Unit 9: Project Management
Project management in a software engineering environment is unique because of the technical aspects of a software project. The project manager's role is different from that of the software engineer's. While software engineers are generally accountable for the technical aspects of a project, the project manager is accountable for organizational aspects.
As you review the materials of the unit, try to connect this unit with what you have already learned about the software development life cycle. You will see that the success of an SDLC depends on people, process and product. Project management is the glue that holds these aspects together.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- compare and contrast the role of the project manager relative to the software engineer;
- identify the three areas of responsibilities of a project manager; and
- apply the concepts of project management in terms of the project, people, and change management (i.e., planning, scheduling, execution, etc.).
9.1: Project Management
Read "Chapter 3: Project Management" (pages 57-82).
As discussed, the software engineer and the project manager provide complementary skills and work collaboratively on shared activities. The three main activities of the project manager are organizational liaison, personnel management, and project monitoring and control. The section titled "Liaison" (pages 67-70) discusses the project manager's role as a go-between for the technical team and agents who are not members of the technical team (e.g. project sponsor, user, IS management, vendors, etc.).
In the section titled "Personnel Management," (pages 70-74) you will learn that this job entails working with personnel (i.e., human resources) to hire, fire, and provide employees with professional development.
The section titled "Monitor and Control" (pages 74-79) explains that project monitoring involves tracking project progress relative to budget. Project control means implementing changes when progress is not satisfactory (e.g. training, revising project plans, etc.). Take your time in reading and jot down any ideas or notes that stand out to you as particularly useful (or, conversely, confusing).
9.2: Change Management
Read "Chapter 18: Change Management" (pages 735-764).
A critical component of project monitoring and control is change management. As business requirements and operating environments change all the time, the project manager has to manage change throughout the software development cycle from acquisition, supply, development, operation to maintenance. The guiding principles, techniques, and tools for change management are discussed in this chapter. Take your time in reading and jot down any ideas or notes that stand out to you as particularly useful (or, conversely, confusing).
End of Unit Assessment
Take this assessment to check your understanding of the materials presented in this unit.
Notes:
- There is no minimum required score to pass this assessment, and your score on this assessment will not factor into your overall course grade.
- This assessment is designed to prepare you for the Final Exam that will determine your course grade. Upon submission of your assessment you will be provided with the correct answers and/or other feedback meant to help in your understanding of the topics being assessed.
- You may attempt this assessment as many times as needed, whenever you would like.