Information Technology Project Management by Jack T. Marchewka: 12 Minute Summary

Summary

Jack T. Marchewka's book on IT Project Management emphasizes delivering Measurable Organizational Value (MOV). It covers creating a solid business case, project charter, and scope definition. The book highlights managing human resources, effective communication, and employing various project management techniques like risk management and quality assurance. Successful IT projects require a blend of technical expertise, people skills, and ethical leadership.

Takeaways

• 📈 **Measurable Organizational Value (MOV)**: IT projects should aim to provide tangible benefits to the organization, ensuring that the value added is quantifiable.
• 🔍 **Project Charter**: A clear project charter is essential, outlining the MOV, required resources, and serving as a contract to prevent misunderstandings.
• 👥 **Human Resources as Assets**: Recognize the importance of human resources in IT projects, managing their impact, and addressing their needs.
• 🛠️ **Technical and People Skills**: IT project managers must balance technical expertise with the ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders.
• 📋 **Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)**: Utilize WBS to develop a comprehensive project plan by breaking down tasks into a logical hierarchy.
• 🔒 **Scope Management**: Clearly define the project scope to prevent scope creep, which can lead to increased costs and project delays.
• 📊 **Project Estimation Techniques**: Employ standard estimation techniques like the Delphi method and time-boxing to enhance the accuracy of project planning.
• 💡 **Risk Management**: Embrace business risks and plan for contingencies to turn potential threats into opportunities.
• 📚 **Knowledge Base**: Maintain a reliable and accessible project knowledge base that is regularly updated to support effective communication and project management.
• 🏆 **Quality Standards**: Develop a comprehensive quality plan with clear standards and verification processes to ensure successful project execution.
• 🌐 **Leadership Styles**: Adapt leadership styles to different situations, leveraging emotional intelligence to foster a supportive team culture and ethical behavior.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Jack T. Marchewka's book on Information Technology Project Management?

The primary focus of Jack T. Marchewka's book is on providing Measurable Organizational Value (MOV) while navigating the complex landscape of IT projects.

What are the key themes highlighted in the summary of Marchewka's book?

The key themes highlighted include building a solid business case, understanding the project's charter and scope, managing human resources, and maintaining strong and effective communication with stakeholders.

Why is it important to justify the additional value an IT project will bring to an organization?

It is important to justify the additional value an IT project will bring to ensure that the project is aligned with the organization's goals and to secure the necessary support and resources.

What is the significance of a project charter in IT project management?

A project charter serves as a contractual agreement that clearly states the project's MOV and required resources, helping to prevent misunderstandings and providing an overview of the project plan.

How does managing human resources effectively contribute to the success of an IT project?

Effectively managing human resources involves understanding the impact of the project on individuals and the company, managing the team, understanding stakeholder needs, minimizing friction, training new users, and enlightening management on the project's benefits.

What is 'scope creep' and how can it be managed in IT projects?

'Scope creep' refers to the phenomenon of constant changes to a project that inflate its objectives without proper protocols. It can be managed by including a detailed explanation of how it can be handled, who is liable for extra costs, and how people affected by the changes will be managed.

What role does the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) play in project planning?

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a tool that enables the development of a comprehensive project plan by breaking it down into a logical hierarchy and compartmentalized tasks.

Why is it crucial to establish contingencies when managing risks in IT projects?

Establishing contingencies is crucial because it allows for the anticipation and management of potential risks, which can lead to increased profit opportunities and mitigate negative outcomes.

How does a knowledge base contribute to the success of a project?

A reliable and accessible knowledge base is key to a successful project as it allows for regular progress reports and effective communication among team members and stakeholders.

What are some of the leadership styles mentioned in the book that can influence a project's success?

The book mentions various leadership styles including compelling others, ruling, working together loosely, overseeing a democracy, setting a pace, or leading as a coach.

Why is it important to properly close an IT project, regardless of its success or failure?

Properly closing an IT project is important to fully document the new system, capture useful information, and deliver an honest, constructive close-out report that includes input from stakeholders and management, ensuring that the value delivered and business lessons learned are clearly demonstrated.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to IT Project Management

The first paragraph introduces the reader to Information Technology (IT) Project Management, emphasizing the need to provide Measurable Organizational Value (MOV). Key themes such as building a solid business case, understanding the project charter and scope, managing human resources, and maintaining effective communication with stakeholders are highlighted. The importance of balancing technical expertise with people skills is stressed, along with the necessity of proper documentation and project management formalities. The paragraph also touches on various concepts like work breakdown structure, risk management, quality assurance, procurement, leadership styles, and the implementation of new IT systems.

05:01

🛠 Streamlining IT Project Management

The second paragraph focuses on the initial steps of an IT project, starting with the creation of a business case and a core team. It underscores the importance of a Measurable Organizational Value (MOV) and feasibility assessments, cost and timeline estimates, alternative approaches, and financing details. The paragraph discusses the need to consider stakeholder impact and company strategy. It also highlights the significance of a project charter that clearly states the project's MOV and required resources, serving as a contractual agreement to prevent misunderstandings. The human resources aspect is also addressed, emphasizing the need to understand the impact of the project on individuals and the company, manage the team, and train new users.

10:04

🌐 Implementing a New IT System

The third paragraph discusses the implementation of a new IT system, cautioning against quick cutovers that could disrupt business processes. It suggests running both old and new systems in parallel until the new system is proven. The paragraph also stresses the importance of proper project closure, including full documentation of the new system, capturing useful information, and delivering a constructive close-out report. The summary provided in this paragraph ties together the key aspects of IT project management discussed throughout the script, such as work breakdown structure, risk management, quality assurance, procurement, and leadership styles, reminding us that a well-executed project is a combination of practical methodologies, effective communication, and strong ethical leadership.

Keywords

💡Measurable Organizational Value (MOV)

MOV refers to the quantifiable benefits that a project is expected to bring to an organization. It is central to the theme of the video as it emphasizes the need for IT projects to deliver tangible value. In the script, MOV is mentioned as a core component of the business case for IT projects, which must be clearly defined to ensure the project's success and to justify its resources.

💡Project Charter

A project charter is a formal document that outlines the scope, objectives, and resources of a project. It is a key concept in the video as it serves as a contractual agreement to prevent misunderstandings and provides an overview of the project plan. The script highlights the importance of stating MOV and required resources in the project charter.

💡Human Resources

Human resources are the people involved in or affected by the project. The video underscores the importance of understanding the impact of IT projects on individuals and the company. It mentions that project managers must manage their team, understand stakeholder needs, and minimize friction, which are all human resource considerations.

💡Scope Creep

Scope creep is a phenomenon where project objectives are continually expanded without proper change control. The video warns against scope creep as it can lead to increased costs and delays. It suggests detailed project planning to prevent this issue, such as using a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

💡Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

WBS is a tool used to break down a project into smaller, more manageable tasks. It is highlighted in the video as a way to develop a comprehensive project plan and to prevent scope creep by clearly defining what the project entails.

💡Risk Management

Risk management involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks that could impact a project. The video discusses the importance of planning for risks and establishing contingencies to counteract negative outcomes, which is crucial for the success of IT projects.

💡Quality Assurance

Quality assurance is the process of ensuring that a project meets its quality standards. The video mentions the development of a comprehensive project quality plan and adherence to standards such as Six Sigma and CMMI, which are methods to ensure high-quality project execution.

💡Procurement

Procurement in the context of IT projects involves selecting vendors and managing contracts. The video discusses the importance of effective procurement, including planning, contracting, and contract administration, to ensure that external resources contribute positively to the project.

💡Leadership Styles

Leadership styles refer to the various approaches a leader can take to guide a team. The video emphasizes the importance of adapting leadership styles to different situations and the need for emotional intelligence. It also mentions the influence of a leader's style on team culture.

💡Implementation

Implementation in the video refers to the process of putting a new IT system into operation. The script advises against quick cutovers to avoid disrupting business processes and suggests running old and new systems in parallel until the new system is proven viable.

💡Project Closure

Project closure involves documenting the project, capturing lessons learned, and delivering a close-out report. The video stresses the importance of proper closure to demonstrate the value delivered and to learn from the project's outcomes, regardless of its success or failure.

Highlights

Emphasizing Measurable Organizational Value (MOV) in IT project management.

Importance of a solid business case and understanding project charter and scope.

Managing human resources and maintaining effective communication with stakeholders.

Exploring concepts like work breakdown structure, risk management, and quality assurance.

The necessity of balancing technical expertise with people skills in IT projects.

The significance of documentation in IT systems and processes.

Creating a business case with a core team to ensure project success.

The role of a project charter in defining MOV and required resources.

Understanding the impact of IT projects on individuals and the company.

Determining IT project scope and defining team deliverables.

Preventing scope creep by accurately specifying project scope.

Connecting project scope to a detailed plan using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

Using standard approaches to derive project estimates.

The essential role of project management software in task, resource, and schedule determination.

Embracing business risks and planning for contingencies.

Building and managing a project's knowledge base for success.

Setting quality standards in project management using models like Six Sigma and CMMI.

The importance of support from all involved parties for the success of an IT project.

Effective procurement strategies for IT projects.

Adapting leadership styles to various situations for successful project leadership.

Implementing a new IT system with proper planning to avoid disruptions.

Closing IT projects properly by documenting and capturing lessons learned.

The combination of practical methodologies, effective communication, and ethical leadership for well-executed projects.

Transcripts

Jack T. Marchewka

Information Technology Project Management: Providing Measurable Organizational Value

[With CDROM]

Introduction

Dive into the fascinating world of Information Technology (IT) Project Management with Jack

T. Marchewka's book that focuses on providing Measurable Organizational Value (MOV) while

navigating the complex landscape of IT projects.

This summary will highlight key themes, such as building a solid business case, understanding

the project's charter and scope, managing human resources, and the significance of maintaining

strong and effective communication with stakeholders.

Get ready to explore various concepts including work breakdown structure, risk management,

quality assurance, procurement, leadership styles, and effectively implementing a new

IT system.

Managing IT Projects

IT projects require a delicate balance of technical expertise and people skills.

Project managers must justify the additional value their projects will bring to the organization

and ensure they understand the impact on all stakeholders.

The implementation of new systems should not ignore project management formalities, and

documentation of IT systems and processes is key.

With these considerations in mind, IT projects can be successful.

Streamlining IT Project Management

Begin your IT project by creating a business case with a core team, including a Measurable

Organizational Value (MOV), to ensure success.

This framework should include feasibility assessments, cost and timeline estimates,

alternative approaches, and financing details.

Additionally, discuss how it will affect stakeholders and support company strategy.

Having a proven template to tailor to your project is effective and essential, saving

time and avoiding the need to create a new framework every time.

The business case serves as the first deliverable in the IT project life cycle and sets the

foundation for success.

Crafting a Successful Project Charter

A project’s charter should clearly state its MOV and required resources.

This serves as a contractual agreement that can be used to prevent misunderstandings.

A well-crafted project plan should address the objectives of the project, the required

tasks to achieve those objectives, who will perform them, and various cost estimates.

The project plan should be based on the charter, which provides an overview of the project

plan.

Human Resources as Crucial Assets

Your company's machinery, supplies, and assets are dependent on human resources.

As an IT project manager, it's crucial to comprehend the impact of your project on individuals

and the company.

Technical aspects that are exciting to you may not interest others.

Besides completing technical requirements, you must manage your team, understand stakeholder

needs, minimize friction, train new users, and enlighten management on the project's

benefits and effect on day-to-day operations.

Consider people's needs and responsibilities as you lead the project team towards success.

Mastering IT Project Scope

Before initiating an IT project, it's crucial to determine its scope and define team deliverables,

resources, timeline, and costs.

Accurately specifying the project scope is key as it helps prevent "scope creep"-the

phenomenon of constant changes to your project that further inflate its objectives without

proper protocols.

To manage scope creep, include a detailed explanation of how it can be handled, who's

liable for extra cost, and how people affected by the changes will be managed.

Without proper specification, scope creep may cause overrunning project duration, increased

costs, and a devaluation of its MOV.

Effective Project Planning

Connect your project scope to a detailed plan by using the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

and standard approaches to project estimates such as the Delphi technique, time-boxing,

top-down and bottom-up estimating.

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a beneficial tool that enables the development of a comprehensive

project plan by breaking it down into a logical hierarchy and compartmentalized tasks.

Using standard approaches to derive project estimates such as the Delphi technique, “Time-boxing,”

“Top-down estimating,” and “Bottom-up estimating” help to make project estimates

more accurate.

When estimating project time, it's crucial to be realistic and consider delays that may

occur along the way.

By leveraging these methods, you can create an effective project plan that aligns with

your project scope.

Efficient Project Management

In project management, determining a project's tasks, resources, and schedules is essential

for its success.

Project management software is a useful tool for this process as it allows you to create

schedules, identify critical paths, monitor expenses, and collaborate with team members.

A baseline project plan, subject to management approval, should be formed by the combination

of the project's schedule and budget.

Ensure that all changes are approved to maintain control over the project.

Embracing Business Risks

Successful companies seize opportunities in risks.

Projects with risks can be lucrative if evaluated and managed effectively.

Plan ahead and establish contingencies to counteract poor outcomes.

Most individuals see risks as threats and take steps to limit them.

Conversely, prosperous organizations recognize certain business risks to be opportunities

to increase profit.

Thereby, projects entailing risks could potentially lead to success.

Unreliability can challenge task execution and preconceptions about elements outside

the task might require modifications.

It is crucial to study the project's chance of failure and initiate apt measures to optimize

positive reach and minimize negative outcomes.

Beyond this, it is imperative to have a backup plan in case of unexpected poor results.

Building and Managing a Project's Knowledge Base

The key to a successful project is a reliable and accessible knowledge base that can be

updated as needed.

Whether for a large or small project, it requires a formal/informal communication plan with

a schedule for regular progress reports.

It is essential to create a way for team members and stakeholders to communicate effectively

to achieve project success.

The knowledge base should be given careful attention, and a provision for approved changes

must also be in place.

Setting Quality Standards in Project Management

Develop a comprehensive project quality plan that outlines the standards every task must

meet to guarantee successful project execution.

Throughout the past century, several scientific management methods have emerged, and although

some have proven useful, their misuse can lead to unsatisfactory results.

To ensure top performance, many managers worldwide follow the International Organization for

Standardization's set of widely accepted operating standards.

Six Sigma is an initiative adopted by many to deliver fewer than 3.5 defects per million

in products and services.

Carnegie Mellon University recommends Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), a software

development management system.

In project plans, irrespective of the model, it is crucial to state clear standards definitions

and verification processes.

Successful IT Projects

The success of an IT project relies on getting support from everyone involved.

Colleagues who cooperate with the project outcome contribute to its success.

People tend to revert to old ways of behavior once they feel no one is watching.

Employees are more likely to comply with new behavior if they believe they made the decision

to change and that it benefits the organization.

Conflicts arising from project implementation may require formal resolution through procedures.

A mutually supportive team will make the steps of a project easier.

Effective Procurement for IT Projects

IT procurement involves selecting vendors for the right type of contract, integrating

their work with the project, and effectively managing six crucial processes: planning,

contracting, seeking seller responses, vendor selection, contract administration, and procurement

closure.

Regardless of the chosen contract type- lump sum, cost reimbursement, or pay for work time

and materials used, a sound procurement strategy entails expert planning and tight cost control

to prevent problems.

Outsourcing can offer many benefits, but it must remain as closely monitored as in-house

work to meet project metrics and keep expenses transparent.

Mastering Leadership Styles

Effective leadership requires learning and adapting to various situations and styles.

This includes compelling others, ruling, working together loosely, overseeing a democracy,

setting a pace, or leading as a coach.

To lead successfully, one must have emotional intelligence, which encompasses self-awareness,

self-management, social awareness, and social skills.

A leader's style significantly influences the team's culture, and it's essential to

demonstrate strong ethical behavior.

However, people from different cultures may have varied expectations of leaders.

Therefore, it's crucial to remain true to oneself while catering to the team's requirements.

A project plan must answer pertinent questions concerning who, what, when, how long, and

how much.

Implementing a New IT System

When implementing a new IT system, it's important to avoid quick cutovers and potential glitches

that could disrupt business processes and employee morale.

Instead, many businesses choose to run both the old and new systems until the new one

proves viable.

Projects must be properly closed, regardless of success or failure, by fully documenting

the new system, capturing useful information, and delivering an honest, constructive close-out

report that includes input from stakeholders and management.

This ensures that the value delivered and business lessons learned are clearly demonstrated

in the final project assessment.

By prioritizing proper implementation and closure, potential disasters can be prevented.

Final Recap

In conclusion, Marchewka's book underscores the importance of delivering Measurable Organizational

Value in IT project management.

The book has demonstrated the significance of a robust business case, project charter,

and scope definition in laying the groundwork for a successful project.

Furthermore, the importance of managing human resources efficiently and keeping stakeholders

informed cannot be overstated.

This summary provided insights into different aspects of IT project management, such as

work breakdown structure, risk management, quality assurance, procurement, and leadership

styles.

Ultimately, Information Technology Project Management reminds us that a well-executed

project is a combination of practical methodologies, effective communication, and strong ethical

leadership.