PROJECT INTEGRATION

Project Integration

Project Integration

1.0 Introduction

The State Health Information Exchange (HIE) environment is complex and fast-changing, with significant challenges including resource constraints. Nevertheless, each State/State Designated Entity (SDE) is charged with the task of engaging many stakeholders to meet the requirements of the State HIE Cooperative Agreement Program. Consequentially, many effective leaders have leveraged proven project management practices to better align their engagements and to accomplish the goals of the State HIE Cooperate Agreement Program.

Project management applies knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities for the purpose of meeting stakeholder needs and client expectations. In mature project management organizations, project management exists in a broader context governed by program management and portfolio management. Many awardees may already have mature project management methodologies and procedures already in place (Haynes, 1989, pp. 87).

However, the purpose of this module is to introduce the basic concepts of project management to jumpstart awardees' thinking around how to undertake such a complex project with multiple requirements, stakeholders, and deadlines. Each of the nine project management core competencies will be explained

Integration Management: identifying, defining, combining, unifying and coordinating the various process and project management activities

Scope Management: ensuring that the project includes all the work required, and only the work required to complete the project successfully

Time Management: managing timely completion of the project

Cost Management: estimating, budgeting and controlling costs to complete the project within the approved budget

Human Resources Management: organizing, managing, and leading the project team

Communication Management: ensuring timely and appropriate generation, collection, distribution, storage, retrieval, and ultimate disposition of project information

Risk Management: conducting risk management planning, identification, analysis, response planning, and monitoring and control on a project

Procurement Management: purchasing or acquiring necessary products, services or results needed from outside the project team

Quality Management: determining and implementing quality policies, objectives, and responsibilities to satisfy the needs for which the project was undertaken (Lock, 2007, pp. 41)

Throughout the assignment, the nine competences will be discussed in the context of five key processes that comprise the lifecycle of a project:

Start Up: defining and authorizing a project or project phase

Planning: identifying, refining and planning the course of action to meet objectives and scope requirements that the project was undertaken to address

Executing: integrating people and other resources to implement the project management plan for the project

Monitoring and Controlling: regularly measuring and monitoring progress to identify changes from the project management plan and taking corrective action when necessary to meet project objectives

Closing: formally accepting the product, service or results and bringing the project or phase to an orderly end

2.0 Integration Management

Success in planning and implementing a project relies heavily on the ability to integrate and coordinate effectively the various activities required. This involves documenting progress and decisions points, while also defining future actions and responsibilities. Collectively referred to as Integration Management, the processes and templates below are commonly seen as essential steps for effective management of projects.

Startup: Develop project charter

Planning: Develop project management plan

Executing: Direct and manage project execution

Monitoring and controlling: Monitor ...