3.10++IT+systems+in+organizations

** 3.10 ** ** IT systems in organizations **  ** Introduction **   This topic builds on the concepts introduced in “Introduction to project management” and provides students with a more in-depth understanding of the development of IT systems.   Most organizations, at some stage in their development, require the introduction of a new IT system as well as the maintenance and eventual retirement of their current systems. The ability of the organization to manage this change can determine the future viability of the organization.   Students should consider the interrelationship between stakeholders, IT systems, data, processes and policies, which provides the framework for the different project management approaches needed in order to accomplish the specified task. For example, students should research real examples of the role of IT professionals who maintain legacy or develop new IT systems, to reinforce the theoretical concepts addressed in this topic.  ** Possible scenarios **   Students may take the development of their internal assessment as a starting point for the application of the theoretical and practical aspects of this topic. This may take the form of producing a Gantt chart to indicate the stages in the development of the solution, on the agreed date, or how differing methodologies may lead to variations in the completion of tasks.   Other scenarios may include a city government that wishes to introduce an improved IT system to provide a more secure and effective method of record keeping in its public libraries. This would include the replacement of the storage area network (SAN) to accommodate the increased amount of data requiring archiving, along with the need to provide a disaster recovery system.  ** IT concepts to address in this topic **  **// Information systems, people and teams //**  <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • The role and need for IT in organizations <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Organizational IT policies <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 121%; margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • IT personnel and organizational structure: for example, information system (IS) managers, support staff, network manager, database administrator <span style="line-height: 4.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Development personnel: for example, manager, programmer, analyst, project manager <span style="line-height: 7.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> **// The system development life cycle (SDLC) //** <span style="line-height: 2.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Analysis of current situation <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Organizational requirements <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Methods of data collection: questionnaires, interviews, observation, literature searches <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Feasibility study <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Identification of possible IT solutions <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Requirements specification <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Justification of preferred IT solution <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Project plan (who, why, what, when and how part of the project) <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 121%; margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Project goals, scope and constraints, such as financial, time, technical, human-resource-related, risks, communication, procurement, quality <span style="line-height: 4.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Project initiation document <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Design considerations <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Inputs, data structure, processes, outputs, user interface <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Prototyping <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Development of the IT solution <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Initial testing, alpha testing <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Quality assurance and quality control <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Implementation <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Training and support of staff, documentation to support the new IT system <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Changeover methods: direct, phased and parallel running <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Beta testing <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Maintenance <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Phase out <span style="line-height: 7.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> **// Project management issues //** <span style="line-height: 2.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Need for project management <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Development methodologies: agile development and waterfall development <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Project management methodologies: for example, PRINCE2 (projects in controlled environments 2), SSADM (structured systems analysis and design method), PMBoK (project management body of knowledge), CMMI (capability maturity model integration) <span style="line-height: 5.05pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Iteration <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Time constraints, tasks, resources and milestones; Gantt and Pert charts <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Modelling systems: for example, entities, entity relationship diagrams (ERD), data flow diagrams <span style="line-height: 8.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Maintenance of legacy systems <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • System support: for example, internal support, maintenance contract <span style="line-height: 7.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-left: 23.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: list 23.0pt 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -22.95pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> • Incident management and escalation