Management Information Systems

William R. MussattoCyberStrategies, Inc.mussatto@csz.com

Topics

IntroductionsWhat is MIS?IS Project ManagementRapidly Changing World of

Information TechnologyBest Practices in Information

Technology

Introductions

Who am I?What is my background?What do I do?Now, about you ...

What is MIS? Management Information Systems

Organizational Information systems computer systems in an enterprise

providing information about enterprise business systems

Information Policy MakingManagement Use of Information

turning information into knowledge

What is MIS? Management Information Systems

Decision Support Systems (DSS) Real Time: What if:

Information Systems Project Management software-intensive people-intensive

General Project ManagementTopics

Definition of the Concept of a Project Characteristics of Projects Work Effort Taxonomy Project Process Characteristics

Project Management Overview Functions of Project Management

Summary / Conclusions

Definition of the Concept of a Project

Characteristics of ProjectsWork Effort TaxonomyProject Process Characteristics

Definition of the Concept of a Project Characteristics of Projects

Unique Undertakings not routine, everyday activities

Temporary ProcessComposed of Activities

operating on interrelated set of itemsinter-dependencies

Definition of the Concept of a Project Characteristics of Projects

Often Represented as Network sequential and parallel paths drill-down levels

Involve Multiple Resources human & non-human require close coordination inevitably leads to conflict

Definition of the Concept of a Project Characteristics of Projects

Project and Product are Different different projects involved in the life

cycle of a producte.g., basic research, product research,

design, manufacturing/implementation

Definition of the Concept of a Project Characteristics of ProjectsProject Management Emphasizes

Timely Completion commercial entities: being first to

marketor maybe second to market

time value of moneyEmphasis Also on Budget Control

Definition of the Concept of a Project Characteristics of ProjectsSummarizing

UniqueTemporaryNetwork of

ActivitiesMultiple Resources

Distinct from Products

Schedule EmphasisBudget Emphasis

Definition of the Concept of a Project Taxonomy of Work Efforts

Compare and Contrast “Project” Concept with Similar Concepts Craft Project Job Shop Progressive Line Continuous Flow

Definition of the Concept of a Project Taxonomy of Work Efforts

Craft homogeneous human resource often a single person examples: cook, doctor

Definition of the Concept of a Project Taxonomy of Work Efforts

Project temporary process heterogeneous resources closely coordinated

Definition of the Concept of a Project Taxonomy of Work Efforts

Job Shop loosely coordinated, workstations heterogeneous technologies /

operations wide range of products / services products move from station to station

in non-uniform way examples: manufacturing plant,

hospital, kitchens

Definition of the Concept of a Project Taxonomy of Work Efforts

Progressive Line tightly coordinated heterogeneous

technologies/operations large quantity of products serial, linear process example: assembly line, cafeteria

line

Definition of the Concept of a Project Taxonomy of Work Efforts

Continuous Flow very tightly coordinated heterogeneous

technologies/operations operations applied to continuous

mediaexample: refineries

Definition of the Concept of a Project Taxonomy of Work EffortsSummarizing

CraftProjectJob ShopProgressive LineContinuous Flow

Definition of the Concept of a ProjectProject Process CharacteristicsProject Process is …

progressive elaboration of requirements/specificationstop level designdetailed designtooling designproduction instructions

• numerical control

Especially True of IS Projects

Project ManagementOverview

Modern PM Barely 40 years old DoD

ICBM projects in the 1950s

NASA space race major construction efforts

Panama Canal (pre-modern?)

Project ManagementOverview

Not to be confused with … PERT

Program Evaluation and Review Technique

CPM Critical Path Method

Project ManagementOverview

PM as Change Management

GeneralManagement

OperationsManagement

TechnicalManagement

PM

Project ManagementProject Management Functions

Fabric Analogy Woof: ties all together

General PM Process

WarpBasic PM Functions

DiagonalsIntegrative PM Functions

Project ManagementProject Management Functions

General PM Process: Woof Project Integration

single word that best describes PM’s activities

PM activity is the integration of all other activities

focal point for gathering info, adjusting plans, communicating plans

Strategic Planningoverarching themes for project

Project ManagementProject Management Functions

General PM Functions: Woof Resource Allocation

budget control

Basic PM Functions: Warp Scope Management

defining what is included and what is excluded from the project: project boundaries

Project ManagementProject Management Functions

Basic PM Functions: Warp Time Management

$1M/day on a several year $1B projectplanning, estimating, scheduling, control

Cost Managementcost evaluation, estimating, controlling,

analyizing, reporting, forecasting

Quality Managementconformance to requirements/specificationsprocess control / defect management

Project ManagementProject Management Functions

Integrative PM Functions: Diagonals Risk Management

risk identificationrisk assessment

• risk = severity * probability of occurrence– we usually fail in the assignment of

probability

risk avoidancerisk mitigation

Project ManagementProject Management Functions

Integrative PM Functions: Diagonals Human Resources Management

building and motivating a cohesive groupadministrativebehavioral

Contract/Procurement Managementcontract development and negotiationsubcontract development, negotiation, and

management

Project ManagementProject Management Functions

Integrative PM Functions: Diagonals Communications Management

building consensusPM must know

• what to send• to whom to send

conflict resolutionmust be articulate

• spoken and written communications

Project ManagementProject Management FunctionsSummarizing

General PM Process (Woof)Basic PM Functions (Warp)Integrative PM Functions

(Diagonals)

Summary / Conclusions

Projects are unique, temporary undertakings

involving many closely coordinated resources

Project Management is the basic integrative discipline for

coordinating all project work efforts, managing risk, and ensuring success

intersects with general, operations, and technical management