IT Project Management and Information Technology - Assignment Example

IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT IT Project management is one of the best key areas in computer technology world that has improved the living standard of the world. This is a field that is different from other management systems that it is always concerned with the information that is related to the software and hardware in the technology world. For one to understand the essence of Information technology, he must understand the questions that relate to the technology. We must understand what information technology is and the tools needed in the fields including the processes and methodologies applied to solve the data computing technology. It is a field that gives and collects all the services and processes that have a relationship with computing of data. Projects are one of the best practical experiences that are meant to achieve goals for the technology. They are normally endeavors that are temporal by having the start and end date and at the end a goal is achieved. IT Project management is the key role and responsibility of project managers to use in order to achieve the desired goals. The projects need some methodologies and processes including the tools which assist in the planning, moderation, and execution of the projects. The managers in the projects are the ones who are in charge of the gathering and organization of the resources needed in the development of the project. They also direct the usage of the resources in order to achieve the best production and results of the project. The IT project managers only manage the project relying on the data management and the information that is collected. It is the duty of the IT managers to ensure that the highest productivity is achieved from the project (Kerznar 2002). Software management is another key in maintaining the IT Project because it has the ability and capability of giving accurate information on the data being collected. Data that is being collected goes through stages for the result of the project to become successful. It is the duty of the staff management in the project staff to learn to solve large problems that are very crucial in the IT management team. In the management of projects, finding the solutions is moving to another world whereby the software is treated as a service. This optimizes the requirements needed in the IT project as directed by the project manager. Most of the tools used in the IT project are web based making the information of the project not to be in one place. This makes the project to have several database points creating communication that is quick and collaborative. This is one of the best characteristics of a good IT project in the recent technology (Bonham 2005). Developments in IT project Management There are a lot of developments that contribute to the improvement of the IT technology. This includes developments like; Cloud Cloud computing is one of the best ways a business can be taken to the whole world. This is a field that has a lot of definitions from different perspectives. This is the process of getting the servers of an organization in a project over the internet. Other people argue that getting data information of a company over the internet is such a risky idea. Anything outside the firewall is considered to be an open source creating a cloud computing deep dive. In the IT project management, cloud is one of the latest technologies that are being adopted by many of the organizations online. This is a field where technology brings in about flying the information on air making it open without the use of too much of the resources and infrastructure. This includes the time and resources spent on the training personnel and paying for the license of the software to be used in the project. Big data It is a strategy that is used in many of the businesses in the world that is fast moving with a lot of wind flow. Having a big data in an organization involves having a lot of technologies and processes that happen over a very high big data that is diverse. This involves the fast changes of technology in the skills and it depends on the volume, velocity and the kind of data that is being communicated in the project. Mobile computing This is an interaction between the human beings and the computer in the project management where the technology is being spread out fast enough. This is a technology that has been introduced in the smart phones, tablets and wireless data information plans that contribute to the good productivity of an organization. Most of the users in the world have opted to have the wireless network communication that involves the interaction between them and the mobile phones. When making a new project of information technology, mobile computing is considered by looking at the importance of the human computer interaction and the communication channels of the networking. The creation of the networks in a social platform for the purpose of the interaction between the people and sharing of the social interests and activities has made technology to improve into the next level (Lewis 1995). Social networking Social networking is one of the latest IT projects that have been successful in the world which creates a good networking infrastructure. This leads to a good background and real life connection of different cultures in the world. It is a project that has really moved most of the people’s lives and living standards. Information technology has also led to effects affecting the social people in the social networks like Facebook either positively or negatively. This is a general representation of a person over the internet with just a profile creation. It is such a wonderful invention project to come up with most movers online who are always busy chatting and socializing with strangers. Such projects created in the field of IT need a lot of security in order to secure the vital information of the users online. Methodologies for project management There are several methodologies used in the creation and management of projects depending on several factors. For each methodology, there exist different factors that affect them in the process of technology development. The same methodologies need a lot of requirements and support for them to succeed and come up with the best goals to be achieved. Agile Methodology This is a methodology that gives power to the teams of the project staff and encourages more of the customer interaction with them to avoid the risks that may appear in the project for the success of the project. Its major agenda is to concentrate on the management and development of the team in charge of the project. This involves the monitoring of the team members and the ability to respond to the change for the project incase of danger. Agile methodology faces challenges like communication within the team members when there is need for change in the project. In the development of the methodology, all its lifecycles are well given the right procedures and directions more so when it comes to the change of the system working. The methodology also caters for the new technology like the mobile and cloud development in a way that it creates change to them in case change is required. PRINCE2 Methodology This is a methodology that is well structured and it solves its main points by managing the project. It is derived from the old methodology by the name PROMPTII. It is a methodology that deals with computer and telecommunication creating a large assistance in the project. Challenges like lack of enough communication in the project while making solutions can affect the methodology. The methodology normally uses adaptive methods like Scrum in order to solve the management process. The methodology normally operates on seven major principles which are; the business justification, learning from experience, the quality of the project goals, the management needed in the steps of the methodology, and the focus needed in the project. The methodology can be very hectic if the proper needed instructions and steps are not well followed. Waterfall methodology For the methodology, still the aspect of management team is also needed. This is well achieved when the goals and set standards are achieved creating a good management team in the project of information technology. All the rules and regulations needed at each and every stage of the methodology accounts because responsibility is highly required in this particular area. Lack of committed members in the information technology project can lead to a fall for the methodology. A critic in the methodology does not lead into change in the project development because the methodology depends on each of the steps in the project. If one step of the project fails, it means that the other step of the project is well maintained. Having the right communication skill in the methodology is another problem that faces the methodology because it needs enough communication between the members in the steps to be followed. Both agile and prince2 methodologies prove to have the best future on the coming technology in that they really focus on the coming recent technologies. With the Prince2 methodology, there is lack of enough communication which may not satisfy the recent projects beings created. It is the duty of the agile methodology to emerge the best methodology above all and concentrate on the coming new technologies. Latest projects like website designing of online shopping and marketing is one of the best operations that are supported by the agile methodology. In the information technology industry, agile is one of the best methodologies used in the development of the projects. This is one of the best technologies used in the information technology development industry by maintaining the teams and the projects. This is a methodology that simply uses a new method to run the project and to maintain the team members of the project. In the project’s manifesto there is a software development policy that is the manifesto of the new projects being created. In the agile methodology, there is individual interaction that involves the processes and tools needed in the project creating a good interaction environment. The software used in the methodology, there is a full documentation that clearly shows all the necessary steps and processes in the project development. This also includes the collaboration of the customer into the project and meeting their requirements. The customer also can engage in the contract negotiation over some rights in the project making a success of the business. This is also easy for the project to change over to the new plan in case urgency rises (Lock 2007). Agile in Social Networking In the social networking project structure, agile is venturing into the field creating a good development. The social networks meet the development of the agile methodology creating a positive impact into the information technology sector. Although the methodology faces a challenge in that managing the projects that have been shifted from other methodologies is such a hard work because the projects have a flux state that is constant. This is because lost of the projects developed by the developers have not been created with the environment of resisting of the iteration such deep. Due to such challenges, there is also a new method for the project management that is available for the applications in the field of technology that is being created by Mendix. This is one of the best platforms as a service (PaaS) that is so good. It functions as an environment on which the inventors of technology use it to create new applications that are being used in the cloud. Example is the sprint social network that has been introduced in a beta version. This is a new paradigm inventory in information technology that is currently in the cloud. Agile has the ability to give chances to the developers to change their environments depending on the requirements of the customers. Their main aim is to ensure that the social networking technology has been taken to the next world by facilitating the communication in the social networks. This also makes sprint to provide all the communication to the customers including the linking of other networks like Twitter and Facebook which might affect the capital risk of the project (Maylor 1996). Adaptation of the Managers in project Management The managers in the project should also learn to adapt the new styles of managing the project in order for them to be competent in the coming years in the field of information technology. The managers should learn to delegate in order to create a good management. The manager should learn on how to let it go and listen to the outside environment more. The manager should also let the team members of the project to make mistakes and learn in order for them to grow in the field of business. The manager should also create a good social relationship with the stake holders in the business for the sake of improving the communication skills. For the agile environment, the manager must also be conversant with change so that the phases will be easy for the manager. Most of the project managers are supposed to follow up simple tests in order to improve their adaptation ability to any change in the project. One of the best characters of a traditional manager should work on the plan requirements while having minimal changes. At the same time, for a qualified agile manager, he or she must learn on how to adapt changes in case of hostile environments. To my own opinion, a good project manager, one must first consider the requirements of the customer and work hard to satisfy the customer. When the qualities of the project and customer value are firstly considered by the manager, the plans are well fulfilled in order to achieve the goals of the project by the manager. The manager also looks at the constraints to the plan of the project creating a good guidance. The managers should also bear in mind on the variations that might be there in the project team and be ready to solve them. The managers should also know that the plans they make must be flexible creating a good project guideline. The managers should always follow the adaptive principle statement for the project. The leader must take time learning and planning for the new plan. This always differs from one manager to another depending on the baselines of the project. In the example of the PMBOK2 method, adaptive plan must be used for the manager to understand what actions to take. For this, the manager must follow the agile Manifesto and the five principles for the adaptation. The principles involve the change in the project, and adapt the new processes needed in the project. Example of the failed project is the Avon production at Canada. This is a project that was for sales and ordering system. Another unsuccessful project is the healthcare government of the United States. Improvement of the projects Development of the projects in the information technology need to be implemented into the system and be used in order to improve the project. In the implementation phase of a project, the control is run and the decisions of the best development processes are chosen for the better functioning of the project. The strategic team initiates the first phase of the information technology in the project scope development. The scope is then implemented creating the best team management group that has a good working direction that has good documents concerning the project. The project documentation has a lot of information concerning the project and it includes all the opportunities and problems. The project opportunities are well analyzed in the documentation including the constraints and assumptions of the project. The enterprise of the project is the one responsible for the maintenance of the system (Snedakar; Hoenig 2005) Conclusion It is the duty of the managers in IT project management to come with the best methodologies to run the project. With the help of other staff members and team members a project can be designed and be implemented accordingly. Information technology has evolved resulting to wonderful projects that help the society. This projects use the latest procedures and methodology that is in the current business environment. With the help of the agile methodology, new businesses have been introduced by using the best technology in conjunction with the best management system. References BONHAM, S. S. (2005). IT project portfolio management. Boston, Artech House. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&A N=127774. KERZNER, H. (2001). Project management a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. New York, John Wiley. http://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=2380. LEWIS, J. P. (1995). Fundamentals of project management. New York, AMACOM. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&A N=2112. LOCK, D. (2007). Project management. Aldershot, England, Gower. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10211408. MAYLOR, H. (1996). Project management. London, Pitman. PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE. (2004). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide). Newtown Square, Pa, Project Management Institute. PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE. (1984). Project management journal. [Drexel Hill, Pa.], Project Management Institute. SNEDAKER, S., & HOENIG, N. (2005). How to cheat at IT project management. Rockland, Mass, Syngress. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9781597490375. Read More