8) Do you think it’s harder to manage an IT project or a traditional project, such as building construction? Justify your response.

Managing IT an projects require a different skill set than traditional construction projects, however they share many similarities.  IT involves teams of skilled individuals working together creatively to solve problems in the business world.  These problems are dynamic and require adaptive thinking and problem solving skills.  People with varied and specialized skill sets need to work together on complex systems in order to provide the solutions that the stakeholders require.  Issues that arise during an IT project involve team conflict, cost overruns, changing project scope and goals.

Construction projects are less subject to changes in project scope or goals, as these factors are laid out in the planning stages and are very difficult to change once work has begun.  Many of the team members have skills which, while necessary, are interchangeable and therefore individual team members are easier to replace. Construction projects require strict oversight and monitoring to ensure that the proper procedures are being followed at all times, since any defects in the final product can lead to severe consequences.

In conclusion, both types of projects present unique challenges, therefore it is impossible to make a blanket statement that one is harder to manage than the other.

7) Can recent college graduates expect to be project managers right away? What is a typical career path for a project manager?

Recent college graduates should expect to spend 2-5 years as a team member honing their skills before being considered for project management positions.  Over time, opportunities to lead smaller projects or as a project co-lead will arise.  If you can show skills in team management and leadership, a good way to ensure your continued success as a Project Manager would be to obtain certifications and education through the Project Management Institute.

6) What are the project management process groups? Estimate how much time and money is typically spent on projects in each of these process groups. Assume you have one year and $100,000 to spend.

The 5 project management process groups are:

1) Initiation:  The project is initiated.  The project sponsor meets with the project manager and lays out the requirements of the project and other parameters.  The deliverable of this process group would be a Project Charter, which would lay out the goals of the project and define its scope.  Using our 1 year timeline/$100,000 dollar budget, this process group should take approximately 2 weeks and no more than $5,000.

2) Planning: During this process group, the steps required to achieve the ideas and goals in the project charter are mapped out.  Deliverables  here would be a work breakdown structure, a project schedule, a project budget, and many other items.  This process group, along with the Initiation, should take 20 percent of the allotted timeframe, which would work out to approximately 8 weeks.  Research has shown that spending more time during the planning phase equates to less time and money spent during later stages.  The budget for this project group would be $15,000.

3) Executing: Here is where the actual work of producing project deliverables is performed.  Hardware is purchased, software is coded, users are trained, and the clients are kept informed of progress.  This process group requires the bulk of the resources allotted, both time and money.  70  percent of your timeframe should  be devoted to the execution of your project.  In terms of our budget, this process group will take 35 weeks and $60,000.

4) Monitoring and Controlling: The goal of this process group is to keep the project on track in terms of time, money spent, and deliverables completed.  Monitoring and controlling processes overlap all of the other process groups.  If any changes to the project goals arise during the execution, this process group ensures that changes are made in a timely and efficient manner.  This process group will require $15, 000.

5) Closing: The project is brought to an orderly end.  Stakeholders are consulted with in order to determine if the end product meets goals and expectations.  This final process group will require the remainder of our budget, $5,000.

5) Many information technology project managers come from senior technical positions. What can you do to help them transition into a project management role?

The transition from a technical or developer role to a managerial role can be difficult to make, since the skill sets required for each role differ greatly.  However, there are numerous ways to ease the transition from a technical position to a project management position.

One way to get a head start is to find a mentor, someone who has worked in a project management position for a few of years.  A mentor can give advice and help you to avoid the pitfalls that can accompany a transition to a new job description.

Since being a project manager involves, coincidentally, managing people and personalities, it would be a good idea to spend time meeting with your team members and asking them for input on what their expectations are from a project manager.  It is important to build a bond of trust and confidence with your team members early on, and getting to know the people you are going to work with and manage is an important step on the path to success as a manager.

There are also many training programs offered by various institutions that can assist in learning the fundamentals of project management.  If you have at least 1500 hours of experience working as a team member or a team lead, you can take the Certified Associate in Project Management exam offered by the Project Management Institute.  This exam is tailored for entry-level project managers and is based on the Guide to the PMBOK, a publication by the PMI that contains the fundamental standards and practices used by those in the field of project management.