Project Management Management and Information Technology

Question 1

Projects must run in

Answer 1

• broad organizational environment

- avoid isolation

Question 2

Project managers need to use

Answer 2

• systems thinking
• a holistic view of carrying out projects
  • within the context of an organization

Question 3

Senior managers must make sure

Answer 3

• projects continue to support current business needs

Question 4

System philosophy (System view)

Answer 4

• an overall model of thinking about things in the system

Question 5

System analysis (System view)

Answer 5

• problem-solving approach

Question 6

Systems management (System view)

Answer 6

• address business/tech/organizational issues before making changes to systems

Question 7

Three sphere model

Answer 7

• business
• organization
• technology

Question 8

Structural frames (Perspective on understanding Organizations)

Answer 8

• Roles and responsibilities, coordination and control

- Organizational charts help describe

Question 9

Human resources frame (Perspective on understanding Organizations)

Answer 9

• Providing harmony between the needs of the organization and needs of people

Question 10

Political frame (Perspective on understanding Organizations)

Answer 10

• Coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups
• Conflict and power and key issues

Question 11

Symbolic frame (Perspective on understanding Organizations)

Answer 11

• Symbols and meaning related to events

- Culture/ language/ traditions/ image

Question 12

Organizational Structures

Answer 12

• Functional: functional managers report to the CEO
• Project: program managers report to the CEO
  Matrix: (long definition)

Question 13

Matrix (Organizational Structures)

Answer 13

• Middle ground between functional and project structures
• Personnel often report to 2 or more bosses
• Structure can be weak/balanced/strong matrix

Question 14

Organisational Culture

Answer 14

• Set of shared assumptions/values/behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization

Question 15

Characteristics of Organizational culture

Answer 15

 Member identity
 Group emphasis
 People focus
 Unit integration
 Risk tolerance
 Reward criteria
 Conflict tolerance
 Control

• Project work is most successful in an organizational culture where these items are strong/high and other items are balanced

Question 16

Importance of Top Management commitment

Answer 16

• People in top management positions are key stakeholders in projects
• A very important factor in helping PM successfully lead projects is the level of commitment and support they receive from top management
• Some projects have a senior manager called a champion who acts as a key proponent for a project

Question 17

Top management can help PM

Answer 17

• Providing adequate resources
• Approving unique project needs in a timely
  manner
• Getting cooperation from other parts of the organization
• Mentoring and coaching leadership issues

Question 18

Need for Organizational Commitment to IT

Answer 18

• Having a Cheif Information Officer (CIO)

- Assigning non-IT people to IT projects encourage more commitment

Question 19

Need for Organizational Standards

Answer 19

• Help project managers be more effective
• SMCE use of standard forms and software for project management
• SMCE the development and use of guidelines for writing project plans or providing status information
• SMCE creation of project management office or Center of Excellence

Question 20

Project life cycle

Answer 20

• collection of project phases that defines
  
  • work to be performed in each phase
  • what/when deliverables will be produced
  • who is involved in each phase
  • how management will control/approve work produced in each phase

Question 21

Deliverable

Answer 21

• product/service produced or provided as part of a project