Thrive. Grow. Achieve.
Managing Your IT Project: Tips for Success
Seth Zarny – Raffa Partner Nate Solloway – Raffa IT Manager Jay Fridkis – Raffa Project Manager
June 11, 2015
WHAT’S ON TAP
Introductions
About Raffa
Managing Your IT Project: Tips for Success
Setting expectations
Defining scope
Managing scope creep
Resources and project management
Coordinating hardware/software upgrades
System configuration
Data migration
Sharing Real life experiences
Questions
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ABOUT RAFFA
Largest Non-Profit Practice in Washington, DC
Over 250 professional staff (approximately 70 in Outsourcing) dedicated to the nonprofit sector More professionals dedicated to the non-profit sector than our
big four and local firm competitors More than 500 current non-profit clients; thousands over our
history Nationally Recognized “Top 100” largest accounting firms, 2013 and 2012
“Top 10 “Best of the Best” managed accounting firms, 2012 7th Fastest Growing accounting firm, 2012
BDO Alliance Member
Microsoft Gold ERP Competency Partner
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MANAGING YOUR IT PROJECT
There are a lot of moving parts involved in IT projects:
Setting expectations and managing stakeholders Defining and managing scope Project management Coordinating hardware and software upgrades System configuration Data migration
We will share with you our tips and tricks for
managing a successful Information Technology project.
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SETTING EXPECTATIONS
Tips for Success
Assess expectations Establish appropriate expectations Manage expectations Evaluate and redefine expectations
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DEFINING PROJECT SCOPE
Define scope using the following questions:
Why are we doing this project? What is it's purpose and value?
Where are we starting? Where will we be when we finish?
When will we start? When will we deliver?
How much will it cost?
Elicit requirements from all customers and stakeholders.
Define scope so that it is objective and measurable.
Detail the scope definition over time using progressive
elaboration.
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MANAGING SCOPE CREEP
The Project Manager must control scope creep and raise the issue with stakeholders as soon as possible.
Understand the project requirements.
Identify major and minor milestones within the project and put them on the timeline.
Include a process for changing scope.
Guard against gold plating.
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STAFF RESOURCES AND STRONG PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Ensure that your organization has the staff resources in place to see the project through to completion.
Identify a dedicated project leader and committee for your implementation.
Identify a team leader with strong project management skills.
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COORDINATING HARDWARE/SOFTWARE UPGRADES
Out of the box is great, customization is the enemy.
Trust in best practices.
Most staff aren’t snowflakes.
You are not shopping for today, you are shopping for 5 years from now.
Minimum requirements are meaningless.
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SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
Out of the box is wrong.
Your intern cannot set this up.
Specialists
Hardening
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DATA MIGRATION
Staging
Measure twice, Cut once
Scheduling
Is the big conference next week? When are paychecks produced? Vacation schedules!
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SOFTWARE PROJECTS
Managing stakeholders
Different staff see different things Time constraints
Management goals can differ from team capabilities Benefits of PMI approach
Project Management PlanS Scope>Budget>Schedule>Quality
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SYSTEMS LIFE CYCLE
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Identify Need/ Analyze
Alternatives
Concept Development
Requirements Analysis
Test Build Design
Deliver Operations & Maintenance
Retirement & Disposal
PROJECT PLANNING
Project Charter
Stakeholder Register
Scope Statement
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Project Plan components
HR
Communications
Budget
Risk Register & plan
Schedule
Quality control
Procurement
May not need all, but choose wisely!
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REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES
What are your real life experiences?
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QUESTIONS
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