IT Project Management Training: Filling The Gap
George Purdy
Ask anyone at the top level of the major information technology service providers what the biggest challenge that they face everyday, and they well probably tell you that the biggest challenge is project management. The success of any information technology project depends on efficient and successful management. However, training in IT project management has traditionally been underemphasized.
How exactly does software project management training differ from construction management project training, or project training in other industries? Unlike projects in most other businesses, IT projects are often being worked on by many groups of people in delivery centers scattered at many distant locations around the world.
Most colleges don't offer degrees in project management. Although college catalogs will often list courses in project management, they are not part of a specialized degree program. Because of this deficiency, IT companies are hard-pressed to find trained, certified project managers to hire. Since IT companies are only able to produce software as good as the project managers they employ, it is imperative that they provide their own training programs to bring these people onboard quickly.
Project management training, particularly, training in the management of software projects places emphasis on strategies relating to time scheduling, requirements elicitation, throughput evaluation and employee task allocation, and also focuses on management information systems and total quality management. Aspects pertaining to the use of office productivity solutions, effective communications strategy, organizational behavior, employee engagement and motivation should also be included in the modules.
When beginning IT project management training, it is necessary to develop a strong understanding of the software engineering process. New employees are usually trained in the management style of the software firm. This allows the employee to better understand the protocols and processes that allow for a seamless integration of work in a global delivery model.
Project management taxonomy training will also be provided to the workers. Having workers well versed in project management taxonomy allows the firm to more readily standardize their project management efforts. To ensure senior managers are aware of new ideas and practices in the project management taxonomy field, a firm may want to hold refresher classes from time to time.
Obviously, the success of any information technology initiative is dependent on organized, resourceful and efficient project management. There are different types of project management training programs for different occupations. Software project management training is very different from other project management training for instance construction management project training. Strategies covered in project management training that centers on software projects include time scheduling, task allocation, management information, and total quality management. The students also receive training in project management taxonomy. When beginning IT project management training, it is necessary to develop a strong understanding of the software engineering process.
About the Author:
|
