Echo: Project Management (Nov. 23, 2009)

a)What is project management?

The methods and disciplines used to define goals, plan and monitor tasks and resources, identify and resolve issues, and control costs and budgets for a specific project. [1]

b) Enumerate/Identify the traditional development phases of a project.

1. Initiation
2. Planning and Design
3. Execution
4. Monitoring and Controlling
5. Closing

c) Which phases are commonly done or conducted using information systems (either standalone or web-based).

1. Initiation
2. Planning and Design
3. Execution
4. Monitoring and Controlling
5. Closing

d) State three or more advantages of using information systems for each of the phases that use them.

Advantages:

1. Initiation

- determines the nature and scope of the development [2]
- enables project managers and stakeholders agree on a project scope [3]
- clearly defines the target in order to know when the objectives have been met

2. Planning and Design

- satisfies the project sponsor, end user, and business requirements [4]
- avoiding labor duplications
- gives us a fairly good idea about the expenses involved in the project [5]

3. Execution

- coordinating people and resources [6]
- produces outputs from the processes performed from the project management plan
- keeps track on activities

4. Monitoring and Controlling

- watching work progress and keeping on eye on the original project goal to ensure your project sticks within the original project scope [7]
- measures ongoing project activites
- error correction

5. Closing

- activities are finalized to formally close the project
- contract is completed and settled
- satisfaction of project stakeholders

References:

[1]. http://www.bridgefieldgroup.com/bridgefieldgroup/glos7.htm
[2]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management#Initiation
[3]. http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/1672.aspx
[4]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management#Planning_and_design
[5]. http://www.about-goal-setting.com/time-management-guide/18-advantages-of-planning.html
[6]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management#Executing
[7]. http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/1675.aspx