1. Introduction to Project Management
What is a Project?
A project:
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 (3rd Edition)
Chapter 1
Introduction to Project Management

2. Introduction to Project Management
Defining a Project
A project has a unique purpose.
Every project should have a well-defined objective.
A project is temporary.
A project has a definite beginning and a definite end.
A project requires resources, often from various areas.
Resources include people, hardware, software, or other assets.
A project should have a primary customer or sponsor.
Most projects have many interested parties or stakeholders, but someone must take the primary role of sponsorship.
The project sponsor usually provides the direction and funding for the project.
A project involves uncertainty.
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 (3rd Edition)
Chapter 1
Introduction to Project Management

3. What is Project Management?
Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet project requirements.
Knowledge areas of project management:
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 (3rd Edition)
Chapter 1
Introduction to Project Management

4. What is Project Management? (Cont.)
Four core knowledge areas
Project scope management
Defining and managing all the work required to complete the project successfully
Project time management
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
Preparing and managing the budget for the project
Project quality management
Ensuring that the project will satisfy the stated or implied needs for which it was undertaken
Information Technology Project Management (3rd Edition)
Chapter 1
Introduction to Project Management

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

6. Introduction to Project Management
Who are Stakeholders?
Stakeholders are the people involved in or affected by project activities and include:
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 (3rd Edition)
Chapter 1
Introduction to Project Management

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

8. Introduction to Project Management
Project Phases
Concept Phase
Management plan
Briefly describe the project through a summary plan, which describes the need for the project and basic underlying concepts
Preliminary (rough) cost estimate
3-level work breakdown structure (WBS)
Create and define an overview of the project work
Develop a deliverable-oriented document or “deliverable” that defines the total scope of the project
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 (3rd Edition)
Chapter 1
Introduction to Project Management

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