As organizations seek to operate effectively and efficiently in a complex and fast-moving world, there is an increasing trend towards project-oriented work practices. Project management is a fast-growing discipline that is widely used in the IT industry. The net effect is a growing need for individuals to assume responsibility for project delivery on time, within budget, meeting the desired level of quality.

Significant organizational resources are involved in project work (once off activities), either directly or in a supportive role. However, those managing these resources often have no formal training in the basic techniques that can make the difference between a successful project and an expensive failure. IT projects, often cutting across different business disciplines, represents a significant business challenge. These projects, notorious for being over budget and time and not delivering what the business needs, can also benefit from being managed in a more disciplined manner by using the tools and techniques associated with project management.

This course has been designed specifically for individuals and organizations using project management to deliver IT initiatives and will equip project managers, owners and key resources on IT projects with the knowledge required to successfully complete IT-intrinsic projects.

Course Objectives

The aim of the course is to equip participants with a basic theoretical knowledge of project management as a discipline, as well as to illustrate the practical application of this knowledge. Participants will become familiar with tools to assist in establishing, resourcing, controlling and monitoring projects, and will develop an appreciation for the interrelationships between efficient and effective project management, people management, and successful project outcomes.

All aspects of IT systems development and implementation are covered, including bespoke software development and the roll-out of major enterprise systems (e.g. ERP, CRM or SCM). Although the program does not present a specific methodology (e.g. PRINCE2, Rapid or Agile) it covers all the key subject areas of IT project management. The importance of people and processes to support the technology deployed is a central focus point of the course.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Define and describe the discipline of project management.
• Understand the generic IT project life cycle and the deliverable within this life cycle.
• Understand the current generic methodologies and standards (PMI / PRINCE2 / APM) used in the project industry, including its benefits and limitations.
• Understand the role of the charter and the statement of work for IT projects.
• Identify the many factors involved with developing systems (human and automated) and balance these factors to protect the project team from outside distractions.
• Appreciate the role of task definition and management and comprehend the impact of prerequisites on project tasks.
• Understand the importance of people management in project management success.
• Communicate effectively in a project team and understand how each team member‚ effective communication contributes to the ability of the project manager to effectively plan and control the project.
• Partake in a formal risk and issue management process and be able to identify project risks and issues for IT projects.
• Compile a project status report.

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at all resources intimately involved in major business projects with a strong IT and Telecom component. All levels of project managers, as well as those line managers within an organization that need to develop an appreciation for the role of project management, will benefit from this course. Senior managers and project owners/coordinators wishing to introduce a project based approach to their IT and/or Telecom department will also find the course highly beneficial, as will IT staff that have acquired their project skills ‚ on the job‚ and have never had any formal project management training.

Course Special Features:

• Case studies
• Exercises

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