Managing E-Projects

by Alexandre G. Rodrigues

There are two main requirements for the success of IT projects, particularly the critical, fast-moving projects associated with e-business: alignment with business needs and rapid, low-cost delivery. Both can be achieved through effective project management practices. On these e-projects, alignment means achieving effective and rapid-response requirements management. Cost reduction implies proper mechanisms for planning and control, which ensure early visibility and near optimal use of resources. Unfortunately, the traditional approach to managing requirements, planning, and control is based on a heavily structured project management process -- something incompatible with the nature of e-projects, where constantly changing requirements must be taken as a given. Time-compressed schedules leave little room for detailed planning and monitoring, yet requirements must be under control, and promises to the client, while dynamic, must be based on feasible plans.