IT Evaluation and Implementation I

ITC 4760, Information Technology Evaluation and Implementation I 1

Course Description

Capstone project course resulting in the completion and delivery of the first phases of a faculty approved project. Includes readings in project management and practice with project management software.

Prerequisites

Completion of all required courses except ITC 4780, Information Technology Evaluation and Implementation II

Course Textbook

Schwalbe, K. (2011) Information technology project management (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Course Technology

Course Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Justify the use of tools and techniques used in project management including Gantt charts and project network diagrams.

2. Identify the components of the project management life cycle and the information systems development life cycle, and the reasons for project failure and project success.

3. Examine the characteristics of a project team and the factors that influence team performance, including theories of motivation, leadership, and power.

4. Assess how communication planning, information distribution, performance reporting, and administrative closure are used to enhance project success.

5. Explain the project initiation process and scope planning and their importance to project success. 6. Create an overview of project scheduling and project scheduling techniques, including its importance and the

challenges associated with it. 7. Summarize the importance of managing project resources, and explain their effect on project duration. 8. Apply project resource management tools and techniques for managing project time. 9. Analyze the budgeting process and its effect on IT strategy and value.

10. Explain the processes of project procurement management, contract administration, project execution, project control and project closure.

Course Structure

1. Unit Learning Objectives: Each unit contains Unit Learning Objectives that specify the measurable skills and knowledge students should gain upon completion of the unit.

2. Written Lectures: Each unit contains a Written Lecture, which discusses lesson material. 3. Reading Assignments: Each unit contains Reading Assignments from one or more chapters from the

textbook. Supplemental Readings are provided in Units I-VII to aid students in their course of study. 4. Learning Activities (Non-Graded): These non-graded Learning Activities are provided in Unit VIII to aid

students in their course of study.

ITC 4760, Information Technology Evaluation and Implementation I 2

5. Key Terms: Key Terms are intended to guide students in their course of study. Students should pay particular attention to Key Terms as they represent important concepts within the unit material and reading.

6. Unit Assessments: This course contains six Unit Assessments, one to be completed at the end of Units I, II, IV, VI, VII, and VIII. Assessments are composed of written response and/or multiple choice questions.

7. Unit Assignments: Students are required to submit for grading Unit Assignments in Units I-VII. Specific information and instructions regarding these assignments are provided below.

8. Course Project: Students are required to submit for grading a Course Project in Unit VIII. Specific information and specifications regarding this assignment is provided below.

9. Ask the Professor: This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content related questions.

10. Student Break Room: This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates.

Unit Assignments

IT Project Plan Overview

A key part of this ITC 4760 course is an Information Technology (IT) Project. A completed project document will describe:

 An information system (chosen by the student),

 What the system will include (determined by the student), and

 Details of the work required to build the system (specified by the student).

Development of the project material will be incremental. Unit assignments will build upon each other for the development of one final project. Consolidation of the unit increments will be during the final unit of the course. The result will be a Word document to be submitted in Unit VIII, which is the first phase of the IT project.

The completed ITC 4760 project document will be input to the continuation of project assignments in the ITC 4780 course. Unit assignments in the ITC 4780 course will expand and modify the project document of this course and will be the second phase of the personal project. Consolidation of the ITC 4760 project material, and the ITC 4780 material, will comprise the completed IT personal project.

Since time, size, complexity, and resources are limited for the personal IT Project, you should choose a system with the following characteristics:

 familiar

 simple

 small

 has information available

The idea of the project is to gain experience in project management. The best way to do this is to choose a familiar system. Then, project management receives all the available time rather than learning a new system.

*Click here to refer to the IT Project Plan as a guide.

Unit I Assignment

IT Project Title Page, Part 1 (25 points): Create a Word document of a Title Page for the IT Project in APA format. (Refer to the IT Project Plan, found in the Project Overview section, as a guide.) Be sure to cite the textbook and any outside sources used. The Title Page should include the following information:

 Project name

 Information Technology Project (Part 1)

 Course number and name

 Student name

 Instructor name

IT Project Selection/Description, Part 2 (75 points): Submit a Word document of the description of an IT system project for instructor approval. Use APA formatting. (Remember: choose a familiar system rather than learning a new system.)

ITC 4760, Information Technology Evaluation and Implementation I 3

Referring to the information presented in Chapter 1, provide the project description and justification for choice of the project including a general statement of:

 Unique purpose

 Beginning and ending points

 General outline of work to be done in the project

 Hardware, software, and other resources to be used

 Description of customer

 The reason why the project was chosen

Summarize the key elements of the IT project plan and the critical duties of the project manager for that project.

Unit I Assignment Parts 1 and 2 should be submitted as one assignment in a Word document.

Unit II Assignment

IT Project Table of Contents, Part 1 (25 points): Create a Word document of a Table of Contents for the IT Project in APA format. (Refer to the IT Project Plan, found in the Project Overview section, as a guide.) The Table of Contents should include the following sections with page numbers:

 Introduction

 Project Organization

 Management and Technical Approach

 Description of Work and Scope

 Project Schedule

 Budget Section

(Note: the page numbers may change as content is added.)

IT Project Introduction, Part 2 (75 points): Create a Word document of an Introduction for the IT Project in APA format. (Refer to the IT Project Plan, found in the Project Overview section, as a guide.) Be sure to cite the textbook in addition to any outside sources used. The Introduction should include an overview of the following information:

 Brief description of the project and need

 Sponsor’s name, names of the project manager, and key team members

 Deliverables (Software packages, hardware, technical reports, and training materials, etc.)

 List of important reference materials

 List of definitions and acronyms, if appropriate (helps avoid confusion)

Unit II Assignment Parts 1 and 2 should be submitted as one assignment in a Word document.

Unit III Assignment

IT Project Organization: Submit a Word document of the IT Project Organization. Use APA formatting. (Refer to the IT Project Plan, found in the Project Overview section and Chapter 3 in the textbook, as a guide.) You may also use information from previous chapters in the textbook, as well as outside sources. The Project Organization should include the following information:

 Organizational charts: organizational chart and a project organizational chart to show lines of authority, responsibilities, and communication for the project.

 Project responsibilities: describe major project functions and activities, and identify individuals responsible.

 Other organizational or process-related information (Example: diagram or timeline of major steps involved in the process.)

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Unit IV Assignment

IT Management and Technical Approaches: Submit a Word document of the IT Management and Technical Approaches. Use APA formatting. (Refer to the IT Project Plan, found in the Project Overview section, as a guide.) You will also use information from this and previous chapters in the textbook, as well as outside sources. The Management and Technical Approaches should include the following information:

 Management objectives: top management’s view, priorities, and assumptions or constraints.

 Project controls: how to monitor project progress and handle changes.

 Risk management: how to identify, manage, and control risks.

 Project staffing: number and types of people required.

 Technical processes: methodologies of project and how to document information.

Unit V Assignment

IT Work and Scope: Submit a Word document of the IT Work and Scope. Use APA formatting. (Refer to the IT Project Plan, found in the Project Overview section, as a guide.) You will also use information from this and previous chapters in the textbook, as well as outside sources. The Work and Scope should include the following information:

 Major work packages: summarize main work packages, and create a WBS that defines the total scope of your IT project.

 Key deliverables: key products produced and quality expectations.

 Other work-related information: related to the work performed. For example, specific hardware or software to use, or certain specifications and major assumptions in defining the work.

Unit VI Assignment

IT Project Schedule: Submit a Word document of the IT Project Schedule. Use APA formatting. (Refer to the IT Project Plan, found in the Project Overview section, as a guide.) You will also use information from this and previous chapters in the textbook, as well as outside sources. The Project Schedule should include the following information:

 Summary schedule: key deliverables and their planned completion dates; Gantt chart.

 Detailed schedule: schedule management plan and dependencies that could affect the project schedule. For example, network diagram.

 Other schedule-related information like hardware and software schedule.

Unit VII Assignment

IT Budget Section: Submit a Word document of the IT Budget Section. Use APA formatting. (Refer to the IT Project Plan, found in the Project Overview section, as a guide.) You will also use information from this and previous chapters in the textbook, as well as outside sources. The Budget Section should include the following information:

 Cost estimates of resources for all project activities including people, hardware, software, and facilities.

 Charts showing project costs over time, cash flow, earned value, and break-even analysis.

 How project costs will be monitored and managed.

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