Paper 8

RESEARCH AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

This paper is intended to equip the candidate with the knowledge, skills and attitude that will enable him/her undertake research in ICT related areas and manage small to medium sized Information Systems development projects.

On completion, a candidate should be able to

Understand the business context of an Information Systems development project
Develop a realistic plan
Monitor and control resources against a plan
Implement procedures required to ensure the successful delivery of the end product

Content

1
Business Context of an Information Systems Development Project
1. 1.1
  Types of information systems projects
2. 1.2
  Relationship between business strategy and information system projects
3. 1.3
  Content and format of a business case
4. 1.4
  The framework of a project
5. 1.5
  Role of a programme and project support office
6. 1.6
  Development lifecycles
7. 1.7
  Principles of PRINCE2
2
Content and Format of a Business Case
1. 2.1
  Content and format of a business case
2. 2.2
  Investment appraisal
3. 2.3
  Presenting the business case
4. 2.4
  Benefits realisation and management
3
Project management Process
1. 3.1
  Development lifecycles
2. 3.2
  Approaches to systems development
3. 3.3
  Project Selection
4. 3.4
  Planning and scheduling
5. 3.5
  Design
6. 3.6
  Development
7. 3.7
  Commissioning
8. 3.8
  Closure
9. 3.9
  Project management software
4
Project Scoping
1. 4.1
  Project constraints
2. 4.2
  Scope definition
3. 4.3
  The Scope triangle
4. 4.4
  Supply chain total cost of Ownership (TCO) (21)
5
Developing a Realistic Plan
1. 5.1
  Describe the work that needs to be planned before starting a project
2. 5.2
  Project requirements
3. 5.3
  Work breakdown structure
4. 5.4
  Product breakdown structure
5. 5.5
  Product descriptions and work packages
6. 5.6
  Dependencies
7. 5.7
  Planning for quality
8. 5.8
  Tolerances
9. 5.9
  The use of planning tools
6
Developing an estimate for a Project
1. 6.1
  IS project estimation
2. 6.2
  Estimating in engineering disciplines
3. 6.3
  Comparison of estimating methods
4. 6.4
  Estimating supporting activities
7
Developing a Schedule
1. 7.1
  Scheduling – effort and elapsed time
2. 7.2
  Schedule development
3. 7.3
  Project milestones and “overhead” tasks
4. 7.4
  Resource plans development
5. 7.5
  Contingencies
6. 7.6
  Plan documentation
7. 7.7
  Budgets
8. 7.8
  PRINCE2™ plans
8
Monitoring and control against a plan
1. 8.1
  Critical path method
2. 8.2
  Monitoring costs
3. 8.3
  Milestone slip, Chart
4. 8.4
  Earned value analysis
5. 8.5
  Challenges of effective project management
6. 8.6
  Evaluate the current situation and identify possible
7. 8.7
  Corrective actions
8. 8.8
  Change control and configuration management
9. 8.9
  Project Reporting
10. 8.10
  Exercising control in PRINCE2™
9
Risk Analysis
1. 9.1
  Risk management process
2. 9.2
  Risk management planning and control
3. 9.3
  Risk register
4. 9.4
  Risk ownership
5. 9.5
  Risk management in PRINCE2 (22)
10
Human dimension and the importance of team leadership
1. 10.1
  Maximising the relationship between leadership and performance
2. 10.2
  Explain how to manage a project team
3. 10.3
  Managing stakeholders and customers
4. 10.4
  Managing expectations and conflict
5. 10.5
  Selection and role of the project manager Role of a Programme and Project Support Office (PPSO)
6. 10.6
  Work standards relevant to the practice of project management
7. 10.7
  Negotiation techniques
8. 10.8
  Selling a Project
9. 10.9
  Change management
11
Quality Management
1. 11.1
  Explain how quality is managed
2. 11.2
  Quality concepts
3. 11.3
  Quality management, TQM and the quality plan
4. 11.4
  Quality control methods
5. 11.5
  The cost of poor quality
6. 11.6
  Inspection versus testing
7. 11.7
  The management of software testing
8. 11.8
  Metrics and statistical control
9. 11.9
  Configuration management
10. 11.10
  Managing quality with PRINCE2™
12
Managing Suppliers
1. 12.1
  Setting up the contract
2. 12.2
  The contractual framework
3. 12.3
  Monitoring supplier performance
4. 12.4
  Quality control and subcontractors
5. 12.5
  Legal aspects