Steps to Implement and Deliver an IT Project for QA Higher Education

Step 1: Prepare Project Initiation Document (PID)

To ensure students and staff have an excellent learning environment and access to the latest technology to support teaching and learning, QA Higher Education (QAHE) has planned to carry out the refurbishment of its teaching rooms and computing labs across sites (London, Birmingham, and Manchester).

The university wishes to implement smart technology (e.g., smartboards) to optimize the delivery platform by driving efficiencies, streamlining online lectures workflows, increasing inclusive learning, maximizing value, growing smarter, creating new KPIs and standardizing processes. This will involve a major launch event to publicize this as it may help attract students and make the university more competitive as well as celebrating the success of the project.

You are the project manager for this project and have now been asked to manage this new project. Explain and simulate the steps you would take to implement and deliver this project successfully. This may include different kinds of information such as:

•Sample Project Initiation Document (PID)  

•Management of IT Projects

•Budgetary Information

•Software and IT Equipment’s (Estimation)

•Timescales

•Stakeholder Analysis

•Risk Assessment

You will also be required to do a risk management in case the project does not go as planned and does not complete on time. Assess what would your strategy be.

Your first task is to prepare a suitable case description for a substantial IT project from the scenario explained above. You may use another project case description. In this context, a “case” means a description of the project, including the main events during its execution, what were the challenges/problems encountered, and how they were addressed. You may search the web, use the online library, or any other resources accessible to you. You may use a case that is the property of a membership organisation, such as the PMI or may use an undocumented case from your own personal experience. Relevant assumptions, should be made and justified.

Tasks / Deliverables of Assignment 1

Provide a reference or link to the case. If the case is from your own personal experience and is undocumented, then state this at the start of the section. This task comprises the following sections:

Task-1:

•Provide an academic summary of this case which highlights points most relevant to the management of IT projects. [5 Marks]

•Discuss how the need for the project arose. [5 Marks]

•Evaluate the methods used to gather, analyse and manage the requirements for the project. [10 Marks]

Note: Case descriptions never have complete information, so you may need to make certain assumptions.

Task-2: Identify and categorise the stakeholders of the project. Critically evaluate the approach the project team took in managing stakeholders and communicating with them. What mistakes did the project manager make and how can these mistakes be avoided? [25 Marks]

Task-3: What is software estimation and why is it important during software project management? How can a project manager improve their estimation accuracy? What options are available to them? [25 Marks]

Task-4: For the selected IT project (case) from the above scenario, identify the risks associated with your IT project and prepare a suitable risk management approach. You must refer to the current project management literature in your risk management approach. [20 Marks]

Presentation, Report Layout and References

Note: An executive summary, introduction and conclusion are not necessary in your report.

Although much of your report will contain existing body of knowledge, you must write your assignment in your own words to demonstrate your understanding of the subject. You are required to follow the Harvard referencing system when citing others' work. An accompanying list of references must also be provided as part of your report. Extensively referenced work reflects the level of research you conducted in the process of producing the document. It is also an acknowledgement of other people’s work. Correct referencing demonstrates your academic and professional skills. It also reflects your academic honesty and thus to some degree protects you from cases of plagiarism.