Managing Successful IS Projects

Upcoming Class Dates

This 4-day fundamental course is designed to give anyone involved with information system (IS) projects the essential tools and techniques they need to deliver successful results.

This course provides a distinction between information systems and information technology, the purpose of information systems and the role of information systems organizations, critical success factors for delivering information systems projects, and how systems development life cycle fits into the project management life cycle.

You will discuss the complete project lifecycle, from how an IS project is initiated, through to project planning, executing and controlling, and closing. In addition, you learn the basic approach for selecting and implementing project management software, including key features of common project management tools.

Finally, you are shown how to assess project, team and individual performance on project, including the benefits of benchmarking.

Learning Objectives

Participants will gain practical skills to:

• Distinguish between information systems and information technology
• Recognize the purpose of information systems, and the role of Information Systems Organizations
• Differentiate between information system projects and non IS projects
• Understand the difference between systems development lifecycle and project management lifecycle
• Appreciate how IT governance fits into business
• Develop clear project purpose, scope, deliverables, high-level budgets and benefits, impact of “do nothing”, and project justification
• Assess and structure the IS project team
• Create a business case, project charter, work breakdown structure, project schedule and project management plan
• Able to plan for and manage quality, human resources and communication
• Identify key areas of IS project risk, assess their impact and identify strategies for managing risks
• Apply project management tools and techniques for executing and controlling projects
• Be familiar with what is required to close information system projects
• Recognize steps for selecting and implementing project management software
• Recognize project manager’s professional responsibility
• Be aware of the trends in information technology

Who Should Attend

The Managing Successful IS Projects course is suitable for individuals who are:

• Currently involved with information systems projects
• Existing Project Managers and Business Analysts that want to be involved in information systems projects

Prerequisite

There is no prerequisite for this course. It functions as a standalone course.

Materials

You will receive a course binder containing copies of presentation slides, case studies, templates, exercises, and suggested solutions.

What You Will Learn

• Definitions
• Roles of an information system organization
• Corporate and information system governance
• IT governance model
• Project governance roles and elements
• Project governance structure – roles and responsibilities
• Information technology trends

• Definitions
• Types of projects
• Project management lifecycle
• System development lifecycle
• Project management methodology and maturity
• Project Management Institute

• Purpose of initiation
• Project lifecycle activities
• Gather data including stakeholders
• Confirm business need – business case
• Identify project requirements
• Establish project objectives and scope
• Estimate resources
• Develop project charter
• System development activities
• Conduct feasibility study
• Define product scope
• Initiation deliverables

• Purpose of project planning
• Project lifecycle activities
• Prepare scope statement
• Develop human resource plan
• Hold project kick-off meeting
• Develop detailed WBS
• Develop project schedule
• Develop quality and communication management plans
• Develop budget and schedule estimates
• Identify and manage risks
• Develop the project management plan
• System development lifecycle activities
• Define product requirements
• Develop functional requirements specification
• Prepare preliminary product design
• Planning deliverables

• Purpose of project execution and monitoring
• Project lifecycle activities
• Direct and manage project execution
• Manage and build teams
• Monitor and control project work
• Issue log and change request
• Project status
• Measure project performance
• System development lifecycle activities
• Complete product designs
• Develop test strategy and plan
• Execute test plan
• Establish and implement product support requirements
• Prepare documentations–user and technical manuals
• Install products and services
• Conduct technical and user training of products and services
• Execution and monitoring deliverables

• Project closing scope
• Purpose and conditions for closing
• Project lifecycle activities
• Administrative closure
• Contract closure
• Final documented acceptance and handover of final product/service/result
• Close project office
• System development lifecycle activities
• Support testing
• Support product deployment
• Finalise service level agreements and other associated supporting agreements
• Closing deliverables

• Meaning and purpose of a project management software
• Approaches to project management software
• Choosing a project management software
• Implementing a project management software
• Top 50 project management software

• Professional responsibilities
• Not all projects are alike
• Overall learning objectives
• Feedback

Related Courses of Interest

• Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL®) Foundation V3
• Business Analysis Essentials
• Comprehensive Business Continuity Management Seminar
• The Comprehensive Project Management Seminar

This course is delivered by Procept Associates Ltd., a Global Charter Registered Education Provider with the PMI.