Redesigned Framework and Approach for IT Project Management

In this paper, we consider software development type Information Technology (IT) projects in presenting the redesigned framework and approach for their management. Software development produces intangible products and requirements for software products are difficult to capture as well as they are changing faster than expected. This has made software development type IT projects more complicated resulting many failures. Therefore many researches are being conducted to minimize failures in recent past. Framework, model, phases, processes, tasks, activities, etc. are some of key terminology used in project management. We observed in the literature, these terminologies are described in different ways. When it comes to IT project management, these terms must be properly described considering software engineering practices. At the same time, there must be a methodical approach illustrating relationships among framework, model, phases, processes, tasks, activities etc, to minimize the confusion that arises in the practice. Professional project management organizations have extensively described best practices such as PMBOK, PRINCE2, CMMI, ITIL, MSF etc. in general project management and there are also many text books [1] [2] based on those extensive guidelines. There is also a number of proposals in related research publications describing how generally accepted project management practices can be extended with respect to Software engineering practices. As presented in this paper, we observed these proposals have created more confusion among young practitioners to make mistakes when managing or participating in IT projects. At the same time, we observed the project management practices must be integrated with respect to software engineering practices to avoid ad hoc interpretations. Hence, this paper presents a redesigned framework and approach for IT project management tailored to software development.