As business’s demands on their technology systems continue to change, many of the job opportunities within the IT field today involve IT project management. However, the skills required to see technology projects through to completion can be difficult to master, especially for IT specialists who have had IT project management responsibilities thrust upon them.
According to The Standish Group, 42 percent of IT projects face delays, go over budget or don’t provide all of the required features and functions. And more than 20 percent fail altogether. To avoid becoming one of these statistics, consider the following IT project management tips to help ensure a successful outcome:
1. Assemble a winning team.
Once your project is green-lighted, choose team members whose skills are directly applicable for the task at hand. Strive to bring together a diverse team whose individual abilities combine to provide everything you need to complete the project. If the appropriate skills aren’t available in-house, it may be worthwhile to contract with an IT outsourcing firm that can fill in the gaps with an IT consultant, rather than hiring someone for a specific project.
2. Prioritize.
Regardless of the length of your project’s timeline, successful IT project management requires comprehensive planning. Map out the essential deliverables, and prioritize them to keep your team focused on specific goals. Pinpoint your project’s short-term needs as well as long-term goals.
3. Communicate.
Throughout the duration of your project, keep lines of communication open between team members and stakeholders. Share information among team members at regular weekly meetings, where problems and potential solutions can be discussed.
4. Monitor.
One of the most important aspects of IT project management is keeping your finger on the pulse of the work being done. Set a system in place for monitoring daily progress, and keep track of any discrepancies between what was planned and what actually takes place.
5. Get help when you need it.
Technology professionals often end up having to juggle tedious maintenance or recurring tasks with larger projects. In order to get your project completed on deadline, however, you’ll need to ensure your team members have enough time to work on it. An IT consultant can help you automate tasks or provide IT outsourcing services to free up your employees so they can devote more attention to your project.
[ photo by: michaelcardus ]
