Project Plan Inception



Project Plan Inception

Section 1: Project Introduction

Background information of the company

This is an IT based company. The company currently collects data using Web analytics and combines it with operational systems data. Web analytics is an increasingly important part of most business marketing plans. The company is looking for ways to leverage the collected data but wants to ensure that the information technology infrastructure will support the expected growth that the company is anticipating. This paper is based on comprehensive information systems project plan to address the organizational growth that the company is experiencing.

Generally, project management is distinguished from the general management of corporations by the mission-oriented nature of a project. A project organization will generally be terminated when the mission is accomplished. According to the Project Management Institute, the discipline of project management can be defined as follows:

''Project management is the art of directing and coordinating human and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time, quality and participation satisfaction''(Kerzner, 2009: 149-151).

By contrast, the general management of business and industrial corporations assumes a broader outlook with greater continuity of operations. Nevertheless, there are sufficient similarities as well as differences between the two so that modern management techniques developed for general management may be adapted for project management.

The company will be expanding from one (1) floor to three (3) floors within six (6) months. Since this is a relatively new company, there is currently limited technology infrastructure to support the business. All information technology (hardware and software) must be redesigned to meet organizational needs. The solution should be implemented in either a hosted solution, on-site solution, or a hybrid model. This project includes the integration of different technologies i.e. cloud computing technologies and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Also, proper security protocols regarding these technologies will also be implemented. The company currently consists of twenty (20) employees of which four (4) are dedicated to the IT organization.

Scope of Project

The basic ingredients for a project management framework may be represented schematically in Figure -1. A working knowledge of general management and familiarity with the special knowledge domain related to the project are indispensable. Supporting disciplines such as computer science and decision science may also play an important role. The representation in Figure -1 reflects only the sources from which the project management framework evolves.

Figure 1:  Basic Ingredients in Project Management

Specifically, project management in construction encompasses a set of objectives which may be accomplished by implementing a series of operations subject to resource constraints. There are potential conflicts between the stated objectives with regard to scope, cost, time and quality, and the constraints imposed on human material and financial resources(Wysocki, 2011). These conflicts should be resolved at the onset of a project by making the necessary tradeoffs or creating new alternatives(Martin, 2010).

Main Requirements of the Project

To advertise and recruit required professionals.

To analyze and document the specifications for the required functionality.

To acquire the needed hardware and ...