31 May 2006, SPACS, @The University of South Pacific Colin Ash 1

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IT Project Management (ITPM) Teaching
Practice Dr Colin AshSchool of Computing,
Information Mathematical Sciences, USP
ash_c_at_usp.ac.fj

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AGENDA

• Part A Teaching about IT-PM includes
• Project Management and IT
• Strategic Planning Project Selection
• Management of Scope, Time Cost
• Quality, Human resources, Communications, Risk
  Management
• Project Procurement Management
• Part B Industry Projects for developing CS/IS
  prototypes through partnerships with USP
• CS492 Industry Projects, commences 2006/S2

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1. Project Management and IT

• Why projects need to be managed?
• To improve the likelihood of success
• Why Projects fail?
• Controlling cost/time/resources
• What IT is need to support projects?
• Communication of activities
• How do IT projects differ other kind of projects?
  see PMBoK
• Project life cycle and IT development

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2. Strategic Planning Project Selection

• Information Technology Project Methodology (ITPM)
  generic
• Phase1 Conceptualise Initialise
• Phase2 Develop charter plan
• Phase3 Execute Control
• Phase4 Project Closure
• Phase5 Evaluate project success
• Business Case
• Project Selection Approval
• PM Processes - 5 attributes above

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3. Management of Scope, Time Cost

• The PM balancing act

Time
Costs
Resources (for Scope)
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4. Quality, Human resources, Communications,
Risk Management

• Managing Scope
• Managing Risk
• Project Schedule and Budget
• Project Communication, Tracking and Reporting
• Managing organisational change, resistance and
  conflict - the human side of PM

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5. Procurement Management

• Project procurement management
• Outsourcing
• Core business vs non-core
• Back office vs front office

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Part B Industry Projects

• Industry Projects for developing CS/IS prototypes
  through partnerships with USP
• CS492 Industry Projects in CS IS (see handout)
• Course description
• The courses requires students to conduct an
  industry-based project in an area of interest and
  expertise within the stream of specialization. An
  informal design and development methodology will
  be used in the project.
• This course combines the study of project
  management in the context of computer
  Science/information systems related areas with
  discovery of real-life ethical dilemmas through
  their project. Students are expected to examine
  incidents of professional practice in the project
  and to develop communication skills appropriate
  to the development and conduct of the project.

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Course Management

• Always on the look out for project opportunities
• Hold an information evening for invited business
  owners or senior managers, Dont advertise!
• Project selection/matching based on students
  interests and academic studies
• Software development
• Database and data mining solutions
• Web site and applications development.
• Project teams 2(min) to 4 (max) students

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Limitations

• Limited to on campus students within Suva
  district.
• Projects are prototypes (10 weeks) usually
  without any implementation
• Projects are limited by the risk of confidential
• Project costings are too theoretical

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Benefits

• Able to add value to CV for job hunting
  interviews personal confidence
• Gaining PM skills and knowledge
• Gaining PM insights into balancing Cost vs Time
  vs Human Resources
• Greater awareness of ethical (trust) behaviour in
  business

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Common Barriers

• Lack of awareness of core curriculum - CBoK.
• Lack supporting technology and education.
• High cost of training born by the Lecturer.
• Lack of 1st hand cases studies.
• Lack of political will and rewards.
• No immediate awareness in society for industry
  projects.

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Conclusions

• IT PM teaching and Practice is mandatory
• Industry needs government financial incentives
  for companies to become project clients
• CIS needs a team of academic specialists in
• Software development
• Database and data mining solutions
• Web site and applications development
• Network Security

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Audience Recommendations?

• Continue to develop PM teaching and training as a
  SPACS focus activity