LUIGIDOLLOSA

10754903

BOOK REVIEW 3

BOOK : MODERN SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN AUTHOR : HOFFER, GEORGE, VALACICH

REFERENCE # : QA 76.9 S88 H64 1999

CHAPTER : 3- Managing the Information Systems Project

QUOTE : “…what you experience as a project manager is an environment of continual change and problem solving...”

BOOK REVIEW :

      Chapter 3 focused on project management and discussed the essential role of a project manager in handling an IS project. Although in IT, the main focus is on the development of competency particularly in the technical dimension, the skill of managing projects are very vital since projects are what businesses are for. Project management is an occupation that is accountable for delivering the demands of the end-users and responsible for solving a problem in the system or to get the most out of opportunities present on the business itself. The chapter focused on the scenario of the system analyst being the project manager of a certain business activity.

     As I have mentioned on the previous paragraph, the goal of projects in information systems development is to solve a problem and to seize an opportunity. Therefore, the function of a project manager is to ensure that all undertaken steps are inclined to meet the goals and standard objectives. He/she must be equipped with all the necessary skills so as to partake effectively and efficiently in all the steps undergone during the project management process. Among this skills are leadership, interaction, and technical skills. That is why the systems analyst is the most suitable to occupy the project manager position because an effective analyst possesses all of these proficiencies.

     There are four phases in the project management process as stated in the book: initiation, planning, executing, and closing. And under these distinct phases are also several sub-procedures to be taken into consideration. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss the four phases briefly.

      In project initiation, the PM establishes the groundwork for the rest of the project development process. This includes creating the core group, which implies the establishment of functioning committees for the project; understanding the customer, which includes being able to be informed of their needs and demands and being able to foster a healthy partnership with them; formulating the initiation plan so as to clearly define the activities needed for the team to identify the project scope; developing management procedures which has to be inclined with the standards of operations of the company; and lastly, constructing the project workbook to summon the tools for creating a successful documentation of the project.

     In project planning, the PM clearly determines the activities to be accomplished and the amount of work to be spent in each activity of the specific project. This includes defining the scope, complexity, content and nature of the project and, as well, the success feasibility. Next is decomposing management tasks wherein the whole project is broken down into manageable chunks with detailed description of each task. Next is making a resource plan to determine in estimate amount the requisite resources for each task. Next is developing the schedule in which you take into account the nature of broken tasks and the availability of resources to allocate timetables to accomplish activities of the whole project. Next is developing a communication plan so as to summarize procedures in communication between the company’s management, project members, and the customers themselves. Next is determining project standards and procedures to identify what kind of methodologies to be used.( e.g. modification of the SDLC to accommodate the project). Next is risk identification and assessment wherein the team studies the probable sources of risks and loopholes across the project development so as to lessen its damaging consequences. Next is the creation of the budget to determine the expenses and profits that will stem from the project development process. And lastly is the establishment of the baseline project plan that summarizes all tasks and resources to be used in aiding into the next phase which is the execution proper.

      In project execution, the team basically implements the baseline project plan itself. The first step is to execute the contents of the plan, starting from execution of tasks, collecting and distributing the resources, orienting project members, sticking to the schedule and budget and taking note of the quality of the outputs of each task. Next step under this phase is monitoring of progress in which permitted adjustments/modifications in terms of following the schedule or allocation of the budget and resources are being closely observed across the entirety of the execution phase. Next is managing the changes wherein the baseline project plan in altered in itself if circumstances pressure the project manager to do so in order to accommodate better delivery of effectiveness among all aspects. And the last step, the maintenance of the project workbook wherein updates on the documentation of the project development is being constantly recorded.

        And in project closing down, the team brings proper closure to the project. First is the fundamental project close down wherein assessment, evaluation, and appraisal are duly given to each contributor and member of the project. Next is the post-project review to examine the outputs delivered by the project activities, if it had met the standards of the management and the customers as well. And lastly, the close down of the customer contract in which all legal contractual negotiations are checked to have been satisfied by all parties involved in the project management process.

       The latter parts of the chapter discusses about management software and utilities that offer a large contribution of project management. I dwelled more on the project management phases rather than this portion for the reason that I am fully aware that the book was published ten years ago and softwares have been developed already that enhanced the project processes.