The Essentials of Software/IT Project Management: Best Practices
Overview
An insightful, no-nonsense, knowledge-rich, educational experience
that can have an immediate and positive impact on your current
or next project. This workshop cuts to the quick and reveals the
essentials in practicing effective software/IT project management
– the first time. Based largely on two of Neal’s books,
The EnterPrize Organization:
Organizing Software Projects for Accountability and Success
and Managing Software Development Projects:
Formula for Success, and on dozens of magazine articles authored
by Neal, this workshop identifies the most common “big ticket”
project management problems plaguing software development/IT projects
– and shows you how to effectively deal with them. This workshop
reveals project management best practices – including essential
soft skills – and is taught by a leading, recognized authority
and 30-year veteran of software/IT projects. As the need to focus
on schedules, costs, and quality continues to increase across
the industries served, it is more important than ever to understand
and overcome the major inhibitors to achieving competitiveness.
Prepare to learn more than just project management, prepare to learn
about yourself, human nature, and how to make things happen.
Length of Workshop
Two, three, or four-day versions. The information presented here
applies to the four-day version. The workshop can be customized
based on the needs of the audience and the length of the class.
Who Should Attend
The workshop is for Project Managers, IT/MIS/Functional Managers,
Executives, Team Leaders, Quality Assurance Personnel, and anyone
and everyone involved in software development/IT: Planners, Developers,
Specialists, Testers, Writers, and Support Personnel. Great
refresher/booster for Seasoned Project Managers.
You Will Benefit
Develop and enhance the contributions you make to your organization
by being able to:
 |
Identify and correct the most common “big ticket” project management problems for software development/IT projects. |
|
Employ proven practices that speed product development/IT implementations. |
|
Define and implement a software development/IT process. |
|
Implement effective scheduling, tracking, and problem management. |
|
Improve vendor/contractor relationships. |
|
Examine project management problems that attendees are now experiencing and discuss their solutions. |
|
Bring about positive change in your team or project through leadership and motivation. |
Your Workshop Experience Will Cover
| 1. | The Soft Skills Element – Incorporate the people factor that makes a project successful and recognize attributes that contribute to the success of project leaders and project members. |
| 2. | Roles and Responsibilities – Understand the roles and responsibilities of the project manager and other project members. |
| 3. | Problem Identification and Solutions – Identify the most common, major problems that derail software development/IT projects and the solutions to help you avoid, recover, or minimize their impact. |
| 4. | Rapid Product Development – Implement practices that can speed product development/IT projects. |
| 5. | Managing Problems – Learn the steps to follow in planning and tracking a project and performing problem management. |
| 6. | Project Control – Learn the project performance measurement of Earned Value Management. |
| 7. | Vendors and Contractors – Employ needed controls when working with vendors and contractors. |
| 8. | Reviews – Learn how to perform project reviews and post-project reviews. |
| 9. | Culture Training – Learn how to create a productive, successful business culture for your project. |
| 10. | Your Current PM Problems – Discuss and develop solutions to your current project problems. |
Workshop Outline
| I. | Introduction |
| II. | The Project Manager – and Other Project Roles |
| III. | Defining a Software Development/ IT Process |
| IV. | Project Planning |
| V. | Project Tracking and Problem Management |
| VI. | Softskills: Attributes of Successful Project Leaders |
| VII. | Project Reviews |
| VIII. | Earned Value Management |
| IX. | Vendor and Contractor Relationships |
| X. | Lessons Learned |
| XI. | People Communications |
| XII. | Promoting Project Success |
| XIII. | Discussion of Supplementary Readings |
The workshop material is largely derived from two of Neal’s books, The EnterPrize Organization: Organizing Software Projects for Accountability and Success, and Managing Software Development Projects: Formula for Success. The workshop materials include both books and a notebook containing view charts, exercises, and supplementary reading materials.
Instructional Methods
Lecture, discussion, industry examples, individual and group exercises.
Workshop Size
Maximum 30.
Notes
| • | The Neal Whitten Group is a Registered Education Provider with The Project Management Institute. One Professional Development Unit (PDU) is provided for every hour of classroom instruction. |
| • | A four-day version of this workshop is offered to the public by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The seminar is called The Essentials of Software/IT Project Management: Best Practices. See www.pmi.org for more information about this and other PMI offerings. |
| • | A two-day version of this workshop is offered to the public by ProjectWorld. The seminar is called The Essentials of Software/IT Project Management: Best Practices. See www.projectworld.com for more information about this and other ProjectWorld offerings. |
| • | See Appearances on this web site for the dates when these workshops are available to the public. |