Defining Information System projects.
What is a Project?
A project is an endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service. It is made up of defined processes and tasks, and has a definite beginning and end.
What is considered an Information Systems project?
The Project Management Methodology will be used when the activity involves one or more of the following criteria:
- Fiscal funding
- Project Resources of more than 30 Person Days
- Impact to another Department, either as a result of the project, or for project resourcing
- Strategic visibility as determined by project sponsor
How do I initiate a project?
Projects can be initiated in the following ways:
- Proposals are submitted to the Chair of the Information Systems Steering Committee as part of the annual planning framework process for initiatives that fall under the governance of ISSC. The Proposals are reviewed by ISSC who confirm the priorities, establish ranking, and give approval to begin project initiation. The approved Proposals are added to the portfolio of IT projects.
- For initiatives that fall under the governance of the CIO (Chief Information Officer), any member of ITS may develop a Proposal. These initiatives would mainly be projects of an internal nature to ITS. Proposals are submitted to the Project Management Office (PMO) and reviewed by the ITS Management Team. Approved Proposals are included in the CIO portfolio.
The objective of the project Proposal is to provide management with the information necessary to determine if the project has merit in terms of business value and operational alignment. A Proposal template can be found on the PMO website Tools & Templates.
What determines project success?
A project is successful if it delivers on time, on budget, and meets customer needs.
Why do projects fail?
Although there are many factors that could cause a project to fail, some common reasons for project failure are:
- Changing requirements (scope creep)
- Insufficient planning
- Poor Requirements definition
- Poor communication
- Unrealistic expectations or time frames
- Lack of commitment and responsibility by stakeholders and senior management
Where can I get assistance?
The Project Management Office provides mentoring and guidance on using the Project Management Methodology. Templates, checklists, and reference material are available on the website. The PMO can provide experienced project managers for your project.
Please contact Betty.Baxter@carleton.ca with any questions, comments, or to schedule a consultation.