IT project management is no different than any other type of project management. IT projects still require careful planning, control, and teamwork – and for this, companies use project management automation methodologies and tools to minimize risk and increase the chances of successfully achieving project goals.
However, IT projects often include complex technical components: software development, system integration or network infrastructure, requiring specialized knowledge, experience as with projects in other areas. As well as extensive testing and long-term compliance in operation.
In this article we will talk about IT project management, get acquainted with the stages, types of Agile methodologies, what should be emphasized when choosing an approach and why a business needs an IT project management system.
What is IT project management?
From email and applications to data management and supply chain management, technology is essential to every business today. Even non-technology-oriented companies need software to manage purchase orders or the same network to go online. Each of the organization’s technology goals must be managed properly for the business to succeed. This is where IT project management comes to the rescue.
IT project management is the total management of a project undertaken in the field of information technology. Typically, management includes planning, coordination, organization, execution control, and follow-up support.
Specialized IT project management software, including online Gantt charts or Kanban boards, dashboards, and reports, provides the basic functions required for successful IT project implementation.
Project team members and the role of the project manager
On a project team, each member has certain responsibilities or specific tasks that contribute to the success of the project.
- Project Manager
Responsible for overseeing and managing teams to deliver IT projects on time and on budget. The IT project manager’s responsibilities include: defining project goals and creating a plan to achieve them; managing resources including team, equipment; assigning tasks to team members; developing strategies to deliver projects on time and within budget; assessing project risks, etc.
- Business Analyst
Responsible for the development of the organization and often plays an important role in the project team. Works with the company’s stakeholders to develop goals to solve problems facing the business or come up with ways to improve the performance of a particular department.
- Resource Manager
Another key player in building the project team is the resource manager, whose responsibilities usually include: identifying project participants, matching project team roles and skills with project needs, allocating, planning resources within the project timeline and budget, controlling and optimizing the use of resources throughout the project to ensure its successful completion.
- Developer
Project developers are primarily responsible for the ideation, planning, and implementation of the project. They make sure that the project meets the goals and objectives of the organization, as well as responds to specific needs or opportunities.
- QA analyst (tester)
The role of the tester is to initially identify and then define the required tests, monitor testing and evaluate the results of each testing cycle. In addition, the responsibilities also include the collection and management of test data.
Stages of Project Management
Managing a project is not an easy task, no matter how big or small the project is. From planning to ever-changing customer requirements to timely product deployment, a lot can go wrong. By dividing a project into manageable phases, each with its own goals and deliverables, it becomes easier to control the project and ensure the quality of the final product.
Initiation
The first stage of an IT project is to ask the question, “Why is this project needed?” – define the purpose of the project, and then write a project proposal (including a business plan that meets the needs of the project).
Planning
Once the project proposal is approved, the project moves into the definition phase, where the project objectives are finalized and the requirements for successful implementation are defined. In this phase, the scope of the project is established, a plan is drawn up, and a budget and resource allocation are established.
Design/Design
In the design phase of an IT project, the team tries to find the best solution to accomplish the goal. In the process, several design options, prototypes are created, and after selecting a suitable one, specifications are created, passed on to the development team.
Realization
As a rule, realization is considered one of the long phases of the entire life cycle of the project. In this phase, the designed software product is developed. The team starts performing its tasks, and the manager moves on to monitoring the progress of all the work of each of the project participants.
Follow-up (support)
Finally, once the implementation phase is completed, the final project is handed over to the customer/client/stakeholder. Support phase – all the work that is done after the project is handed over includes making changes, setting up support services, end-user training, report writing, and ultimately finalizing the project.
Decommissioning
The final part of this phase is to analyze the entire project and write a detailed report covering all aspects of the product work. Most teams hold a post-project meeting to analyze the successes and failures during the project. This is an effective method to improve the overall team performance in the future.
The types of Agile methodologies in IT project management
Agile methodology is becoming increasingly popular: 71% of global organizations report using at least one of its types. Experts see a trend toward more iterative, adaptive approaches to project management.
Agile was originally designed as a more efficient process for managing developer work, but today it encompasses a number of different Agile methodologies used in disciplines ranging from marketing to customer service and beyond.
In IT, Agile project management has been a game changer, allowing organizations to quickly adapt to changing customer needs and rapidly evolving technologies.
It is quite common for companies to utilize Agile in their work:
Scrum
One of the most common Agile methodologies, which has gained popularity in the Agile software development community due to its simplicity and high productivity.
Scrum focuses on teamwork and allows you to concentrate task management in a team-based development environment. Moreover, the methodology is focused on enabling and empowering the development team, while assuming work in small teams (7 to 9 people).
The fundamental principle of Scrum is that the separation of time spent on work and projects allows for greater efficiency and productivity in an organization.
Kanban
Kanban was invented by Toyota engineer Taiichi Ohno. In the late 1940s, Toyota officials observed how supermarkets restocked products based on what products were taken from the shelves. This gave Toyota the idea to create a supply system in which the production plan was determined by actual consumption.
One of Kanban’s key ideas is to avoid producing surplus. To achieve this goal, Kanban uses Kanban cards and Kanban board to visualize the movement of resources in the production cycle. In this way, everyone involved in the process gets maximum visibility and helps managers solve surplus/shortage problems in real time.
The key difference between Kanban and Scrum is that Kanban is continuous and Scrum is iterative. Kanban is better suited for teams that get a lot of unplanned work (support issues, emergency fixes, urgent feature requests) during a sprint. Instead of waiting until the end of the sprint, the team can start working on items as they arise and reprioritize tasks in the process.
Scrumban
Scrumban is a project management framework that combines important features of two popular Agile methodologies, Scrum and Kanban. The Scrumban framework combines the structure and predictability of Scrum with the flexibility of Kanban to make teams more responsive, efficient, and productive. For companies implementing Scrumban, this approach will help them focus on strategic objectives while improving processes.
ScrumXP
ScrumXP is part of what is collectively known as the Agile methodology. XP is built on values, principles, and practices, and its goal is to enable small and medium-sized teams to build high-quality software and adapt to evolving and changing requirements.
What sets XP apart from other Agile methodologies is that XP emphasizes the technical aspects of development. XP is an accurate description of how developers work because following engineering practices enables teams to create high-quality code at a high rate of speed.
Lean
The Lean methodology continues to be popular among companies due to its focus on minimizing waste and increasing efficiency to provide more value to customers.
Lean allows organizations to optimize the entire value stream, from reducing cycle times to improving the speed and overall quality of the manufacturing process, as well as improving aspects that affect delivery. All of this is ultimately aimed at increasing value for customers.
Choice of IT project management method
A study conducted by Half Double Institute found that more than 53% of projects in the last 12 months could be completed on time by applying the right methodology.
Here are 7 factors to consider when choosing a project management method:
- Industry type
Different industries may have their own methods that are widely used and proven to work, so you should consider the type of industry.
- Project Requirements
The specific requirements of the project should be understood, including scope, complexity, size, and purpose. Some methodologies work better for specific projects, while others are more flexible and adaptable to different scenarios.
- Project Team
It is important to consider the skills, experience, and preferences of the project team. Some methodologies require specialized skills or training. It is important to assess whether the team has the capabilities to effectively implement and adhere to a particular methodology.
- Flexibility
The level of flexibility required for the project should be assessed. The Agile methodology Scrum, for example, known for its adaptability, iterative approach and continuous feedback, is suitable for projects with changing requirements.
- Time and resource constraints
Project time and resource constraints must be considered. Agile methodologies can be useful when working with changing priorities and tight deadlines. Their iterative nature promotes incremental progress and the ability to adapt to changing needs.
- Risk tolerance
Agile methodology supports change and has built-in mechanisms to deal with risks and challenges as they arise, and is considered most preferable when an organization is evolving in an environment that supports and innovates its business processes.
- Scalability
The extent to which the methodology can be scaled to implement larger or parallel projects should be determined. Some methodologies are suitable for smaller projects or specific workflows, such as Kanban or Lean.
IT Project Management System
Managing and controlling IT projects is extremely difficult. But when large chunks of work are broken down into smaller pieces – decomposed into infinitely nested tasks, suddenly everything becomes manageable. This is the essence of any project management methodology: the entire project is evenly divided into phases, designed and implemented.
The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is how it’s done in software development. A process that encompasses all stages of product creation: from idea to post-product maintenance.
IT Project Management System – SimpleOne SDLC provides a structured and systematic approach to supporting the software development lifecycle by helping to define the scope, objectives and requirements of a project, as well as establishing a project plan, schedule, budget and quality criteria. In addition, the SimpleOne SDLC solution enables you to assign and coordinate project team roles, responsibilities and tasks, manage product backlog and releases, and integrate with your ITSM system for support and change management.
