1. Managing the Information Systems Project © Abdou Illia MIS 4200 - Spring 2015 1/26/2015

2. 2 Managing Information Systems Projects  In IS projects, project manager is usually a systems analyst ─ Requires diverse set of skills  Management  Leadership  Technical  Conflict management  Customer relations

3. Questions 1  Match each of these terms with its definition ─ Management- Leadership ─ Conflict management- customer relations 1. Influencing the activities of others toward the attainment of a common goal through the use of intelligence, personality, and abilities describes the ” _______” project manager activity 2. Working closely with customers to assure project deliverables meet expectations describes the “______” project manager activity 3. Making sure that the project team members collaborate well and being able to resolve working relationship issues between team members describes the “________” project manager activity.

4. 4 IS Projects Management concepts  Project ─ Planned undertaking of related activities to reach an objective that has a beginning and an end  Focus of Project Management ─ To ensure that information system projects meet customer expectations  Delivered in a timely manner  Meet constraints and requirements 1.Explain the following terms: budget constraints, personnel constraints. 2.You are developing an IS for a car dealer who sales cars mainly to students and households looking for a second car. In terms of project management, who would be your customer?

5. 5 Why undertake IS Projects?  Reasons for undertaking projects ─ Solving problems ─ Taking advantage of business opportunity ─ Governmental regulations  Four Phases ─ Initiating the project ─ Planning the project ─ Executing the project ─ Closing down the project

6. 6 Steps for Phase 1: Initiating the Project 1. Establish the project initiation team 2. Establish a relationship with the customer—End users 3. Establish the project initiation plan 4. Establish management procedures—how will the team operate, how will funding be handled, reporting procedures 5. Establish the project management environment and workbook—hard and electronic copy of all work and correspondence 6. Develop the project charter* * Document that describes project’s objectives, assumptions, stakeholders. The charter needs to be approved by customers & Mgt for project to go forward.

7. 7 Phase 2: Planning the Project 1. Describe project scope, alternatives and feasibility ─ Scope and Feasibility  What is the specific project?  What specific problem is addressed?  What specific results are to be achieved?  What are the measures of success?  How will completion be determined? ─ Identify all possible alternative solutions ─ Assess the feasibility of solutions and choose

8. 8 Planning the Project (continued) 2.Divide the project into submodules 3.Estimate resources and create a resource plan— distribution of tasks. 4.Develop a preliminary schedule 2.8

9. 9 Planning the Project (continued) 5. Develop a communication plan  Outline communication processes among customers, team members and management  Define types of reports and their distribution  Determine frequency of reports

10. 10 Planning the Project (continued) 6. Determine project standards and procedures  Specify how deliverables are tested and produced 7. Identify and assess risk  Identify sources of risk  Estimate consequences of risk 8. Create a preliminary budget 9. Develop a project scope statement  Describe what the project will deliver 10. Set a baseline project plan  Estimate of project’s tasks and resources

11. 11 Phase 3: Executing the Project 1. Execute baseline project plan  Acquire and assign resources  Train new team members  Keep project on schedule 2. Monitor project progress  Adjust resources, budget and/or activities

12. 12 Executing the Project (continued) 3. Manage changes to baseline project plan  Slipped completion dates  Bungled activity that must be redone  Changes in personnel  New activities 4. Maintain project workbook 5. Communicate project status

13. 13 Phase 4: Closing Down the Project 1. Termination  Types of termination  Natural  Requirements have been met  Unnatural  Project stopped  Documentation  Personnel Appraisal

14. 14 Closing Down the Project (cont.) 2. Conduct post-project reviews  Determine strengths and weaknesses of  Project deliverables  Project management process  Development process 3. Close customer contract