Summary

Worldwide directors bemoan the fact that they feel ‘out of control’ with IT-related projects. “Why are IT projects so different?” is the cry.

The answer is not one dimension but a number of dimensions (eight actually) that cumulatively make IT projects harder to manage, deliver and govern. A simple contrast to construction-type projects is given.

Understanding these dimensions enables executives and board members to focus on the critical dimensions, understanding their limitations at times (eg that you cannot ‘see’ how far an IT project has progressed).

For each of the eight key dimensions we provide a series of points as to how you can minimize the impacts of these IT differences.

In addition, we also provide you with information on seven areas where you have leverage over IT projects, where you can minimize your risks and increase the value delivered.

Benefits

This Guide will

1. quickly and easily educate the reader as to why IT projects are more difficult to  manage and govern
2. give focus to many people’s underlying concerns
3. equip readers with the understanding of how they can better control IT projects so as to get the results desired
4. remove this “Why different?” question from the list of Boards’ concerns.

Who should read

Many CIOs find it useful to give this Guide to their executive team.

This is a short, sharp, focused guide for all executives, board members and anyone else interested in the differences between IT-related and any other types of projects.

Contents

1. Is there such a thing as an “IT project”?
2. Eight key IT project differences
3. IT projects need intimate and ongoing business involvement
4. Requirement specifications can be ambiguous
5. Systems are logical, people are not
6. The system is invisible
7. Systems are dependent on the knowledge of the project team
8. Benefits are poorly tracked and managed
9. ‘Success’ is dependent on organizational acceptance
10. Technological advances keep changing the rules (and what is possible)
11. Key levers for success with IT projects