PAPER NO. 11 INFORMATION SYSTEMS PROJECT SKILLS
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
This paper is intended to equip the candidate with knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable him/her to manage an information systems project.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
A candidate who passes this paper should be able to:
- Manage project scope using various techniques
- Use project management software tools to prepare project schedules
- Identify, monitor and control project risks
- Undertake information systems projects
- Allocate resources
CONTENT
Introduction to information systems project
- Overview of a project
- Characteristics of information projects
- Examples of information systems projects
- Information systems project environment
- Project personnel roles and responsibilities
- Project management principles
- Purpose of project management
Information systems project lifecycle
- Project identification and selection
- Project planning
- Feasibility study
- Project objectives
- Project proposal
- Project design
- Project development
- Project implementation
- Project monitoring and control
- Project review and evaluation
Project scope management
- Scope definition
- Scope verification
- Scope control
- Constraints and assumptions
- Using software tools to assist in project scope management
Project planning
- Components of a project plan
- Features of a good project plan
- The project charter
- Creating work plans
- Control plans
- Introduction to a case study
- Using software tools to assist in IS project planning
Work breakdown structures (WBSs)
- Overview of WBSs
- Determining project tasks
- Creating WBSs
- Establishing task dependencies and relationships
- Creating activity lists
- Methods of subdivision
- Planning time scales
- Using software tools to assist in creating WBSs
IS project Estimation
- Estimating concepts and methods
- Estimation accuracy/inaccuracy
- Task-based estimation
- Effort, productivity factors, influence factors
- Using software tools to assist in IS project estimation
Scheduling
- Schedule concepts and methods
- Network diagrams
- Precedence logic
- Estimating duration
- PERT, CPM
- Resource planning and allocation
- Resource scheduling
- Gantt chart and histograms
- Using software tools to assist in scheduling and resource management
IS project organisational structures and communication
- Overview of organisational structures
- Integrating project work and project organisational structures
- Project team lifecycle
- Team management
- Overview of communication management
- Managing stakeholder communication
- Using software tools to assist in project organisation and communication
IS project quality management
- Overview of quality management
- Project quality factors
- Quality planning, assurance and control
- Tools and techniques for quality management
- Overview of project management standards (PRINCE 2)
- Software tools and techniques for project quality management
- ISO certification
- Using software tools to assist in quality management
Information systems project risk management
- Common sources of risk
- Risk identification process
- Risk management tools and techniques
- Risk analysis
- Risk monitoring and control
- Using software tools to assist in risk management
IS project implementation, completion and evaluation
- Change management
- Project evaluation
- Team evaluation
- Project documentation
- Using software tools to assist in project evaluation
Emerging issues and trends