To understand project management principles in software programming

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "To understand project management principles in software programming"

Edmund Gibbs
5 years ago
Views:

1 1 st October 2018

2 Unit 3 Objective To understand project management principles in software programming Learning outcome Students are expected to apply the project management principles in programming fields or workbench

3 Section 1: Software Project Management Section 2: Causes of Software Development Failure Section 3: Types of Software Projects

5 SECTION 1: Software Project Management It is process of managing, allocating and timing resources to develop computer software that meets requirements. In software project management, the end users and developers need to know the length, duration and cost of the project. It is a sub-discipline of project management in which software projects are planned, implemented, monitored and controlled.

PHASES Phse Initiating/Defining - State the problem(s) / goal(s) - Identify the objectives - Secure resources - Explore costs/benefits in feasibility study Planning Executing - - Identify and

6 PHASES Phse Initiating/Defining - State the problem(s) / goal(s) - Identify the objectives - Secure resources - Explore costs/benefits in feasibility study Planning Executing - - Identify and sequence activities - Identify the critical path - Es timate time and resources needed for completion - Write a detailed project plan Start with the actual project work Commit resources to specific tasks Controlling Closing Establish reporting obligations Create report ing tools Compare actual progress with baseline - Initiate control interventions if necessary - Finalize all obligations/commitments - Meet with stakeholders - Release project resources - Issue final report

7 Project Initiation Phase

8 Project Planning and Further Analysis

9 Detail Activities at the Execution & Controlling Stages 9 Project Identification and Contract Selection Project Initiation and Planning Analysis Logical Design Physical Design *Logical Design: Writing the Pseudocode Algorithm, flowcharts and Process diagrams *Physical Design: Translating Algorithm into real codes using E.g. C++, Java, Ruby, python IDE platform to create program. Implementation Maintenance

10 Section 2: CAUSES OF SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGEMENT FAILURES 1.Insufficient end-user involvement 2.Poor communication among Customers, Developers, Users 3.Unrealistic or unarticulated project goals 4.Inaccurate estimates of needed resources 5.Badly defined system requirements and specifications 6.Poor reporting of the project's status 7.Poorly managed risks 8.Use of immature development toolkit/technology (E.g. IDE) 9.Inability to handle the project's complexity 10.Sloppy development practices 11.Stakeholder politics (e.g. Absence of executive support) 12.Commercial pressures

11 GAO Study of Government Software Development Software Engineering Risk Analysis and Management, Robert Charette,

12 Most CIOs are fired for missing budgets or time lines in software projects Survey by Janco Associates Inc. found that: 34 % of CIOs are fired for major application failure or mismanaging change - missing budgets and or initiative time lines 29 %=Are fired for ignoring not being focused on how the operates 28% = Are fired for ignoring customers 27% =Are fired for key projects that never gets finished or goes too far over budget I T Toolkits Newsletter, August 27, 2009, Janco Associates Inc. 12

13 Distinguishing different types of project is important as different types of task need different project approaches. Type 1. Information systems (Library Application, MIS etc.) Type 2. Embedded systems (Mobile devices, computer etc.) 13

14 Software Development Package Implementation/Roll out System Enhancement Systems Migration Software Consultancy and business analysis Infrastructure implementation 14

15 Similar to other construction projects Main difficulty intangibility of product Project managers need: Flexibility and adaptability Well-developed interpersonal and stakeholder management skills 15

16 Quicker and cheaper than building a system Main difficulties: Selecting the right package Tailoring to meet specific needs Integrating with other systems. Main challenges for the project manager: Managing series of sub-projects Ensuring suppliers live up to expectations Keeping users realistic about what they will get Trade-offs between business needs and package capabilities. 16

17 Often handled as business as usual but can involve a lot of work. Main issues for the project manager: Keeping existing systems operational while enhancements are made Sharing technical staff time between enhancements and day-to-day support Regression testing of enhancements. 17

18 Moving existing system to new platform. Users judge success by lack of interruptions. May involve some retraining of users. May also involve some software development for interfaces. 18

19 Main issues: Intangibility of the product Difficult to estimate realistically Shifting the scope of the project. 19

20 Installation of hardware and/or Communications networks Fitting out of computer suites General project management principles apply Specific issues to consider: Need to maintain business as usual Supplier management vital. 20

21 Next week 11: Software Development Model/Method/Approach Week 12: Software intellectual property Thanks

22 Pragmatism Positivism Realism Interpretivis m Popular data collection method Mixed or multiple method designs, quantitative and qualitative Highly structured, large samples, measurement, quantitative, but can use qualitative Methods chosen must fit the subject matter, quantitative or qualitative Small samples, indepth investigation s, qualitative

Project vs Operation. Project Constraints. Pankaj Sharma, Pankaj Sharma,

Project vs Operation. Project Constraints. Pankaj Sharma, Pankaj Sharma, Project vs Operation PROJECTS OPERATIONS Temporary Ongoing Unique Repetitive Closes after attaining the objectives Objective is to sustain business Prototyping the new car model Assembly line production