SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Project Plan and Software Development Project Plan

Project Plan and Software Development Project Plan

Managing Multiple Projects by James S. Pennypacker and Lowell D. Dye devotes chapter two to software packages and its role in project management. The article by Lewis R. Ireland really nails home a point about software packages (Software Packages Don't Manage Projects - People Do) (Pennypacker and Dye, 2002). This article describes the excitement associated with the introduction of a software package to solve solutions in a project management environment. I can't think of anyone that won't jump at the chance to make things better and easier at the same time. Unfortunately, our demand to acquire products that solve problems is precisely what software development corporations' target. Technology has blessed our society with a number of innovations that indeed make our lives and jobs easier to manage. However, nothing comes without a price. With IT rapidly becoming a household acronym, not to mention water cooler conversations, many software packages available today require an advanced degree in that software technology in order to understand it and properly integrate it into business solutions. Many software programs have tutorials, but that only goes so far. Often the key users will have to attend specialized training in order to best utilize the features and benefits of the software package.

A prime example of continuing education to maintain software expertise is the Microsoft Professional Certification program to become recognized as a Microsoft expert in various fields. Analysts have to dedicate themselves to rigorous training, practical applications, and pass comprehensive exams in each area in order to make it through the certification program. Once they do become certified, it opens up many lucrative doors because of the high demand for trained personnel with Microsoft Professional series credentials. The training sessions and timeframe to become certified is not a rapid process, nor is it a one-time shot. The path requires continuous learning and re-certifications to maintain certification. Interestingly, the situation is compounded by many of today's software package solutions leveraging off of the Microsoft Windows technology. User demand has driven software developers to integrate with Microsoft Windows and Office products. How many times have you read an advertisement or heard someone talk of the latest and greatest software package that promises to solve your business needs and it even integrates with Microsoft Windows platforms? Your project management needs?

Don't all technologies look wonderful and picturesque? "One needs only to walk the exhibit aisles of any project management conference to observe the mass of software vendors with their many offerings. This is dangerous because many of us are technically oriented and naturally drawn to cool new technology, often simply because of novelty. Admittedly, it is exciting to watch the demonstration of the new bells and whistles. We are wowed to learn we can download our schedules into our Palm Pilots or see Monte Carlo simulation performed on our project plans. However, as project managers, we have to understand that software solutions are just that - ...