Lecture One: Introduction To Software Project Management PDF

Lecture - 1 Introduction to Software Project Management 27/03/2022 1  Learning objectives Explain why studying software project management Describe advantages of Using Formal Project Management Explain what is project and project man...

Lecture - 1 Introduction to Software Project Management 27/03/2022 1  Learning objectives Explain why studying software project management Describe advantages of Using Formal Project Management Explain what is project and project management Explain the triple constraints of project management Describe the 9 project management knowledge areas 27/03/2022 2 Motivation for Studying SW Project Management SW Projects have a terrible track record – A 1995 Standish Group study (CHAOS) found that only 16.2% of SW projects were successful and over 31% were canceled before completion, costing over $81 B in the U.S. alone. – These same organisations will pay an additional $59 billion for software projects that will be completed, but will exceed their original time estimates. The need for SW projects keeps increasing 27/03/2022 3 Advantages of Using Formal Project Management Better control of financial, physical, and human resources Improved customer relations Shorter development times Lower costs Higher quality and increased reliability Higher profit margins Improved productivity Better internal coordination Higher worker morale 27/03/2022 4  What is project? A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to accomplish a unique purpose Attributes of projects – unique purpose – temporary – require resources, often from various areas – should have a primary sponsor and/or customer – involve uncertainty 27/03/2022 5  The triple constraints Every project is constrained in different ways by its – Scope goals: What is the project trying to accomplish? – Time goals: How long should it take to complete? – Cost goals: What should it cost? It is the project manager’s duty to balance these three often competing goals 27/03/2022 6  The triple constraints of project management 27/03/2022 7  Project management Project management is “the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet project requirements” (PMI*, Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 2000, p. 6) *The Project Management Institute (PMI) is an international professional society. Their web site is www.pmi.org. 27/03/2022 8  project management framework 27/03/2022 9  Project stakeholders Stakeholders are the people involved in or affected by project activities. Stakeholders include – the project sponsor and project team – support staff – customers – users – suppliers – opponents to the project 27/03/2022 10  9 project management knowledge areas Knowledge areas describe the key competencies that project managers must develop. – 4 core knowledge areas lead to specific project objectives (scope, time, cost, and quality). – 4 facilitating knowledge areas are the means through which the project objectives are achieved (human resources, communication, risk, and procurement management). – 1 knowledge area (project integration management) affects and is affected by all of the other knowledge areas. 27/03/2022 11  9 project management knowledge areas Integration management - overall coordination of the project work Scope management – identifying all to be done and managing just that Schedule management – developing a project schedule and managing it Cost management – estimating task costs and budgeting the final total Quality management – identifying quality targets and meeting them Resource management – managing human, equipment, and material resources 27/03/2022 12  9 project management knowledge areas Communications management – planning and managing project communications Risk management – planning and managing uncertainties that impact the project Procurement management – managing contracts and procurements Stakeholder management – managing stakeholder engagement 27/03/2022 13  project management tools and techniques Project management tools and techniques assist project managers and their teams in various aspects of project management Some specific ones include – Project Charter and WBS (scope) – Gantt charts, network diagrams, critical path analysis, critical chain scheduling (time) – Cost estimates and earned value management (cost) 27/03/2022 14  More advantages of project management* Bosses, customers, and other stakeholders do not like surprises Good project management (PM) provides assurance and reduces risk PM provides the tools and environment to plan, monitor, track, and manage schedules, resources, costs, and quality PM provides a history or metrics base for future planning as well as good documentation Project members learn and grow by working in a cross- functional team environment *Knutson, 27/03/2022 Joan, PM Network, December 1997, p. 13 15  How project management relates to other diciplines Much of the knowledge needed to manage projects is unique to PM However, project managers must also have knowledge and experience in – general management – the application area of the project Project managers must focus on meeting specific project objectives 27/03/2022 16  Project management and other disciplines 27/03/2022 17  Reading assignment Acquaint yourself with MS-Project or any other Project Management Application 27/03/2022 18 27/03/2022 19 27/03/2022 20