IT Project Management – first looking
This is the first subject that I’ve taken in this semester. Let’s take a look at what is the “Project Management” about!
Project Management = Managing a particular Project. So, here are 3 words needed to make clear:
- Managing: can be known as handling or controlling
- Particular: can be used as unique(this will be discus later)
- Project: is defined as “a temporary endeavor undertaken to accomplish a unique product or service”. This definition shows the meaning of “particular” word above.
As everybody knows, a simple word as project contains many related areas such as: a project of building an accounting program is related not only to calculate numbers but also related to finance, tax, even though rules must follow.
According to definitions and one simple example, these are attributes of a project:
- Unique: 1 project is for unique purpose
- Temporary: 1 project is only taken in a range of time
- Require resources: 1 project is not only inside a bound of an area but also relates to and needs other resources in related areas.
- Sponsor/Customer: who is the one will use product/service after project
- Uncertainty: as unpredictability (not sure)
Every project is constrains itself by 3 factors: scope, time & cost. These factors build the Triple Constraint. This means each project that is considered as successful needs to achieve 3 goals
- Scope: what is the project going to solve
- Time: How long will it take to complete
- Cost: How many $$ does it take?
Here has a small (not really small) problem occurs when all of those 3 goals is achieved but the client (customer) is not satisfy? So, the last but also the very important factor is quality of the project. A successful project must gain the satisfaction of the customer. Then, the Triple constrains should become the “quadruple constraint”. So the good project management should include more than triple constraint.
Project management is defined as “the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities in order to meet project requirement”.
The framework of project management shows all the factors need to control while managing a project. They are:
- Stakeholders: these are people involved or affected by activities of a project. They can be anyone related such as: customers, sponsors, suppliers, staffs and also competitors
- Knowledge areas: this describes the available key factors (competences) that project manager must develop. It’s divided into 3 parts. The upper part is the quadruple constraint. The below part contains: HR (human resources) management, communication management, risk management and procurement management. 2 parts will meet at the central part called “project integration management”
- Tools & techniques assist project manager.
- Project Portfolio (like the group of investments)
So, becoming an IT project management is good or not?
- IT PM (Project Management) is one of top-ten most in demand IT skill and is the no.2 of high salary IT job, so fantastic, isn’t it?
- Getting certificate: this is needed. You can search for PMP (Project Management Professional) certificate.
- PM can apply to other areas, not only in IT.
