1 Introduction to Project Management

“A little impatience can ruin a great project.”

Confucius

– Understanding the basic principles of project management.

– Learning the principal methods and tools of project management.

– Understanding the usefulness of specifications and how to interpret them.

1.1. Introduction

Managing an IT project is similar to managing any type of project in general. According to Wysocki, a project is a sequence of unique, non-repetitive, complex and connected activities intended to achieve an objective. This must be done within both a specific time frame and a budget, and in compliance with a set of specifications.

An IT project (ITP) requires technical skills (programming, security, networks, architecture, etc.), as well as organizational and communication skills. The objective is to design a reliable, viable and satisfactory IT solution for a client, particularly in terms of agreeing upon deadlines, cost and quality. There are multiple aspects to a project:

– functional: responds to a need;

– technical: complies with clearly defined specifications and limitations;

– organizational: adheres to a predetermined mode of operation (roles, culture, function, resistance to change, etc.);

– temporal: complies with deadlines;

– economic: adheres to a budget.