Computer Support for Project Management

This week we have learned about the computer support for project management. Project management is the process of achieving goals related to on-time delivery, adherence to requirement and cost minimization in a unique environment that is subject to resource availability, cash flow, and technological performance constraints, all in the presence of uncertainty. Surely, the management needs to have tools to control and manage all the factors related to a project. If each factor is controlled by separate tool, it would be a hassle for managing a project. This has led to the development of software packages to interact efficiently by standardizing procedures, reports, data files. The system can handle all of the different aspects of a project throughout the product’s life cycle, including configuration management, scheduling, budgeting, cost analysis, resource management, and monitoring and control.

List of Criteria for a Project Management software package

As mentioned above, an integrated software system should be able to handle all the aspects of a project through out the product’s life cycle. For an example, we are looking for a project management software package, I would list down the following factors that should be included in the software

1. Appropriation: The software is designed to integrate the required information to manage the project. It should provide features such as functionalization for all phases of the project management process, strategic decision support.
2. Process management: This is one the of the must function for a software, which provide the process flowchart, launch support, and reference material.
3. Scheduling management
4. Cost management
5. Resource management
6. Communications management
7. Risk management

Implementation of a Project Management Software Package

The successful implementation of project management software depends largely on its ability to support the project team’s activities. In the software evaluation process, I would create the software evaluation team that includes all the end users. In addition, I would also include the future users in package testing and project stimulation. After a team is selected, implementation starts with a training program in which future system users learn operational procedures and gain an understanding. To avoid overwhelming users with new and unfamiliar applications, we will implement the software in stages and run the survey and determine the efficiently of each stage.

Conclusion

Utilizing the computer support in project management will help the project management in the long term. However, the implementation of the system takes time and effort. This is also a project itself. This includes choosing the right software package, creating the criteria, choosing vendor, and evaluating the system. Each of these steps are critical to enhancing the computer support in project management.