Page 48 - DCAP307_PLANNING_AND_MANAGING_IT_INFRASTRUCTURE

Planning and Managing IT Infrastructure

Notes clear picture of what is available, what is required and what is the way to get there, and a true
leader will always know it. As Stephen Covey rightly said, “Management is efficiency in climbing
the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall
or not.”

Notes It is customary for project managers to claim that good project management will
reduce project slippages, provide better project results, save money, and usher in a whole
new era of golden tranquillity.
Now we will discuss in detail the concept of project, project management, project variables, and
project management knowledge areas.

Self Assessment
Fill in the blanks:

1. ................................... is a branch of management which uses various management tools
such as budgeting, allocating and optimisation to fulfil a defined goal for a shorter period
of time.
2. After the allocation of the task, the ................................... is responsible for drawing out a
project management plan in the aforementioned order.

3.2 Project

Organisations perform work. Work generally could be classified into either operations or projects,
although in some cases both of them may overlap. Both operations and projects share many
characteristics in common like:
 People perform both the activities.
 Both are constrained by limited resources.

 Both are planned, executed and controlled.
However operations and projects differ primarily in its repeatability. Operations are ongoing
and repetitive whereas projects are temporary and unique. A project is thus defined in terms of
its distinctive characteristics—a project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique
product or service. Temporary means that every project has a definite beginning and a definite
end. Unique means that the product or service is different in some distinguishing way from all
other products or services. For many organisations, projects are a means to respond to requests
that cannot be addressed within the organisation’s normal operational limits.
Projects are undertaken at all levels of the organisation. They may involve a single person or
many thousands. Their duration ranges from a few weeks to a few years. Projects may involve
a single unit of one organisation or may cross-organisational boundaries.

Example: Project examples could include:
 Developing a new product or service.
 Effecting a change in structure, staffing, or style of an organisation.

 Developing a new or modified information system.
 Implementing a new business procedure or process.

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