Information System Project Management: Techniques and Strategies

This report delves into the realm of Information System (IS) Project Management, encompassing essential techniques and strategies for successful project execution. It begins by elucidating the application steps of the Critical Path Method (CPM), a crucial technique for identifying critical and non-critical tasks to prevent time and process-related issues. The report then examines the utility of planning software, particularly MS Project, in streamlining project management processes, including scheduling, resource allocation, and progress monitoring. Furthermore, it explores methods for monitoring project progress, leveraging features within MS Project to facilitate real-time updates and communication among team members. The report also outlines various methods for successful project management, emphasizing the role of the project manager in overseeing progress and fostering effective team collaboration. Finally, the report addresses the types of changes that can occur in an IS/IT project, including developmental, transitional, and transformational changes, and discusses strategies for managing these changes through proper change control methodologies.

Running head: INFORMATION SYSTEM PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Information System Project Management
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1INFORMATION SYSTEM PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Table of Contents
1. Application Steps of Critical Path Method............................................................................2
2. Planning Software and its Utility in Project Management.....................................................2
3. Monitoring Project Progress..................................................................................................3
4. Methods of Successful Project Management.........................................................................3
5. Changes possible in an IS/IT Project and their Management................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................5

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1. Application Steps of Critical Path Method
Critical Path Method or CPM is a stepwise technique of project management that is
used for planning of strategies for the various processes that identifies critical and non-critical
tasks to prevent time and process related issues in the project. The CPM is generally applied
to those projects that have numerous activities interacting in a complicated pattern (Böhme et
al. 2012).
The steps of applying Critical Path Method to a project are as follows:
 The tasks of the project are required to be defined and listed sequentially.
 Relevant diagrams and flowcharts are required to be made that specifies the relation of
the tasks with each other.
 The critical and non-critical relations within the tasks need to be recognised and
segmented.
 The approximate completion time for each task is to be determined.
 Backup plans should be made for the most critical tasks (Schwalbe 2015).
2. Planning Software and its Utility in Project Management
The most popularly used and admired tool for the planning and management of any
kind of project of any size is MS Project developed by Microsoft Corporation.
It helps a team to complete projects with ease by providing built-in project
management and planning templates, easy tools for scheduling the steps of performing a
project and ease of access from any type of computing device like laptop, computer, tab and
mobile phone. The MS Project helps the team to plan the shortest and easiest path to proceed
in the project that requires less time and resource (Products.office.com 2017).

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3. Monitoring Project Progress
The progress of a project can be easily monitored by using the various features of the
MS Project Management Software. Each individual related to the project can upload progress
report on daily basis and overall report on weekly basis in the MS Project, which can be
viewed and updated by all the team members and manager of the project. The upcoming
methods of execution of the project can also be shared within the project personnel so that the
manager and others get an idea on the proceedings of the project (Products.office.com 2017).
4. Methods of Successful Project Management
To ensure a successful project management it is the duty of the project manager to
take frequent follow ups on the progress of the project from the team members of the project.
This can be done easily by using a project planning software such as the MS Project the
project team can upload daily or weekly reports on the progress of the project in the form of
Gantt charts, Timeline charts, Spreadsheets, Excel Sheets, and such. The manager can also
arrange for weekly meetings with the team of the project and discuss the progress of the
project and the future planning regarding the progress of the project (Young 2013).
5. Changes possible in an IS/IT Project and their Management
Three types of changes are there that can be experienced in an IS/IT Project:
Developmental Change – This type of change is made within a project when some
sudden modifications or alterations are required to be made within the project. The whole
situation of the project is not altered; rather a part of it is modified (Lee, Bull and Ho 2013).
Transitional Change – This type of change occurs when it becomes necessary to
implement a new method or strategy in the project. The previous course of actions of the
project is discarded and new ones are implemented (Kerzner 2013).

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Transformational Change – This type of change generally occur when a new
process is born because of failure of a previous process. It is an uncontrolled change that
cannot be prevented from occurring but can be modified gradually (Hayes 2014).
The changes can be managed by implementing proper change control methodology
within the project and if the type of change can be identified within the project, the manager
can control the reactions of the team members to the changes (Hayes 2014).

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References
Böhme, D., Wolf, F., de Supinski, B.R., Schulz, M. and Geimer, M., 2012, May. Scalable
critical-path based performance analysis. In Parallel & Distributed Processing Symposium
(IPDPS), 2012 IEEE 26th International (pp. 1330-1340). IEEE.
Hayes, J., 2014. The theory and practice of change management. Palgrave Macmillan.
Kerzner, H., 2013. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Products.office.com. 2017. Microsoft Project Management, Templates, Scheduling, & Tools.
[online] Available at: https://products.office.com/en-in/project/project-management
[Accessed 27 Aug. 2017].
Schwalbe, K., 2015. Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Young, T.L., 2013. Successful project management (Vol. 52). Kogan Page Publishers.