Project Management What The Heck Is That?

Why Do We Need Project Management? Critical towards delivery of effective IT initiatives Ensures we align projects (and funding) together to get the biggest bang for the buck (investment) Well structured projects promote and result in quality products and services Well managed projects use resources efficiently (time and money) and provide excellent learning opportunities Well run projects help move forward the "state of IT", create trust in IT and help IT deliver #watitis2012

Why Do Projects Fail? #watitis2012. Communication Lack of user involvement Incomplete requirements Unrealistic estimates and timeline Weak business case Lack of management involvement and support Scope creep Poor project planning No change control system Poor testing Inadequate resources Poor risk management Attention to business needs and goals

Project Management Skit… Or Is It? #watitis2012 Skit Cast: Project Manager: Melissa Quest Developer: Dave HR Developer: Connie HR Functional Supervisor: Marg Financial Aid Functional Manager: Pam

Project: What The Heck Is That? “A project is a temporary endeavor which creates a unique service, product or result.” - PMBOK Guide, 4 th Edition #watitis2012

Projects Are Not Operations… Operations are an organizational function performing the ongoing execution of activities that produce the same product or provide a repetitive service - PMBOK Guide, 4 th Edition #watitis2012

Projects Are Not Programs… A Program is a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually - PMBOK Guide, 4 th Edition #watitis2012

Projects Are Not Portfolios… A Portfolio is a collection of projects or programs and other work that are grouped together to facilitate effective management of that work to meet strategic business objectives - PMBOK Guide, 4 th Edition #watitis2012

Project Management: What The Heck Is That? Application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements - PMBOK Guide, 4 th Edition #watitis2012

Managing Projects Identify requirements and objectives Address needs, concerns, and expectations of stakeholders Balancing competing project constraints: scope, quality, schedule, budget, resources, risk, communications #watitis2012

Project Roles Project Manager Sponsor Stakeholder Project Team Project Management Team or Steering Committee Business Analyst Functional Manager #watitis2012

The Project Manager… Person responsible for achieving the project objectives 90% of a Project Manager’s time is spent communicating A Project Manager also: coordinates, plans, organizes, facilitates, resolves conflict, leads, manages, problem solves, negotiates, budgets #watitis2012

The Sponsor… Project “champion” providing project’s vision Sets reasonable project objectives to align with University strategy Work in close coordination with PM, steering committee, and stakeholders Authority behind project for starting, stopping and changing the project Possesses qualifications and authority to act quickly and decisively, while gaining buy in from sr. execs #watitis2012

The Stakeholder… #watitis2012

The Project Team… Do the work of the project by coming together as a cohesive unit or team Clear roles and responsibilities Involvement throughout – high impact, high influence stakeholder #watitis2012

The Steering Committee… Sometimes the sponsor Role in selection of projects Resolve escalated issues and problems General strategies and opportunities for project Monitors progress Cross-functional support and resource commitment #watitis2012

The Business Analyst… Gathering and understanding policies, legislation, user requirements Solution design Communicates and listens The “What If” people #watitis2012

The Functional Manager… #watitis2012

The Functional Manager… Authority over some project resources Work “with” them to get their buy in Negotiate with them for resources Communicate #watitis2012

Project Management Skit #watitis2012 Cast:

#watitis2012 Real Tools Methodologies/ Methodology_webChart.html

PM: What The Heck Is That? Questions? Methodology_webChart.html #watitis2012