You are here > Home > News
Improve IT project management, CIOs urged
IT News |
13/02/2012
UK information technology executives are continuing to fall down on project management, according to one commentator.
Writing for Computer Weekly, ESI International's Ravi Sahi has identified a number of the most common mistakes witnessed within the sector.
Firstly, he claimed there is often a lack of communication from project managers to other team members.
"Many chief information officers (CIOs) do not explain the connection of IT projects to the overall business strategy or articulate the value of an IT project on the company vision," Mr Sahi suggested.
He said managers should ask themselves why a particular initiative is being pursued, and what the expected outcomes are, and ensure this information filters down the chain of command.
Mismanaged strategies for change is another issue, with too few IT leaders viewing projects as change initiatives.
"It is not about rearranging the set-up in a call centre, for instance, but rather the impact that arrangement will have on an employee's workflow that will determine the success or failure of a new initiative," Mr Sahi added.
"People need to understand why something new has been introduced, especially if the 'old way' worked fine."
The expert suggested that IT leaders need to motivate their project managers by explaining the greater context, and recognise that change doesn't happen overnight.
Mr Sahi told the news provider that results cannot be expected unless they take sufficient time for planning.
Too often CIOs demand a time schedule or a budget that is based on project-irrelevant data points, he claimed.
Instead, IT bosses should allow time for planning based on realistic expectations for IT managers and themselves, Mr Sahi said.
Another common mistake is a lack of consideration for risk, he suggested.
"Smart CIOs allow a 'range' approach for time and cost," Mr Sahi noted. "A well-planned project considers best and worst case scenarios from a realistic standpoint."
He urged IT leaders to design a plan with the top ten risks and the associated additional cost for each.
CIOs must also stay true to their word, Mr Sahi claimed. In his view, they are too often prone to "sudden attacks of amnesia" when asked to pay for certain things.
"If a project leader presents the top risk with a price tag of an additional £1 million, and it occurs, fund it," he urged.
IT leaders should ensure they are actively involved in all IT decisions, and are able to apply their technological expertise to make projects run more efficiently, Mr Sahi added.
"But an IT executive needs other skills too, such as delegation, critical thinking and leadership," he added.
As such, they should not be micromanaging their employees, the expert suggested. "Let your IT managers do their job while you do yours," he added.
Mr Sahi said an organisation's ability to execute large and visible efforts is what distinguishes project success from failure.
"Far too often, however, CIOs commit project management blunders along the way," he claimed.
Posted by Stephen Wilkinson
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IT Recruitment Agency - 12.5% Fee / 3 Month, 100% Rebate - Transparent Recruitment Fees Since 1999.
Sign up to our e-newsletter service to receive our headline news directly to your inbox
