Information Technology Project Management:
Providing Measurable Organizational Value [With
CDROM]
by Jack T. Marchewka
How IT professionals manage projects and people
In this textbook on managing information technology (IT) projects, Jack T. Marchewka gives clear explanations of
sound project-management principles. The book’s organization and tone are designed for a college setting. Of
course, you can read the book on your own and get a great deal from it, even without classroom discussion of its
case studies and review questions. Note the bullet points that list each chapter’s objectives as items to prioritize as
you read. Each chapter’s summary will help you determine if you picked up what the author is trying to share.
Marchewka’s language is formal but readable, and he focuses less on entertaining you than on communicating
solid, useful information. He thoroughly describes IT projects’ special considerations, emphasizing the importance
of human interaction and employee training and skills. getAbstract recommends this book to project managers
with IT backgrounds who want to hone their people-management skills and to general project managers who
want information on handling IT projects.|
Well, it's not every time that I read the whole book that's in my syllabus of MCA course but this time I almost did it
with one of my subject named "Software Project Management". People find it tough because of it being a
theoretical concept. I find such subjects little easy because I love reading and I get a lot to read in such subjects. I
don't like subjects which forces me to mug up something just because it can't be talked of in any other way. In the
3rd semester of MCA, that I am currently in, I have SPM as a subject which is my favorite. We were asked to refer
Jack T. Marchewka's book and hence I read his "Information Technology Project Management"'s 2nd edition. The
book is published by Wiley-India Edition unlike other books that are published by Tata McGraw Hill of MCA
syllabus. After reading the book, I am quite confident that I'll clear the examination by writing something. That's
the specialty of his writing and explaining things.
About The Author:Jack T. Marchewka is an associate professor, the Barsema Professor of Management Information Systems, and the
About The Author:Jack T. Marchewka is an associate professor, the Barsema Professor of Management Information Systems, and the
director of the Business Information Technology Transfer Center (BITTC) at Northern Illinois University. He received
his Ph.D. from Georgia State University's department of Computer Information Systems in 1994 and was a former
faculty member at Kennesaw State University. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Marchewka was a vice president of
MIS for a healthcare company in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Marchewka has taught a number of courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and has been a
guest lecturer at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University in the Netherlands. His current
research interest include IT project management, electronic commerce, knowledge management, and
organizational security and business continuity. His articles have appeared in journals such as Information
Resources Management Journal, Information Technology & People, Journal of International Information
Management, and Journal of Informatics Education and Research.
About The Book:This text fits a quickly emerging course in the IT curriculum- project management for IT. The focus is on
addressing the issues that arise with software projects in industry- the costs, complexities and risks associated with
IT projects, even as IT becomes more reliable, faster and less expensive. These risks are alleviated by effective use
of project management techniques, and this book addresses those issues and the techniques used to solve them.
Key Features:Incorporates PMI's PMBOK (Project Mgt Body of Knowledge)
"Integrated Approach" to pedagogy will provide help for students to understand the big picture and the critical
details
Hands-on, integrated case assignments
A knowledge management component which will provide a repository on the web for students' experiences and
"lessons learned."
Table Of Contents:Preface
About the Author
The Nature of Information Technology Projects
Conceptualizing and Initiating the IT Project
Developing the Project Charter and Baseline Project Plan
The Human Side of Project Management
Defining and Managing Project Scope
The Work Breakdown Structure and Project Estimation
The Project Schedule and Budget
Managing Project Risk
Project Communication, Tracking, and Reporting
IT Project Quality Management
Managing Organizational Change, Resistance, and Conflict
Project Implementation, Closure, and Evaluation
Appendix A: An Introduction to Function Point Analysis
Index
Coming to the review, I would start talking chapter-wise. The first chapter which introduces us to software and its
development isn't written in an easy language the way other chapters of the book is written. Business Case is
beautifully explained in the 2nd chapter. Coming to the third chapter based on Project Charter, you would again
get depressed as even that's not explained as nicely as I expected. 4th Chapter rocks with a wonderful elaboration
of Organization and Project Manager. 5th Chapter again bounced above my head. Chapter 6th and 7th are
another disappointment. Chapter 8 explains Risk Management and its processes in the best way that was possible.
Chapter 10th could have been hard to explain the quality management and six sigmas kind of thing but author
another disappointment. Chapter 8 explains Risk Management and its processes in the best way that was possible.
Chapter 10th could have been hard to explain the quality management and six sigmas kind of thing but author
has managed it very well.
11th Chapter is again a hard thing to break for the readers. Even that's not wonderfully done. Chapter 12th rocked
because of Outsourcing. I enjoyed reading this part the most. I gave presentation on this topic in my class too.
Leadership and ethics is wonderfully explained in Chapter 13th- Leadership and Ethics. Chapter 14th, the last
chapter of the book, explains Project Implementation and Administrative closure, the last phase of the Software
Project Development. And with it, a wonderful book that explains almost all the important topics in a very easy
language with labelled diagrams ends on a good note. For my classmates, I have also made notes of this book.
Now you can estimate well how much in love I am with this book. Jack Marchewka, you rock. I give this book
4.25/5.
Thanks.
ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!