IT & MCIS

DEFINITION OF STANDARD:
Project Management software is used to establish and control a planned cost profile and schedule for IT development and maintenance projects. The software is used to track, compare and contrast planned versus actual cost-and-schedule profiles. Project management software allows users to schedule and allocate resources, adjust schedules, generate extensive reports, and keep projects on track by monitoring progress. Most project management software uses the critical path method (CPM), a project management planning and control technique that monitors critical activities/tasks capable of impairing progress of the entire project.

RATIONALE:
An automated, collaborative approach to IT project management is needed within the University of Kentucky to establish a structure and discipline capable of managing projects across the enterprise. An integrated project management solution will provide the following functions to project managers: consolidated team information, coordinated team activity, and the ability to track team progress. Use of a standard product will result in: economies-of-scale regarding procurement, ease of data interchange between University departments and management, and reduced skills-set and training requirements for project management staff.

PUBLICATION DATE: May 10, 1999
REVIEW DATE: May 28, 2003
REVIEW CYCLE: 6 months
RESPONSIBLE CONTACT:
Kathy Crouch kcrouch@email.uky.edu

TIMELINE:
Revision date: May 28, 2003
Effective date: November 16, 2001

Recommended Standard(s):
Critical Path Method (CPM)

Recommended Product(s):
Microsoft Project 2000/2002

Justification:
Project Management software will facilitate better planning, coordination and tracking of IT development and maintenance projects by application development staff and managers. This software will also assist project management staff to create better time-and-cost estimates for new application development by referencing historical data captured from past projects.

Technical Considerations:
Requires a workgroup environment (LAN) with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT, Microsoft Outlook.

For more information:
Project Management Body of Knowledge from the Project Management Institute at www.pmi.org.