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4 pages/β‰ˆ1100 words
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2 Sources
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APA
Subject:
Technology
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
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Topic:

IT Project Management Essay

Essay Instructions:

This Module's Case is about the processes involved in planning, scheduling, and budgeting IT projects. There are some fairly well-established rules and procedures to serve as guidelines here. Here are two short online presentations that give a fairly useful overview:

Gurmin, S. (2010). Effective project management. online presentation, ISSUU. Part 1 Retrieved from http://issuu(dot)com/shaun-gurmin/docs/effective_project_management_presentation_01; Part 2 from http://issuu(dot)com/shaun-gurmin/docs/effective_project_management_part_2

Here’s a good basic treatment of resource allocation issues:

Drinkwater, A. (2011) Proper methods for resource planning. Retrieved from http://blog(dot)projectconnections(dot)com/project_practitioners/2011/02/proper-methods-for-resource-planning.html

Microsoft (2012), 5 steps to prepare your project budget, Retrieved from http://office(dot)microsoft(dot)com/en-us/project-help/5-steps-to-prepare-your-project-budget-HA001141182.aspx

It's also important to keep in mind that all project dec isions operate in an environment with some degree of uncertainty and/or risk; keeping risks (or unanticipated consequences) to a minimum is very important, because your stakeholders do NOT like surprises. Consider this good advice:

Bart, J. (2011). 10 Golden rules of project risk management. ProjectSmart.Retrieved from http://www(dot)projectsmart(dot)co(dot)uk/10-golden-rules-of-project-risk-management.html

Now we come to the interesting part. Here is a summary of a case of planning and scheduling in the construction industry. As you read through it, you’ll recognize many of the issues encountered in the descriptions of IT project planning.

CEIM Reporter. (2011, March 8). Owner’s project schedule management for high rise office building projects: A case study of scheduling. Professional Project Management Education. Retrieved from http://professionalprojectmanagement(dot)blogspot(dot)com/2011/03/owners-project-schedule-management-for.html.

In addition, the optional readings expand on many of the central points; you may also want to do some independent Internet-based research of your own to clarify any issues that concern you.

When you have read through the articles and related material, please compose a 4-6 page critical analysis paper on the topic:

"Issues and conclusions regarding project planning, scheduling and risk management from the construction case that also apply to information technology projects"

You’ll want to draw not only on what you have in the sources from this module, but from the preceding modules as well.

Case Assignment Expectations

Your paper should be short (4-6 pages, not including cover sheet and references) and to the point. It is to be structured in the following manner.

You are expected to:

  • Begin this paper by stating your recommendations for accountability maintenance clearly and concisely
  • Citing appropriate sources, present the reasons why you take this position. Be sure to make the most effective case you can.
  • Then present the best evidence you can, again citing appropriate sources, against your position -- that is, establish what counterarguments can be made to your original position.
  • Finally, review your original position in light of the counterarguments, showing how they are inadequate to rebut your original statement.
  • By the end of your paper, you should be able to unequivocally re-affirm your original position.

You will be particularly assessed on:

  • Your ability to see what the module is all about and to structure your paper accordingly.
  • Your informed commentary and analysis -- simply repeating what your sources say does not constitute an adequate paper.
  • Your ability to apply the professional language and terminology of systems planning correctly and in context; you are expected to be familiar with this language and use it appropriately.
  • Your effective and appropriate use of in-text citations to the assigned readings and other source material to support your arguments. Refer to the Purdue University APA formatting and style guide (see Module 1 required readings) for the proper formats. 
Essay Sample Content Preview:

Project Management
Name:
Institution:
Every other project manager understands that the aspects of project management could mean the difference between a successful project and a flop on their part and that of the entire team. There are so many moving parts of a project that need to be addressed by the project manager and the different parties to the project. Due to the fact that there are so many parties to any one project, the complexity of the single project can increase on different levels. In most of the cases, the organisations skills of the projects manager and the team at hand, as well as, the favourability and applicability of the strategies involved carry the day (Professional project management. blogspot.com, 2011). Out of the many facets of the project management processes, project planning, risk management and scheduling make the greatest impact on the success or the failure of the said project. Like the construction projects, the IT related projects are very unique. This means that what might work in one of the projects may be completely inapplicable in the next, even within the same setting. The three sections of project management make the back of the accountability aspects in any IT projects and are definitive of the success of the project and the skills of the team.
Project planning comes as one of the aspects that a project manager and the team will have to look at before any of the works on the project commences. At this stage, the project team and the stakeholders have to meet and agree on issues regarding the time frame, the resources, the schedules and the management of the foreseen risks as well as those that may come unexpectedly. This means that this is the first stage of developing an accountability system that is purely based on the results from the various relevant groups. As such, any form of failure can be easily traced to the person that is responsible and the mitigation aspects implemented. It is also crucial that the goals of the various members on the team and the stakeholders are set out at this stage (Professionalprojectmanagement.blogspot.com, 2011). To make sure that the planning process has covered all the aspects of the project there are certain questions that the entire team needs to answer. These are some of the most crucial questions that the team needs to address from the first meeting, as well as the subsequent ones that will follow as the project continues through the various stages set out in the plan;
What is the current position?
What are we working with?
Where do we want to achieve?
How do we achieve the goals?
What are the alternatives strategies of achieving the goals?
What are tasks of the various parties?
How do we measure performance?
In project scheduling, the project manager and the team need to set out the work schedule, detailing the various duties that need to be carried out. At the same time, the schedule will have to state the resources that...
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