Information Technology Project Management Chapter 8 Discussion Questions

Week 1 Assignment

Discussion Questions 1-7 (pg. 38- pg. 39)

1. Why is there a new or renewed interest in the field of project management?

a. Previously, project management was only focused on providing upper management with schedule and resource data. This has changed and project managers are much more involved in actually managing the project. Most projects seem to fail and the focus has been geared to not having an experience or well-trained project manager. There have been so many advancements in technology with software to help manage project that business have realized that in order to be successful that they need to utilize these new techniques and will need a project manager well versed in project management.

2. What is a project, and what are its main attributes? How is a project different from what most people do in their day-to-day jobs? What is the triple constraint? What other factors affect a project?

b. A project is temporary undertaking to create a specific product, service or result.

c. The main attributes of a project are:

i. A project has a unique purpose

ii. A project is temporary

iii. A project is developed using progressive elaboration

iv. A project requires resources, often from various areas

v. A project should have a primary customer or sponsor

vi. A project involves uncertainty

d. A project is different than day-to-day work, which is considered operational and is only intended to sustain normal operation of the business.

e. The triple constraint are limitations that affect the project. There are three main goals that a project manager must balance constantly in order to reach the desired goal. The three constraints are Scope, Time, and Cost.

f. Other factors that also may affect a project are resource availability and the quality of the outcome. The project may succeed in meeting the budget, time and scope of the...