1. Introduction to Information Systems
Project Management with CD-Rom
Mandatory Package by David L.
Olson
A Good Start...
This text is a project management text that focuses on high technology.
The text is brief and has more applied vs. theoretical coverage. The text
will focus on traditional project management topics, i.e., project adoption,
planning, scheduling, and implementation, however, Ols on will look at
these topics from an IS or software perspective.
My Personal Review:
Olsons text lays down the fundamental bricks of a solid IT project
manager. This book covers a wide variety of topics -- everything from
financial analysis (cost/benefit, NPV, etc.) to the approaches of the
systems development life cycle.
Although Im sure Olson has received many deserved acclaims for his
writings in this field, I think this text leaves a little to be desired. It is a very
impersonal read, oftentimes forgetting that superb personnel skills are
essential to the up-and-coming project manager. It is a very thick, dense
text, and although it is not even 300 pages, you sometimes feel that youre
sifting through a phonebook to find the scarce relevant information. At
times, it can even be quite repetitive, which is a true feat for such a thin
book.
I got the impression that Olson had very little experience in the area of IT
project management, often referring to outside (3rd party) studies and
hypothetical examples to back up his main ideas. The text could have used
a good deal more real-world examples and insight from professionals in
this line of work -- not just other professors who study it.
Overall, it isnt a great book, but you can do worse I suppose. If I werent
required to read this for a class, I would have definitely picked up a
different IT project management book by an author in the actual industry.
This is a good starting point for a book in this field, but I will definitely want

2. to supplement it with a more encompassing book by an accredited author
from the IT workplace.
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