Skip to:Content
|
Bottom
Cover image for Revolutionizing IT : the art of using information technology effectively
Title:
Revolutionizing IT : the art of using information technology effectively
Personal Author:
Publication Information:
Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, 2002
ISBN:
9780471250418
Added Author:

Available:*

Library
Item Barcode
Call Number
Material Type
Item Category 1
Status
Searching...
30000004814087 HD30.2 A53 2002 Open Access Book Book
Searching...

On Order

Summary

Summary

A guide for making information technology work for any company

Often corporate IT projects fail because the underlying assumptions about a program are unrealistic. Revolutionizing IT helps organizations find success for their IT projects by showing them how to create and reach realistic goals. A combination of real case histories and examples helps show how this strategy controls both expectations and costs.


Author Notes

DAVID H. ANDREWS is a widely known author of more than fifty computer industry white papers with more than a million copies in circulation. He is regularly quoted in trade journals and business publications and has made IT presentations to audiences in twenty countries. Before founding Andrews Consulting Group in 1984, Mr. Andrews spent seventeen years overseeing information system development efforts at SmithKline, Timex, Citibank, and AT&T.

KENNETH R. JOHNSON has spent more than thirty years overseeing the development of advanced software systems. He was a leading software engineer and development executive at IBM, where he played key roles in the creation of the Network Station, CICS, and OS/400. Mr. Johnson is a recognized expert in the software development process.


Table of Contents

About the Authors
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1 The Nature of Projects
The Race
Terminology
Principles and Methodologies
The Improvement of Business Processes
The Classic View of Project Management Theory
Classic Theory Limitations
The Methodology Evolution
Summary
Chapter 2 In the Beginning
How Projects Are Typically Initiated
The Virus That Causes Scope Growth
Resource Limitations
Management Misunderstanding
Did Lewis and Clark Succeed or Fail?
Summary: Early Stage Problems
Chapter 3 The Anatomy of a Project
Mega-Multi Manufacturing
Drowning under the Waterfall
A Second Look at Mega-Multi
The Evils of Scope Creep
Why Has the Waterfall Lasted This Long?
Summary: Why So Many Projects Fail
Chapter 4 The Elements of Success
Common Characteristics
Why the Largest IT Project Ever Undertaken Succeeded
A Seemingly Simple Success Story: Bass Pro
Emergency Behavior
Case History: Fort Knox Fails, but Silverlake Shines
Summary
Chapter 5 How to View Projects
What Is Success?
Why Good Plans Are So Hard to Create
The Patton/Lombardi Effect
Building a Mental Picture
More Realistic Assumptions
Following Mother Nature
A Different View of Projects
Better Measures of Success
What Project Teams Need to Do
Summary
Chapter 6 Deciding What to Do
Defining Specific Project Goals
Organizing Task Forces
Practical Advice
Mega-Multi Manufacturing Revisited
Summary
Chapter 7 Controlling Project Scope
Let Time Determine Scope
Control the Use of Resources
Limit the Size of the Design Team
Gauge Your Ability to Absorb Change
Imitate, Don't Invent
Create a Single Point of Accountability
Management's Role in Scope Control
Bite-Sized Pieces
Case History: The Birth of the PC
Summary
Chapter 8 Who Is Accountable?
Who Should Be Accountable?
IT Accountability
Rewarding Project Teams
Summary
Chapter 9 Using Packaged Software
The Role of Packaged Software
Package Selection the Traditional Way
Another Adventure for Mega-Multi
What Is Wrong with the Traditional Approach?
The RITE Approach
Getting Help Selecting and Installing Packages
Package Selection Using the RITE Approach
Case History: Mississippi Chemical
Summary
Chapter 10 The Balancing Act
The Need for Balance
Questions to Ask
More Speed, Scotty
Planning versus Doing
Delivering Benefits
Disruption: How Much Is Too Much?
Controlling Risk
Summary
Chapter 11 Using Outsiders Wisely
The Business of Providing IT Assistance
The Rate Issue
Who Assumes the Risk?
A Better Model for Obtaining IT Project Assistance
Making the Right Choice
Summary
Chapter 12 Managing IT Professionals
What Makes IT Professionals Different
Motivation and Job Satisfaction
Career Management
Managers and Leaders
Marginal Performers
High-Potential Employees
Creating Ideal Assignments
The Causes of Turnover
Summary
Chapter 13 Management of Projects
The Project Scheduling Dilemma
Why Most Schedules Are Not Met
A Different Approach to Scheduling
Using Two-Tier Schedules to Defeat Parkinson's Law
Case History: Sealectro Replaces Its Applications
Summary
Chapter 14 Building Software Yourself
The Role of Management
The Development Challenge
Another Visit to the Waterfall
The Planning Stage of Development
The Design Stage of Development
The Coding Stage of Development
The Test Stage of Development
The Delivery Stage of Development
Go to:Top of Page