Any major new addition or change to your IT such as installing a new financial software system or a major network upgrade will no doubt benefit from the discipline and organisation of being implemented as a project. Project management involves the organisation of resources and personnel to achieve a goal within a set timetable and strict budget.

Whilst you may engage someone with the appropriate skills and experience to manage your IT Project, it is worthwhile understanding some of the basic concepts for yourself. This will give you an appreciation of what your Project Manager is trying to achieve and a grasp of the kind of information that should flow through to you as the project sponsor or owner. By organising major work and the tasks that go with that work into a project, it can better assist in planning and monitoring of the project and its progress. This will also aid in the control and review of those activities that go towards achieving the desired outcome.

This article looks at project management from an Information Technology perspective, primarily through the roles and expectations of the Project Manager and the Project Sponsor. Project planning is discussed along with some of the major planning and management tools, Gantt Charts and Pert/CPM Charts. The article also discusses the requirements and actions taken in managing projects and also looks at risk management and the importance of planning.

For the complete article see …     IT Project Management