration control Changes must be carefully manages and monitored – Unexpected events Chance of disruption due to unanticipated events

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-19 Taking Responsibility for Requirements Single most important task that can be performed Understand the system is built for business function – Manage requirements Users – Responsible for ensuring complete and accurate requirements – Must manage requirements creep – Define test conditions

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-20 Dealing with Uncertainty Policies and procedures implemented to instill these principles: – Business users take responsibility for new systems’ success – Users work with IS throughout systems development – Users take active role in project planning, management, and reviews – Development phase not complete until work reviewed and approved – Users actively test system – Future systems developed in small increments

© 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Experiencing MIS, David Kroenke CE18-21 Active Review What characterizes large-scale information systems development projects? What are the trade-offs in requirements, cost, and time? What is the PMBOK ® Guide for project management? How does a work-breakdown structure drive project management? What are the biggest challenges for planning a large-scale systems development project? What are the biggest challenges for managing a large-scale systems development project? What is the single most important task for users on a large- scale systems development project?