In this paper the role of an internal IT and the handling of IT projects is discussed. The success factors of a good project and the problems which can occur are inspected. Furthermore, an MPM approach for the handling of several simultaneous projects is shown.
In the seventies electronic data processing was a big issue for several companies. Early systems were big number crunchers and were installed exclusively by large organizations. Nowadays, the situation has changed. Data processing departments were renamed to IT departments and the IT is available to the smallest company. In the last years a lot of the internal IT departments were outsourced to reduce the costs. But later it was recognized that it is not always the best way to compete with others, particularly in terms of the globalization without an own IT. Those companies which kept their IT department also have problems. The IT is often considered as a black box with own rules. Projects which need IT resources often move into a dependency on the IT.
In the last years the number of projects increased enormously. The high number of projects ends in a high requirement for the IT department. The problem is that nearly every project needs IT resources. Another problem is that in most companies several projects are handled simultaneously. For that, the IT must be efficiently organized with standardized processes to meet the demand for the resources. The classic project management has no tool in the portfolio to manage simultaneous projects and the resources because only a single project is considered. A new approach is needed, which is the missing link between the classic project management and the handling of simultaneous projects. An efficient way to handle several projects at the same time is the multi-project management (MPM) approach, which could close the gap.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The role of an internal IT department
- 2.1 The need of project management
- 2.2 Problems of managing Projects
- 3 Multi-project-management the missing link
- 3.1 Prioritization of projects.
- 3.2 Analysis of project dependencies
- 3.3 Successful multi-project management .
- 4 Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the role of an internal IT department and the challenges of managing numerous projects simultaneously. The study investigates the need for project management, the problems associated with managing multiple projects, and the potential of multi-project management (MPM) as a solution.
- The evolving role of internal IT departments in an information-driven society
- The challenges of managing multiple projects within an IT department
- The benefits and limitations of a multi-project management approach
- The importance of prioritizing and analyzing project dependencies
- The potential for internal IT to become a strategic asset for companies
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter introduces the changing landscape of IT departments and the increasing need for efficient project management in a context of growing project numbers. It highlights the limitations of traditional project management methods when dealing with multiple projects and introduces the concept of multi-project management (MPM) as a potential solution.
- Chapter 2: The role of an internal IT department This chapter discusses the evolving role of internal IT departments within companies. It explores the shift from data processing departments to strategic partners responsible for providing information and supporting business processes. The chapter also examines the historical development of IT and its growing impact on company operations.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key terms and concepts explored in this paper include internal IT, project management, multi-project management, project prioritization, project dependencies, IT strategy, CIO, data inconsistency, and data redundancy. The paper examines the challenges of managing multiple projects within an internal IT department and investigates the potential of multi-project management as a solution to address these challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of an internal IT department today?
Internal IT departments have evolved from simple "number crunchers" to strategic partners that provide essential information and support business processes, becoming a crucial asset for companies in a globalized world.
What are the challenges of managing multiple IT projects?
The main challenges include resource dependencies, the high volume of simultaneous requests, and the limitations of traditional project management, which often only focuses on single projects.
What is the Multi-Project Management (MPM) approach?
MPM is a framework designed to manage several projects at once. it serves as the "missing link" between classic project management and organizational strategy by standardizing processes and resources.
Why is project prioritization important in MPM?
Prioritization ensures that limited IT resources are allocated to the most valuable projects, helping to avoid bottlenecks and ensuring that strategic goals are met efficiently.
What problems can occur without efficient IT project management?
Without efficient management, companies face data inconsistency, redundancy, and a "black box" IT culture where projects become overly dependent on IT resources without clear oversight.
- Quote paper
- Matthias Herreiner (Author), 2011, Opportunities and limits of an internal IT with a multi-project management approach, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1348063
