IT Project Management
Effective methods for achieving project goals

IT projects are means for implementing IT strategies; they concern tactical IT planning and execution. IT projects can be diverse in terms of their objectives and scopes (e.g., implementation of new IT solutions, replacement of legacy systems, software development). The key challenge is to select and adapt appropriate ways to organize IT projects effectively and efficiently.

Many standards and frameworks for project management (PM) exist, but their applicability to IT projects is limited. Some PM frameworks are generic and do not consider IT at all; others overwhelm readers because of their excessive volume over several hundred pages. Another issue is that prominent PM standards are not connected to other relevant IT management frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, ITIL COBIT) or engineering concepts or guides (e.g., SDLC, SEBOK).

Two major PM approaches can be applied. One, the predictive approach, is useful for IT infrastructure projects with fixed requirements, few changes, and a final handover of deliverables. The other, the agile approach, is preferred for IT application development; it allows for flexibility in view of requirements changes. Multiple iterations and frequent releases are possible. Hybrid approaches combine methods of predictive and agile frameworks but are confusing in theory and in real life.

Learn more about the various approaches:

Pictures (Chicago, New York) by C. Gellweiler