Project Management Approaches for IT Projects Project Management Challenges and Solutions for Managing IT Service, IT Product, and Mixed Implementation Projects

Bill Schneider, PMPSenior Project Manager

Susquehanna Technologies

Goals

Explore and understand the similarities and differences in managing various IT implementation projects.

Determine project approach strategies, and management materials for successful implementations.

Agenda

Project Types and Approaches Attributes and Challenges Key Project Approach Strategies Management Materials Discussion

Project Types

Project TypesCustom Implementation ProjectsProduct Implementation ProjectsMixed

Project Approaches

Approaches In-houseOutsourceMixed

In-house Custom Projects

Description Build custom software to solve your business challenge

Attributes Highly customized needs Business needs/processes do not match available COTS Identified market opportunity Confidential processes/data

Challenges Driven by cost with sacrifice to remainder of triple constraint Employ technical staff to build and maintain Not well defined Unattainable objective(s) Business strategy misalignment

In-house Custom Projects (cont’d)

Key Project Approach Strategies Involve champion and stakeholder constantly

and deeplyDetermine technical staff requirementsDetermine, define, and evaluate project

metrics

In-house Custom Projects (cont’d)

Management MaterialsProject CharterStakeholders involvement activitiesStaff acquisition and team development plansProject cost measurements and controls

In-house Product Projects

Description Implementing COTS to solve your business challenge

Attributes COTS meets business needs and processes

Challenges Product implementation creates turf wars Project implementation cycle does not meet business

needs Have technical staff with very specialized knowledge

to build and maintain

In-house Product Projects (cont’d)

Key Project Approach StrategiesLeverage and manage stakeholdersEvaluate productsAcquire specialized staffPerform and understand functional gap

analysis

In-house Product Projects (cont’d)

Management MaterialsBusiness process documentationProject CharterStakeholders involvement activitiesStaff acquisition and team development plans

In-house Mixed Projects

Description Implementing COTS with customizations to solve your business

challenge Attributes

Highly customized needs Business needs and processes somewhat match available COTS Identified market opportunity Confidential processes or data

Challenges COTS not conducive to customization Projects driven by cost with sacrifice to triple constraint Have technical staff with very specialized knowledge to build and

maintain Project implementation cycle does not meet business needs

In-house Mixed Projects (cont’d)

Key Project Approach StrategiesPerform and understand functional gap

analysisCommunicate gap analysisUnderstand product flexibility and

customizabilityAll other in-house strategies

In-house Mixed Projects (cont’d)

Management MaterialsMaintenance project charter and plansAll other in-house materials

Outsourced Custom Projects

Description Contracting to have custom software built to solve your business challenge

Attributes Highly customized needs Business needs and processes does not match available COTS Identified market opportunity

Challenges Rely on another company for technical and PM expertise Potential mismatch of PMLC approach Platform standardization and flux Procurement Communication Managing integrated team

Outsourced Custom Projects (cont’d)

Key Project Approach StrategiesPerform rigorous procurementCommunicate, communicate, communicateEnsure you are a stakeholder from the

beginning

Outsourced Custom Projects (cont’d)

Management MaterialsProcurement PlanCommunications Plan Internal Project Charter and Project PlanDetailed scope management

Outsourced Product Projects

Description Contracting to have COTS implemented to solve your business challenge

Attributes COTS meets business needs and processes Do not have technical personnel versed in COTS on staff

Challenges Rely on another company for technical and PM expertise No match of PMLC approach Project implementation cycle does not meet business needs May work with PSO, PSO Partner, or both Procurement Communication Managing integrated team

Outsourced Product Projects (cont’d)

Key Project Approach StrategiesPerform rigorous procurementCommunicate, communicate, communicateEnsure you are a stakeholder from the

beginningPerform and understand functional gap

analysis

Outsourced Product Projects (cont’d)

Management Materials Procurement PlanCommunications Plan Internal Project Charter and Project PlanDetailed scope management and

understanding of scope

Outsourced Mixed Projects

Description Contracting to have COTS implemented and customized to solve your business

challenge Attributes

COTS somewhat meets needs Do not have technical personnel versed in COTS on staff

Challenges COTS not conducive to customization Rely on another company for variety of expertise - technical and PM No match of PMLC approach Platform standardization and flux Project implementation cycle does not meet business needs Procurement Communication Managing integrated team

Outsourced Mixed Projects (cont’d)

Key Project Approach StrategiesPerform rigorous procurementCommunicate, communicate, communicateEnsure you are a stakeholder from the

beginningPerform and understand functional gap

analysis

Outsourced Mixed Projects (cont’d)

Management MaterialsProcurement PlanCommunications Plan Internal Project Charter and Project PlanDetailed scope management and

understanding of scope

Mixed Custom Projects Description

Building custom software to solve your business challenge with contracted help Attributes

Highly customized needs Business needs and processes does not match available COTS Identified market opportunity Confidential processes or data Has in-house staff but does not have bandwidth, skill set, knowledge in specific industry area

Challenges Projects driven by cost with sacrifice to triple constraint Have development staff to build and maintain Not well enough defined Unattainable objective Out of alignment with business strategy Rely on another company for technical and PM expertise Procurement Communication Managing integrated team

Mixed Custom Projects (cont’d)

Key Project Approach StrategiesFocus on Integration Involve champion and stakeholder constantly

and deeplyDetermine, define, and evaluate project

metricsPerform rigorous procurementCommunicate, communicate, communicate

Mixed Custom Projects (cont’d)

Management Materials Project Charter Change Control Plan Stakeholders involvement activities Staff acquisition and team development plans Project cost measurements and controls Procurement Plan Communications Plan Internal Project Charter and Project Plan Detailed scope management

Mixed Product Projects Description

Implementing COTS to solve your business challenge with contracted help Attributes

COTS meets business needs and processes Has in-house staff but does not have bandwidth, skill set, knowledge in specific COTS

platform Challenges

Project implementation cycle does not meet business needs Have some technical personnel with very specialized knowledge to build and maintain Rely on another company for technical expertise Match timing on product versioning May work with PSO, PSO Partner, or both Procurement Communication Managing integrated team

Mixed Product Projects (cont’d)

Key Project Approach Strategies Focus on Integration Leverage and manage stakeholders Evaluate products Acquire specialized staff Perform and understand functional gap analysis Perform rigorous procurement Communicate, communicate, communicate Ensure you are a stakeholder from the beginning

Mixed Product Projects (cont’d)

Management Materials Change Control Plan Business process documentation Project Charter Stakeholders involvement activities Staff acquisition and team development plans Procurement Plan Communications Plan Internal Project Charter and Project Plan Understand scope

Mixed Mixed Projects Description

Implementing COTS with customizations to solve your business challenge with contracted help

Attributes COTS somewhat meets needs Do not have technical personnel versed in COTS on staff, but has technical personnel

versed in platform Challenges

COTS not conducive to customization Have technical staff with very specialized knowledge to build and maintain Project implementation cycle does not meet business needs Rely on another company for technical expertise Match upgrade timing on installed HW and SW platforms Match timing on product versioning Procurement Communication Managing integrated team

Mixed Mixed Projects (cont’d)

Key Project Approach Strategies Focus on Integration Perform and understand functional gap analysis Communicate gap analysis Understand product flexibility and customizability All other In-house Strategies Perform rigorous procurement Communicate, communicate, communicate Ensure you are a stakeholder from the beginning Perform and understand functional gap analysis

Mixed Mixed Projects (cont’d)

Management Materials Change control Plan Maintenance Project Charter and Plans All other in-house materials Procurement Plan Communications Plan Internal Project Charter and Project Plan Detailed scope management and understanding of

scope

Discussion