Project Management for Enterprise Implementations

Brian Schrantz

This presentation

has 6 sections

1. Background

2. Intro to Project Management

3. 5 Steps to Successful Project Management

4. Assessing Project Management Capacity

5. PMP Certification

6. Recommendations

Background

Section 1

Background Information

• EMA – IT based consulting firm based in St. Paul, MN.

• Focus on GIS and Enterprise Implementations

• Over 10 Years Geospatial Technology Experience

• PMP Certification (In Progress)• 9 Years at Regional Planning Board

Introduction to Project Management

Section 2

Why Project Management Is So Important• 80% of Technology Based Projects Fail

to Meet Goals– Loss of Time– Loss of Money– Inability to Answer Needs of the Customer

• Why They Fail–Poor Communication– Improper Management

The Role of the Project Manager

• Scope Design and Budget Drafting• Task Management and Oversight• Client Interaction• Management of Staff• Management of

Sub-Contractors/Consultants• Final Deployment

5 Steps to Successful Project Management

Section 3

5 Steps of Project Management

Project Initiation

Project Planning

Project Execution

Project Control

Project Closeout

Links Among Process Groups

Project Initiation

• Concept Development• Design of the Project Scope• Issuing any RFPs• Selecting any Consultants• Contracting with Consultants

Project Planning

• Complete Project Plan (MPP) Including:–Tasks –Budgeted hours for each task–Staff assignments by task–Project timeline– Identification of milestones

Project Planning – Core Processes

Project Execution

• Budget Management• Completion of Tasks• Staff Management• Timeline Management• Consultant Management

Project Control

• Change Control• Risk Monitoring• Scope Verification• Contract Monitoring• Performance Reporting

Project Closeout

• Final Reporting• Knowledge Transfer• Archive Project Materials• Project Documentation

Overlaps of Process Groups in a Phase

Assessing Project ManagementCapacity

Section 4

Project Staff Hierarchy

Roles• Staff – answer to PM, complete project tasks,

work with consultants, it is common for the PM to also be a staff person.

• Consultant – answer to PM, complete project tasks, can answer to staff instead.

• PM – responsible for all aspects of a project, answers to PIC, all others working on project report to the PM.

• PIC – high level oversight of project, ensures project fits organizational goals and mission, PIC should not have any other role in the project.

Choosing a PM: OptionsExecutive Director/Other Mgmt Position

• Benefits– Understand needs of the customer– Typically good communicator (non-technical)– Good contract manager– Understand needs of the customer– Typically good communicator (non-technical)– Good contract manager

• Downfalls– Portfolio manager – make a better PIC– Time constraints– Don’t understand technical components– Too much micro-management– Assessing qualifications of sub-contractors– Developing scope and budget– Task completion

Technical Person/GIS Staff• Benefits

– Excellent understanding of technical components– Can speak the Lingo, especially important for sub-contractors– Understand the ability and limitations of technology– Assess qualifications of sub-contractors– Scope and Budget design– Task completion

• Downfalls– Assume simplicity of operation– Fail to recognize needs of customer– Communication – speak on a higher level– Weaker management experience– Ability to deal with other staff

Consultant• Benefits

• Best of both worlds• Proven ability• Easier to hold accountable• Extends expertise of the organization (temporary)

• Downfalls• Cost - $$$$$$$• More time – contract management• Usually doesn’t add to the expertise of the

organization long term

PMP Certification

Section 5

PMP Certification• Provided by the Project Management Institute (

http://www.pmi.org)• Requirements– Adherence to the PMBOK manual– 35 hours specific project management education– 3 years direct project management experience– Must include 4,500 hours of leading and directing project

tasks– Pass written examination– Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution– Must all occur within 8 years previous application

Recommendations

Section 6

Recommendations

• Build staff capacity and keep it• Consider requiring PMP certification for

consultants• Adopt standards of practice• Utilize software tools, especially for large,

long-term projects (Microsoft Project)

Questions? www.ema-inc.com

© 2008 EMA, Inc.

For more information,contact bschrantz@ema-inc.comor www.ema-inc.com