Working with Technical Team Members Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh INTRODUCTION The numbers are stacked against the IT Project Managers. In fact, the data overwhelmingly indicate you are unlikely to succeed in executing your IT project and achieving the intended outcomes Standish Group (CHAOS) Report 1995 2009 Failed Projects 31.1% 24% Challenged Projects 52.7% 44% Completed Projects 16.2% 32% Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh DISCUSSION Is it possible to manage an IT team without a technical background? Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Challenges faced by IT Project Managers No Project Mandate Unclear Expectations. Poor communication between IT (PMO) organization and the business. No user input Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Technical Project Management Skills Manage project elements, such as schedule, cost, resources, quality, risks and others Tailor both traditional and agile tools, techniques and methods for each project Planning skills Being aware of personal expertise and where to find others with needed expertise Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh Non-Technical Skills Business and strategic skills Leadership Motivation Communication Organization Prioritization Adaptability Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

IT PMO vs Enterprise Architecture IT PM’s must possess adequate working knowledge of the roles and responsibility of IT PMO and Enterprise Architecture, where applicable. An IT PMO is the organizational unit responsible for the coordinated management of programs and projects within an IT organization. Another primary function of the IT PMO is to support, control or direct IT project managers as they initiate, plan, execute, control, and close out their projects Enterprise Architecture communicates how performance, business processes, data, service components, and technology are linked – in short, drawing a line of sight from the organization's IT resources to its strategic objectives. Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Communicating with Technical People PMs must listen to their team members, and let them explain their issues in layman’s terms PMs serve as the bridge between the business and technical team PMs must seek to understand the end users’ needs and explain same to the technical team At a minimum, PMs must work towards understanding the basic and common technical vocabulary associated with the project Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Common Technical Risks Scope Definition Requirement Definition Estimates, assumptions and constraints Technical processes Technology Technical interfaces Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Navigating Resource Contention and Conflicts (Matrix Environment The Project Manager and Functional Manager should collaborate on planning for functional deliverables. The organization should establish authoritative boundaries The project plan should include an escalation path and include criteria governing when escalations are necessary The Functional Manager and Project Manager, during the project lifecycle, should regularly review the roles and responsibilities The organization should set standards requiring post-project performance reviews incorporating the input of the Project Manager and Functional Manager Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh QUESTIONs Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh

Presented by: Ernest Ejianreh