Project Management For IT
Master program
Prof. Dr.. Mohammad Al Fayoumi
First Semester, 2014/2015
Course Description
This course introduces project management concepts, principles, techniques and terminologies with particular reference to Information Systems (IS) project management. The course is designed with the main objective to equip students with project management knowledge and skills within the context and framework of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide 5th edition) published by the Project Management Institute (PMI) the most famous institute in the field of project management. The course focuses on project management process groups and how to apply these processes to manage IS projects from initiation, planning, implementing, monitoring and controlling to close-out. Topics include, but not limited to, Project and project lifecycle Characteristics, Project Manager Skills and Responsibilities, Project Management Process Groups and Knowledge Areas, Managing Project Scope, Time, Cost and Quality, Risk Evaluation.
Course Aims
The overall aims and objectives of this course will help you to:
1. Understand the growing need for better project management, especially for information technology projects.
2. Develop an inclusive understanding across the five project management processes groups (initiation, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing) and the integrative framework adapted by the PMI.
3. Develop your knowledge and understanding of the major project management knowledge areas which represent the triple constraints for any project (scope, time and cost)
4. Utilize project management tools, techniques, and skills to manage project scope, time and cost knowledge areas
5. Build up your capacity to learn the processes used for project quality management
6. Understand common sources of risks in information technology projects and how to manage and respond to project risks
Course Objectives
1. Explain the context of project management in general and information technology projects in particular and describes the importance of taking a systems view when selecting and working on projects,
2. Understand the concept of a project phase and the project life cycle and distinguish between project development and product development
3. Describe the five project management process groups, the typical level of activity for each, and the interactions among them and how they relate to the project management knowledge areas.
4. Understand a very important knowledge area and part of the triple constraint - scope management knowledge area- and the processes involved in defining and controlling what is or is not included in a project.
5. Know how to develop project schedules, create network diagrams and Gantt charts and applying the processes involved in defining, sequencing, estimating, scheduling and controlling project activities.
6. Understand the project cost management principles, concepts, terms and the processes that are used for cost estimating, budgeting and controlling.
7. Define quality and quality management, and explains the processes of quality planning, quality assurance, and quality control. Several examples of various tools and techniques, such as the Seven Basic Tools of Quality, statistical sampling, Six Sigma will be discussed during the course.
8. Understand the processes used to manage project risk. Several qualitative and quantitative risk analysis tools and techniques will be described such as probability/impact matrix, Top Ten Risk Item Tracking technique, Expect Monetary Value (EVM) technique, and sensitivity analysis.
9. Describe another important facilitating knowledge area, project communications management. The chapter explains the processes involved in project communications management, methods for improving project communications, and the ways in which various types of software can enhance communications.
Project:
During this course period, you will have a chance to work in teams, for an IT project management assignment. Your team will be in charge of an e-business case (Video Game Delivery Project) for delivering an online product and managing transactions online. Your assessable output is a project management plan and an in class presentation of your plan.
Working with the Video Game Delivery Project case:
1) The case only supplies a limited amount of information. Yes! You will need some creativity in filling in the gaps
2) the case suggested tasks these are to assist you. THESE ARE NOT THE ASSIGNMENT DELIVERABLES. Your assignment is to produce a project management plan that seems as real as possible in a classroom environment.
Textbook :
Please make every attempt to obtain the texts in a timely manner:
[1] Information Technology Project Management, Kathy Schwalbe, Thomson,7th Edition, ISBN 13: 978-0-1-111-22175-1, ISBN 10: 1-111-22175-8, 2010.
[2] Project Management Institute. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. 5th Edition. Newtown Square, PA, Project Management Institute,2013
Course content:
W1 / Revieww What is a project , Project Management?
w Project Management Framework
w The Role of the Project Manager ,IT Project Management and Project Management Profession
W2,3 / w Project Management Process Groups
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Monitoring and Controlling
- Closing
w Relationships Among PM Process Groups and Knowledge Areas
w Strategic planning process and different project selection methods
w Creating a project charter to formally initiate projects
w Project management plan development
w project execution, its relationship to project planning, Describe the process of monitoring and controlling project work
w The integrated change control process, planning for and managing changes on information technology projects
w The importance of developing and following good procedures for closing projects
W4 / w Present team project
Project Management Initiation Process Group
Video Game Delivery Project
w Present tools & techniques used for project integration management
W5 / w What is Project Scope Management?
w Project Scope Management Processes
- Collecting Requirement
- Scope Definition
- Creating the WBS
- Scope Verification
- Scope Control
- Case study / CASE STUDY 1
W6,7 / w Project Time Management Processes
- Activity Definition
- Activity Sequencing
- Activity Resource Estimating
- Activity Duration Estimating
- Schedule Development (Gantt Charts Critical Path Method (CPM), Critical Chain Scheduling, Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT))
- Schedule Control
- Applications / CASE STUDY 2
W8 / w Basic Principles of Cost Management
w Project Cost Management Processes
- Cost Estimating
- Cost Budgeting
- Cost Control (Earned Value Management (EVM))
- Applications / CASE STUDY 3
W9 / w Project Quality Management Processes
- Quality Planning
- Quality Assurance
- Quality Control
w Present tools & techniques used for project quality management / CASE STUDY 4
W10 / w What risk is and the importance of good project risk management
w Project Risk Management Processes
- Risk Management Planning
- Risk Identification
- Qualitative Risk Analysis
- Quantitative Risk Analysis (Decision Trees and Expected Monetary Value (EMV))
- Risk Response Planning
- Risk Monitoring and Control
W11,12 / w The process of identifying stakeholders
- create a stakeholder register
- stakeholder management strategy
w Elements of project communications planning
w Methods for distributing project information,
w Managing stakeholder expectations
w Reporting performance
w Present tools & techniques used for project communication management