1.3.1.2 Lesson 2: Introduction to Project Management

Term Systems Approach

emerged in the 1950s to describe a holistic and analytical approach to solving complex problems that includes using a systems philosophy, systems analysis, and systems management.

Systems Philosophy

is an overall model for thinking about things as systems

Systems Analysis

is a problem-solving approach that requires defining the scope of the system, dividing it into components, and identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs.

Systems Management

addresses the business, technological, and organizational issues associated with creating, maintaining, and modifying a system.

Three-Sphere Model

is a model that focuses on the three spheres of systems management: business, organization, and technology.

Three Spheres of Systems Management

business, organization, and technology.

Organizations can be viewed as having four different frames:

structural, human resources, political, and symbolic.

Structural Frame

roles and responsibilities, coordination, and control. organizational charts help describe this frame

Political Frame

coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups. conflict and power are key issues

Human Resources Frame

providing harmony between needs of the organization and needs of people

symbolic frame

symbols and meanings related to events. culture, language, and image are all parts of this frame.

Organizational Structures

functional, project, and matrix.

Functional Structure

is the hierarchy most people think of, with __ managers or vice presidents reporting to the CEO and their staffs having specialized skills.

Project Structure

is the middle ground between functional and project structures, with project managers having the most authority and the least amount of authority.

Matrix Structure

can be strong, weak, or balanced, depending on the amount of control exerted by the project managers.

Organizational culture

is a set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization. It is important to note that the same organization can have different subcultures.

Project life cycles

are a collection of phases that break projects down into smaller, more manageable pieces.

The PMBOK® Guide, Fifth Edition

calls these phases starting the project, organizing and preparing, carrying out the project work, and finishing the project.

Project stakeholders

have the greatest opportunity to influence the final characteristics of the project's products, services, or results during the early phases.

Product Life Cycle

Creating a product like a new automobile or operating system is a complicated endeavor.

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

is a framework for describing the phases of developing information systems.

Rapid Application Development (RAD) model

is an example of a predictive life cycle, meaning that the scope of the project can be articulated clearly and the schedule and cost can be predicted accurately.

Waterfall Life Cycle

assumes that requirements will remain stable after they are defined.

Spiral Life Cycle

developed based on refinements of the waterfall model and recognizes the fact that most software is developed using an iterative or spiral approach. It is suitable for projects in which changes can be incorporated with reasonable cost increases or with acceptable time delays.

Adaptive Software Development (ASD)

assumes that software requirements cannot be clearly expressed early in the life cycle, so software is developed using a less structured, flexible approach.

The Nature of IT Projects

IT projects are diverse and involve a variety of hardware types, software development, and industry and business functions.

Globalization

IT is a key enabler of __, with more than 1.3 billion people using Facebook and Twitter and 75% of new members coming from outside the US. Companies and individuals throughout the world contribute to the growth of information technologies, and work and collaborate on various IT projects.

Thomas L. Friedman

whose book discusses the effects of globalization, which has created a "flat" world where everyone is connected and the "playing field" is level for many more participants.

Outsourcing/offshoring

is an organization's acquisition of goods and services from an outside source, and is a natural outgrowth of globalization.

virtual teams

are increasing due to the cost and time of travel, the ability to communicate and work across distances, and worker preferences for flexible work hours.

Agile Project Management

is a method of product development that is based on iterative and incremental development.

Scrum

is an agile development method used to complete complex projects.