Unit 9 IT (Information Technologies)
Project Management
Before explaining the characteristics of different project management methodologies and project
management structure, I am going to explain what project management is and what is project
lifecycle. Projects has a defined beginning and end point in time and a defined scope of work to be
completed for give requirements and objects.
Project management is the art of planning, organising and controlling o the project can be
completed successfully within the budget, time, quality constraint and risks.
Project life cycle has the following five main stages and the structure in which these are
implemented depending on the project management methodology is being applied. Project life cycle
involves:
1. Initiating
Imitating is the first stages of project life cycle, and this is where you must plan the justification and
requirements.
2. Planning
This is second stage of the project life cycle where you need to provide details about how the project
work will be carried out, how it will be monitored and controlled.
3. Executing
This is third stages where you had planned is being put into action for example who is going to be
helping the project and what machine is going to be included in the project.
4. Monitoring and controlling
This is fourth stages where you monitor and control the project according with the initiation and
planning documents.
5. Closing
Once the project is complete, this is where you give the final products to the stakeholders or to the
client and a review will be held to learn from the successes and the mistakes made during the
project.
And you can use the project life cycle in these different IT projects such as software application
development, installing IT systems and network, etc.
Now, I am going to explain, using appropriate definitions outlined in the unit content A1, the
characteristics of different project management methodologies and project management structure
applied in THREE different IT projects.
The first project management methodologies which I am going to explain is PRINCE2
methodologies. PRINCE2 is suited for short-term and long-term regardless the size, complexity,
industry and/or market. There are seven stages that the project manager needs to be aware of when
it comes to managing the project in PRINCE2 such as starting up a project, initiating a project,
,directing a project, controlling a stage, managing product delivery, managing a stage boundary and
closing a project.
1. Starting a project
This is first stages where you form the project board, appointing project manager and team,
preparing a project brief, defining the approach.
2. Initiating a project
This is second stage where you define the requirements, risk planning, project controls, project files
and project initiation documentation.
3. Directing a project
This is third stages where you need to have authorisation of initiation, authorisation of project,
authorisation of a stage, closing projects.
4. Controlling a stage
This is fourth stages where you assess the progress, capturing and examining issues, managing and
controlling risk, reviewing stages, escalating issues, reporting, delivering packages.
5. Managing a product delivery
This is fifth stages where you accept, execute and deliver work packages.
6. Manging a stage boundary
This is sixth stages where you plan and updating a stage and the project board, updating business
case, updating registers, exception plans.
7. Closing a project
This is the seventh and last stages of PRINCE2 methodologies and this is where you send the final
product to the client and get the benefits and project end reviews.
Advantages of PRINCE2 Disadvantages of PRINCE2
Scalability Cost of training and qualification
You can use Prince2 for any projects Absence of people or contact management.
regardless the size.
Training requirement If you do not like excessive documentation,
then Prince 2 is not for you.
Qualified personnel There is load of documentation to maintain
and update.
For better communication and accountability Due to lack of involvement and time the senior
in the projects, then PRINCE2 project is good management usually has, this will slow down
for you. the project.
It focuses more on outputs and provide for Requires experience to apply it well.
continuous improvement so progress and
results are guaranteed. (“Understanding
PRINCE2 Methodology in Project
Management”)
, The second project management methodologies which I am going to explain is Agile Project
Methodologies.
Agile Methodologies is an iterative approach to delivery of a project throughout its lifecycle.
Iterative or agile life cycle. Iterative or agile life cycles are composed of repetition process towards
the competition of project.
Stages of Agile Methodologies.
We need to understand what is involved at stage of the agile methodology including iteration 0
phase, iteration 1 phase, construction iterations phase, transition and release phase, production
phase and retirement phase.
Iteration 0 Phase
- It is where the project is being analysed before selected for the development, cost and time
needs to be analysed and road maps produced for technology and the business.
Iteration 1 Phase
- This is where the planning, developing the model takes place for example, prototypes of the
products are created, and requirements and a release plan are defined.
Construction iterations phase
- This is where a product is produced, daily meeting to talk about the team progress and end
of iteration reviews to demo to stakeholders.
Transition and release phase
- This is where the product is released into production as a working system.
Production phase
- Where the product is delivered to the client, including the phases of support and
maintenance.
Retirement Phase
- This is where the product is not needed in the development phase.
The first IT projects which I am going to explain is Danske Bank personal banking app which was
developed and management for Danske Bank in Denmark.
Danske Bank personal banking
app
In 2010 staff at Danske Bank in Denmark decided to push the management of the bank to develop
an application for mobile banking. The bank already had a website for banking, and this could be