project management i n IT context , chapter 02, project management

1. Week # 03
Project Management in IT Context
Globalization
Globalization is the tendency of firms to extend their sales or manufacturing to new markets abroad.
It is important for project managers to address several issues when working on global projects.
Several key issues include the following:
Communications: Since people will be working in different time zones, speak different languages, have
different cultural backgrounds, celebrate different holidays, etc., it is important to address how people will
communicate in an
efficient and timely manner. A communications management plan is vital.
Trust: Trust is an important issue for all teams, especially when they are global teams. It is important to start
building trust immediately by recognizing and respecting others differences and the value they add to the
project.
Common work practices: It is important to align work processes to come up with an agreed-upon modus
operandi with which everyone is comfortable. Project managers must allow time for the team to develop these
common work practices.
Using special tools that can facilitate this process.
Tools: Information technology plays a vital role in globalization, especially in enhancing communications and
work practices. For example, Timothy Porter, a project manager for Hundsun Technologies, a Chinese domestic
software company building a global services business, describes severaltools they use as follows:
XPlanner is used for project planning and project monitoring. This tool is
suitable for agile software development and is Web-based for ease of distributed geographic access.
TRAC is an enhanced issue-tracking systemfor software development projects. TRAC includes features such as
defect management, source code control, project roadmap management, and an integrated wiki a
collaborative, Web-based feedback systemfor project documentation that is very easy for stakeholders to
review.
CruiseControl is a framework for a continuous build process. It includes plug-ins for e-mail notification, source
control tools, and so on. A Web interface is provided to view the details of the current and previous builds.
WebEx, a Web-based conferencing tool, is used to record each development cycle s demo. These demos
provide stakeholders visibility into our progress and can also be used as training materials for new staff
members or the test team. E-mail, telephone, SKYPE (software that allows users to make telephone calls over
the Internet), and instant messaging (IM) are used for routine daily communication among team members.
Outsourcing
outsourcing is when an organization acquires goods and/or sources from an outside source. The term
offshoring is sometimes used to describe outsourcing from another country. Offshoring is a natural outgrowth
of globalization. IT projects continue to rely more and more on outsourcing, both within and outside of their
country boundaries.
Because of the increased use of outsourcing for IT projects, project managers should become more familiar
with negotiating contracts and many other issues, including working on and managing virtual teams.
Virtual Teams
A virtual teamisa group of individualswhoworkacrosstime andspace usingcommunicationtechnologies.Team
membersmightall workforthe same companyin the same country,or theymightinclude employeesaswell as
independentconsultants,suppliers,orevenvolunteersprovidingtheirexpertisefromaroundthe globe.

2. The main advantages of virtual teams include:
 Increasing competiveness and responsiveness by having a team of workers available 24/7.
 Lowering costs because many virtual workers do not require office space or support beyond their home
offices.
 Providing more expertise and flexibility by having team members from across the globe working any
time of day or night.
 Increasing the work/life balance for team members by eliminating fixed office hours and the need to
travel to work.
Disadvantages of virtual teams include:
 Isolating team members who may not adjust well to working in a virtual environment.
 Increasing the potential for communications problems since team members cannot use body language
or other communications to understand each other and build relationships and trust.
 Reducing the ability for team members to network and transfer information informally.
 Increasing the dependence on technology to accomplish work