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

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Why Do Projects Fail?

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.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: MelissaQuest Developer: DaveHR Developer: ConnieHR Functional Supervisor: MargFinancial 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, 4th Edition

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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, 4th Edition

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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, 4th Edition

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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, 4th Edition

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Project Management: What The Heck Is That?

Application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project

activities to meet the project requirements

- PMBOK Guide, 4th Edition

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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

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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

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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

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The Stakeholder…

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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

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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

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The Business Analyst…

• Gathering and understanding policies, legislation, user requirements

• Solution design• Communicates and listens• The “What If” people

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The Functional Manager…

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The Functional Manager…

• Authority over some project resources• Work “with” them to get their buy in• Negotiate with them for resources• Communicate

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Project Management Skit

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Cast:

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Real Tools

http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/is/Methodologies/Methodology_webChart.html

PM: What The Heck Is That?

Questions?

IS-PM@lists.uwaterloo.ca

http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/is/Methodologies/

Methodology_webChart.html

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