An IT Project Manager of today requires very different skills than a project manager a decade ago. This short, 5 min presentation attempts to show the changing landscape of IT Project Management.
3. ONCE UPON A TIME…
1. Business silos – IT Projects seldom crossed
departmental boundaries
2. IT Projects target oriented (built to fixed specs)
3. System Analysts seldom had any business knowledge
4. Sequential System Development (Waterfall)
5. Project Management focused on Technical Competence
6. The Perception Gap
5. AS A RESULT…
1. Customer real needs were often misunderstood
2. Systems delivered to specs but development took years
3. Technology & customer needs often changed before the
system was finished
4. Customer had to pay for system that was already obsolete
6. 1. Rapid advancement in Technology –mobile, tablets,
Google glass, Near Field Communication
2. Rapidly changing client expectations and rapid
product obsolescence
3. Internet & Social Media spell the death of a traditional
salesman (pull vs push marketing)
4. Customer is NOW in charge.
HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED…
7. 1. New business models are emerging
2. Products & Services cross dept boundaries
3. Adaptability replaces Predictability
4. Businesses have to become Customer Centric as
opposed to Transactional
5. Vision & Customer Value become more important than
the Plan (birth of Agile)
HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE BUSINESS…
8. CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CAN
NO LONGER BE IGNORED…
A small shift in Customer Experience
can have dramatic effect on the bottom
line
9. 1. Understanding customer needs and perceptions is vital
to project success
2. Agile development more effective than the Waterfall
3. Good customer relationship becomes vital
4. Managing scope
5. Managing risk vs issue tracking
6. Importance of R & D
CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF IT
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
10. TODAY’S PROJECT MANAGER…
1. Asks WHY before HOW… Understands business and its
strategic objectives
2. Adaptable, high tolerance for Ambiguity
3. Good Communicator & Negotiator
4. Pro-active - Manages Risks vs Tracks Issues
5. Intuitive – like a good football player
6. Understands different personalities and communication styles
7. Builds Relationships & Collaborates rather than dictates
Project Success depends on good understanding of customer experience and recognition of customer needs and perceptions
Agile methods rely heavily on inputs from customer – no predefined requirements
Agile team dynamics are different from traditional Waterfall development environment
Managing scope with iterative development can be a challenge
Managing risk where the team size, cost and timeline are fixed, yet there are no fixed specs, can be a challenge
Today’s Project Manager must understand business and its strategic objectives
Must also understand customer business – Focus on WHY is the system is being built rather than on How it should be built…
Managing scope with fixed cost iterative development can be a challenge – ability to communicate and negotiate
Focus on Risk Management rather than Isssue tracking
Project Success depends on good understanding of customer experience and recognition of customer needs and perceptions rather than just focus on technology
Pro-Active – pre-empt requirements, unspoken requirements – (Research, Observe, Track and Measure). Be like a good footballplayer. Be where the ball will be, not where it is.
Focus on relationship building – team and customer (Agile team dynamics are different, Agile methods rely heavily on inputs from customer – no predefined requirements)
Understand different personality types and different communication styles.