To function effectively, professional IS/IT project managers must understand the interrelationship between technological change and the strategic role technology plays in sustaining a successful business. This module focuses on providing the IS/IT project manager with a framework of technical concepts, skills and experience as well as a critical analysis of the organisational context in which IS/IT projects are conducted. Students will:

Develop an understanding of the organisation issues that impinge on the management of complex technology projects in global, distributed business environments;

Analyse the professional technological and organisational challenges including ethical issues in the development, implementation, operation and monitoring of such projects

Apply the leadership and management skills required for developing effective technical teams and delivering successful IS/IT projects.

(LO1) Analyse components and processes in the project management discipline to the unique challenges involved in planning and executing strategic IS/IT projects within and across small medium enterprises (SMD) and complex organisational environments

(LO2) Analyse and critically reflect on variety of approaches to planning IS/IT projects including information system development methodologies (ISM) outsourcing, and custom versus off the shelf products

(LO3) Evaluate IS/IT development delivery processes and methods

(LO4) Identify the causes of IS/IT project failure and ways in which these can be prevented and overcome whilst creating an environment in which lessons learned are applied to promote organisational effectiveness.

(LO5) Evaluate risk in IS/IT project management environments, including resistance to change.

(LO6) Develop skills for leading and managing project teams in an IS/IT environment whilst considering personal and cultural differences.

(S1) Communication Skills: Students will have opportunities to develop written communication skills through group discussions and assignments.

(S2) Numeracy Skills: Students will learn quantitative techniques. Students will have the opportunity to analyse and use financial and statistical data to support business decisions.

(S3) Group Working Skills: Some work will require students to work in groups and manage the interaction and relationships with other group members. In doing so, they will gain experience in negotiation, persuasion, influencing and managing conflict.

(S4) Personal Effectiveness: Students will be encouraged to think critically about theory and practice and to challenge and critique assumptions about the management of people and organisations. In doing so they will be able to recognise and consider issues such as ethical dilemmas, corporate social responsibility, organisational values, leadership approaches and styles.

(S5) Time management. This involves planning scheduled work and meeting assessment deadlines. This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and coursework and by meeting coursework deadlines.

Teaching Method 1 - Virtual classroom hours (for online modules)
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected in the virtual classroom in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is 0.

Teaching Method 2 - Non-classroom hours (for online modules)
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected for reading, research and other individual work to support engagement in the classroom is 0.

Setting the scene: Evaluate factors for success of IT projects; Evaluate industry-specific factors for IT project success; Analyse experience with factors for IT project success;

Managing teams and collaborative projects: Analyse methods for managing virtual teams; Evaluate experiences with virtual teams;

Project management risks: Analyse risks of large multinational IS/IT projects; Analyse the impact of culturally diverse teams and stakeholders on project outcomes;

Evaluate approaches for risk management in IS/IT projects: Evaluate risks for IS/IT projects;

Project life-cycle development: Analyse challenges related to superseding legacy IS/IT systems; Analyse the impact of insights on approaches to project management; Analyse the impact of insights on professional career;

Planning IS/IT projects: Evaluate techniques for determining project resources; Analyse the impacts of under-resourcing on projects; Analyse approaches to managing projects; Compare r isks associated with managing projects;

Outsourcing IS/IT projects: Evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) associated with international outsourcing; Evaluate project appropriateness for outsourcing;

Methodologies for IS/IT projects: Analyse Information System Design Methodologies; Evaluate change methodologies; Evaluate impacts of change methodologies on user experience; Evaluate development methodologies for projects; Analyse outsourcing factors for projects; Analyse projects for corporate social responsibility issues;

Assessment and evaluation for IS/IT projects: Analyse criteria for determining project success; Evaluate professional development with managing successful IS/IT projects.