Managing a Systems Development Project at Consumer and Industrial Products, Inc.

Managing a Systems Development Project at

Consumer and Industrial Products, Inc.

Overview

This case depicts a large systems development project in rather substantial detail. The PAS system being developed is a part of the reengineering of the department’s work processes. The perspectives and responsibilities of the sponsoring manager and the project manager (called the project director) are emphasized.

This case illustrates the steps in the first half of the life cycle development process, using the Stradis methodology to go into some detail concerning what must be done. It particularly emphasizes the important relationships between user management and IS management in a development project.

This case also illustrates the importance of a partnership relationship between users and IS. An undercurrent in the situation depicted is the history of bad relationships between the disbursements people and the IS people that had to be overcome for the project to be successful.

This case also illustrates the consequences of poor lower-level IS department management who had little understanding of system development, would not staff the project adequately, and were responsible for the history of bad relationships with user management.

Questions for Discussion

1. Discuss Ted Anderson’s role in the PAS project.

Anderson acts as the executive sponsor. He manages the budget and approves all expenses. His signature is required for all end phases and for the authorization of the launching of the next phase. He is an active executive sponsor, who makes sure that he shows people that he values the project enough to personally put time on it, so that others will be motivated to exert the same effort and dedication. His image is at stake, now with Watkins being hospitalized, because he promoted and supported the PAS project from the very beginning

2. Discuss Peter Shaw’s role in the PAS project.

Shaw is the user project manager he is responsible for ensuring that the...