This course explores the practical skills required to: start a technology project with a clearly defined scope; set and manage stakeholder expectations; manage changing client requirements; and meet quality standards. Students will also be able to identify and overcome the typical pitfalls inherent in technology projects. The course assumes a basic understanding of software development and the software development life cycle and uses this basis to discuss methods for delivering IT projects involving networks, hardware acquisition, process changes, data development, etc., on time, within budget, and to specifications. However, it assumes no prior knowledge in management techniques and will instruct students in how to develop approaches and styles of management specific to technology projects. Students who desire to be IT managers, application development team leaders or IT project managers will benefit from this course. Course content will be delivered primarily by face-to-face instruction. Some aspects of the course will be delivered online and through in-class discussions.
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
· Identify the communication mechanisms for different audiences
· Outline how to work with local and remote teams
· Identify the unique risks, issues, and critical success factors associated with technology projects
· Describe measurement theory for the management of technology projects and how to communicate the results
· Differentiate among the project management of technology initiatives from other kinds of projects, including hardware, technology and vendor relationships
· Apply project management principles and techniques related to technology project planning, implementation and tracking
· Apply the appropriate product and process metrics and analytical techniques to a project
· Infer the optimal time for product release
· Create a project management plan
· Evaluate the use of technology project management philosophies, principles, methods, tools, and standards
· Compare various techniques for managing a technology development team.
IT managers ; IT project managers; IT team leaders; Application developers; Web Application Developers; Computer Science/ IT graduates interested in a career IT leadership and project management
An IT professional will be required to manage a project at some point in his or her career. As such, graduates of this course must be equipped with the tools that will ensure their success when they are required to manage projects. Therefore, students will undertake in-depth study of the roles and responsibilities of the IT manager, and learn best practices of technology project management. On successfully completing this course, it is envisaged that students will possess valuable critical and creative thinking skills, exhibit a positive attitude towards IT project management and be highly information literate.
The following topics/concepts/theories/issues will be addressed:
· Project management (PM) fundamentals
· Software system project phases
· Organizational structures
· Project charters and statements of work (SOW)
· Development lifecycle models and matching lifecycles to projects
· Project plans and work breakdown structures (WBS)
· Estimation and Budgeting
· Determining net present value (NPV), return on investment (ROI) and payback models
· Scheduling
· PERT and Gantt charts
· Critical chain scheduling
· Risk and change management
· Requirements process and configuration management
· Software system metrics, project control and status reporting
· Project metrics
· Overview of testing
· Final Phases & Other Issues
· Project recovery
· Documentation
· Migration management
· Project closing and post project reviews
· Project success metrics and evaluation
This course is delivered using a combination of interactive lectures, online and face-to-face discussions and laboratories. Students are required to read preparatory material and complete assigned homework given by the lecturer and be prepared to participate in discussions. Laboratory sessions will be used to provide hands-on experiences in interface design. Students are expected to prepare assigned programming and developmental exercises prior to arriving at the laboratory.
Credit Hours Five (5) hours of lectures and two (2) hours of labs each week for eight (8) weeks.
Dr. C. Gittens (Coordinator)
