Real-World Project Management: Beyond Conventional Wisdom, Best Practices, and Project Methodologies

Chapter 16. Putting It All Together

We Will now set up a test project in which the tools we described earlier can be put to good use. For purposes of this example, we will construct a test project that utilizes most of the key tools described in this book. In a real working situation this might not be necessary or recommended. The toolbox is there for the user and all the tools are available—however, the practitioner's job is to use the right tool for the situation at hand. Not all the tools need to be used for every situation. Please keep this in mind as we elaborate the example. Also bear in mind that this is a high-level treatment addressing the major components of the system—the level of detail addressed here will be at a much higher level than would be addressed in an actual project or program.

PROJECT

You have been asked to build an operations center for a large technology company that will integrate all the helpdesks in the company and provide facilities monitoring, security, 24 × 7 call emergency services, and a centralized helpdesk for all 23 physical facilities in your company across the United States, Europe, and Asia. This will require new computer hardware and software infrastructure across the enterprise. The project must be completed in 18 months at a cost not to exceed $25M.

There are six fundamental needs for the project:

1. Ability to monitor the entire company network 24 × 7. This includes wireline and wireless connectivity.

2. Ability to operate the corporate helpdesk 24 ...