| As a practicing project manager I felt that I could | | | | disseminated correctly rather than reliance on word of |
| provide some good tools, useful information and cool | | | | mouth by members of the team telling others. Every |
| links related to this field. This page is for project | | | | time a different person relays information the slant, |
| managers and the purpose is to share information on | | | | intent, body language, inflection all have a chance to |
| software development project management topics. | | | | infer something different.Negotiating - conferring with |
| My scope on this page is to provide general, as well | | | | people to come to consensus or agreement. |
| as, specific project information and software to assist | | | | Negotiating infers that there may be a need for a |
| anyone who is working to establish consistent | | | | mediator, arbitrator or facilitator. It depends on the |
| software project leadership.Moreover, I hope to | | | | circumstance, the importance, the level, and, more likely, |
| provide some assistance in building professionalism. | | | | the issues. Issues like cost, scope, objectives, contract |
| The current literature still says even with all the training | | | | terms and conditions, resources can all require |
| going on and attention to managing projects there is | | | | negotiating skills. |
| still a rather large error or failure rate in software | | | | Problem solving - defining (problem definition) and |
| projects. If your career path is in project management | | | | deciding (decision making based on analysis, solution |
| you have a legacy problem and even more reason to | | | | viability or dictates from stakeholders).Influencing the |
| read and apply the things that work. My favorite book | | | | organization - the ability to use power and politics to |
| on this stuff is by Harold Kerzner and is Project | | | | get things done. This requires the ability to understand |
| Management A Systems Approach to Planning, | | | | the mechanics or the organization regarding how to |
| Scheduling and Controlling. I had the good fortune to | | | | constructively use political ability.Project management |
| attend PMI certification training with Dr Kerzner as the | | | | processes can be organized into five groupings of one |
| instructor.This article is on project management body | | | | or more processes each as follows:Initiating processes |
| of knowledge (PMBOK).Before anything else | | | | - this includes recognizing that a project or phase |
| remember that responsibility without sponsorship | | | | should begin and making a commitment to do it. |
| makes you an immediate target for project time, | | | | Planning processes - this means developing and |
| scope and resource adjustment problems. | | | | maintaining a "workable" plan to accomplish what the |
| Responsibility without authority is pretty much like | | | | project was undertaken to accomplish.Executing |
| having great vanity. It means almost nothing when | | | | processes - coordinating people and any other |
| tough choices are required. It is quite a lot like | | | | resources to "execute" or carry out the plan.Controlling |
| Solomon's thinking on vanity being "like striving after the | | | | processes - making sure that the project objectives |
| wind".First of all my focus is on the principles | | | | are met by measuring and monitoring progress. |
| developed by Software Engineering Institute (SEI) and | | | | Furthermore, it means taking appropriate corrective |
| shared by project managers world-wide within the | | | | actions when necessary.Closing processes - bringing |
| context of the Capability Maturity Model (CMM).As a | | | | the project to an orderly conclusion with formal |
| starting point it is important to discuss what is called the | | | | acceptance of the phase or the project. |
| project management body of knowledge (PMBOK). | | | | Everyone connected with managing projects has had |
| The PMBOK was developed to provide c | | | | the additional core challenge of developing metrics that |
| onsistent definition to the phases of a project and to | | | | are "added value" in performance capability and |
| delineate what should be considered as important | | | | delivery of completed projects that meet the |
| within the context of each part of project | | | | expectations of stakeholders. Collecting metrics does |
| management guidance.The knowledge areas and | | | | not mean just tabulating figures. It means developing |
| project management processes are contained in nine | | | | information that helps now and then helps even more |
| main focus areas.Project Integration Management - | | | | in future efforts.There are many, many methods. The |
| development of project plan, project plan execution | | | | charge is to determine what works best for your |
| and change control. | | | | organization. There are volumes of information on |
| Project Scope Management - initiation, scope planning, | | | | what to collect and how to use the measures |
| scope definition, scope verification and scope change | | | | effectively. The main point is to not just collect data. |
| control. | | | | Collect information!My next article will discuss the |
| Project Time Management - activity definition, activity | | | | project triangle and the level of technical solution - time, |
| sequencing, activity duration estimation, schedule | | | | resources and technology solutions. Following that I will |
| development and schedule control. | | | | be sharing information on Six Sigma as developed by |
| Project Cost Management - resource planning, cost | | | | Motorola that can drastically change the quality of your |
| estimating, cost budgeting and cost control. | | | | products and/or services by instilling a business |
| Project Quality Management - quality planning, quality | | | | process culture that does affect the organization and |
| assurance, and quality control. | | | | provide positive returns. In fact the principles are based |
| Project Human Resource Management - | | | | on statistical analysis that revolves around the concept |
| organizational planning, staff acquisition and team | | | | of standard deviation.I would now like to offer some |
| development. | | | | suggestions, by way of experience, and then offer |
| Project Communications Management - | | | | some links to places I have found of great value to |
| communications planning, information distribution, | | | | me.Cost Expert is a fairly inexpensive software |
| performance reporting and administrative closure. | | | | package that provides for what-if, reporting, combining |
| Project Risk Management - risk identification, risk | | | | types of estimates such as function points, top down, |
| qualification, risk response development and risk | | | | bottom up, GUI. Moreover, you can use it with |
| response control. | | | | Microsoft Project. I have enjoyed the functionality and |
| Project Procurement Management - procurement | | | | reporting capabilities. The software will help generate |
| planning, solicitation planning, solicitation, source selection, | | | | good plans, resource requirements and risk factors. |
| contract administration and contract close-out.As you | | | | Cost Expert is particularly good for project managers |
| can see from these focus areas there is a strong | | | | working without a formalized project-central |
| emphasis on the use and meaning of the word | | | | organizational approach.I have also been a big fan of |
| "control". A LOT of activity and paperwork can be | | | | Microsoft Project software ever since Project 4. The |
| developed in these management areas, but the main | | | | new version still provides a database schema and the |
| point is that there must be corrective action as | | | | VBA capability to expand the functionality continues to |
| required. The authority and responsibility resides with | | | | make the product a good choice for those not |
| the project manager.There are many skills and | | | | interested in spending much more money for project |
| attributes that a project manager needs to draw upon | | | | software.There is a fairly simple wizard that is good to |
| to be effective. The project manager has to | | | | start with in counting function points. It is called the |
| be:Leader - as a manager the primary concern is | | | | SEER Function Point Wizard and it is fpwiz.There is a |
| consistently provide key results that are expected by | | | | PDF file on DoD initiatives regarding software |
| the "stakeholders". Leading is also required and | | | | measurement that is Software Measures for DOD |
| involves establishing the vision, strategies needed to | | | | Systems.MMB&T makes available version 1.1 of the |
| "realize" the vision, and, in fact, establishing the direction. | | | | SoftEST which was developed by MCR Federal Inc. |
| The leader must motivate, inspire and communicate | | | | on behalf of the Air Force Cost Analysis |
| among the various people overcoming the political, | | | | Agency.SoftEST Cost Model (V1.1) (1 MB - Zipped |
| bureaucratic and people barriers. It is important to | | | | file)DEVELOP YOUR MICROSOFT PROJECT AND |
| remember that leadership must be demonstrated at all | | | | PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS |
| levels within the project such as by individuals | | | | Getting the most out of Microsoft Project requires |
| responsible for technical issues and by team | | | | using the product features correctly and using the right |
| members.Communicating - exchanging information is | | | | features to meet your project management |
| the key. Make sure that clear, concise and complete | | | | needs.Microsoft describes resources you will find |
| information is given to the receiver. Make sure that the | | | | helpful in developing your skills with Microsoft Project |
| receiver has obtained the information in its entirety and | | | | and applying them to the broader field of project |
| that it is clearly understood. Communications is a broad | | | | management.Read about it at: Microsoft Project |
| subject area but suffice to say that, whether oral or | | | | AssistanceMicrosoft(R) Project Courseware Trainer |
| written, communications is critical to the project. It does | | | | PackThese are but a few resources available. The |
| not matter whether the communications are formal, | | | | good news is that the function is now recognized as |
| whether the communications are going up, down or | | | | something that merits full attention from executive |
| vertical. What does matter is that the effort will be far | | | | management and sponsorship to avoid the previously |
| exceeded by the results. One area to remember is | | | | very high failure rate on projects.This article is |
| that if you tell everyone at once you have a better | | | | copywrited by Martin Floyd of MMB&T. All rights |
| chance of getting your concerns or information | | | | reserved. |