Managing Technology-Based Projects: Tools, Techniques, People and Business Processes

Preface

Project management has evolved into a powerful system, used by virtually every enterprise to advance its business and to gain competitive advantage. Although project management has been practiced for thousands of years, only during the past few decades have we begun to understand what drives project performance and what can be done to link the project management system with the enterprise and its business strategy. Yet, on the operational side, many organizations have reached a maturity level that facilitates predictable execution of highly complex projects. Success is no longer random. It is driven by carefully designed and continuously improved project management systems and skill sets that pay attention to both the work process and the human side of project management.

This book focuses on technology-intensive business environments. However today, technology is everywhere, and it is difficult to find a business not affected by technology. Yet, some organizations are more intensely immersed in technology, either to produce new products or to use technology to execute their projects effectively, such as financial or medical services. Managers in these technology-intensive project environments perceive their managerial roles more challenging because of higher levels of dynamics, complexities, and uncertainties that exist in their projects, in comparison to environments less exposed to technology. Many of their technology-based projects require innovative solutions, collaboration ...