Anyone working with IT knows that this area is constantly changing, so it is necessary to adopt IT project management to ensure the quality and delivery of tasks.
This management ranges from the simplest to the most complex jobs, helping to monitor and control processes so that the company's objectives are met.
In this article, we are going to talk about what it is and how to apply IT project management, also presenting its advantages and 3 methodologies that can be adopted. Follow the reading!
What is IT project management?
Basically, project management works as a set of strategies used when implementing a project in the company.
Thus, when referring to IT project management, it means that this management is focused only on activities related to the IT area.
And what are IT projects? There are several, but we can mention hardware, software, data security, infrastructure upgrade and much more.
This management is responsible for identifying the essential requirements for the project to develop, adapting expectations to the client's needs.
In addition, IT project management is responsible for analyzing quality, risks and resources, also monitoring deadlines and budgets.
Therefore, the main objective of this management is to enable projects to be delivered with the maximum level of effectiveness.
Therefore, whoever is involved in this work needs to implement improvements ranging from conception to completion of the project.
Remember that, if your company adopts IT project management, there are several benefits, such as:
- Cost reduction by adopting more efficient management and better use of resources;
- Reduction of risks in the management stages, as employees are able to adopt more effective preventive and corrective attitudes;
- Greater chance of achieving goals, as teams work in an organized manner;
- Better distribution of resources, as it is defined in advance which resources are needed and, thus, employees have the most efficient tools to work with.
What are the steps in IT project management?
For the management to be done efficiently, it goes through 5 different stages. Next, you'll find out what they are.
1 - Initiation
Initiation refers to the step at which the scope is defined and the project is authorized. Then, the person in charge is responsible for evaluating possible improvements and identifying if the project is viable. At this moment, issues such as cost and advantages are also on the agenda.
2 - Strategic planning
In the second phase, strategies are developed so that the objectives with the project are met. So it's time to plan each step of the project and that's why this plan will serve as a guide throughout the entire process.
During this planning, it is also necessary to establish which collaborators and teams will be involved in the project and define the schedules.
3 - Execution
Execution is the step in which resources, collaborators and strategies come together so that the project is executed.
At this stage, it is essential for the manager to observe if the planning is being carried out and he also needs to be prepared to deal with unforeseen events that may occur.
4 - Maintenance
To analyze how the project is progressing, the maintenance phase begins, in which indicators are adopted to analyze whether the execution is taking place according to the defined deadlines and budget.
Maintenance also involves taking care of the quality of the project, aiming to increase efficiency and reduce the possibility of failure.
5 - Closing
Finally, we have the closure, that is, the stage in which it is verified whether the project has achieved the stipulated objectives and, therefore, can be concluded. If the completion of the project is approved, it becomes part of the company's operations.
What methodologies can be used?
The methodology is fundamental to guide the work flows and guide the collaborators involved in the projects. Below, see 3 methodologies that can be adopted in IT project management.
Kanban
Created by the Japanese company Toyota in the 60s, the Kanban methodology is based on the idea of doing only what is necessary for the next stage of the process to be carried out.
Kanban visualization is from a board with different columns (referring to different steps) and cards related to tasks.
Then, when a task is completed, you move the card to the next step and this is done until the entire process is finished.
In this way, it is possible to follow the entire workflow in a very visual way, making the organization of tasks much easier.
Scrum
The Scrum methodology integrates the agile methodologies, being widely used among programmers. It is made from small cycles of activities within a project.
The activity cycle is called Sprint and is planned in advance, where the time to perform each task is already defined.
With this, it is possible to have greater productivity, always focusing on quality and following the entire evolution of the project.
An advantage of this methodology is that it allows the correction of problems during the process, in so-called Sprints, in which the user can give feedback.
Therefore, the team does not have to wait for the project to be completed before handing it over to the client. It is possible to allow the client to evaluate the project throughout the activity cycles and, thus, make the necessary corrections, avoiding rework.
Waterfall
Also known as Cascade, the Waterfall methodology is a very traditional method of project management.
In this case, each step is performed after the completion of the previous one, so the process development takes the form of a waterfall. According to the Waterfall methodology, the project is only delivered when all stages are completed.
However, it is important to note that, in cases of very complex projects with several stages, Waterfall may not be the most interesting option.
After all, there is a great chance that the result will not be fully satisfactory and, with that, your company runs the risk of having wasted time and money, in addition to having to undergo rework.
Now that you know the methodologies of IT project management, you understand how this management works and why to adopt it. We also recommend that you read our article on monitoring your IT infrastructure! See you on next article.
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