PREFACE

For two decades I have managed several large information technology (IT) programs totaling more than one billion US dollars in size, as well as assessed and remediated several troubled programs. Therefore, I have both received and conducted many project assessments and also have a deep empirical background in how to run technology projects and programs. Based on this experience, I decided to write this book on project assessments, taken from the perspective of a practitioner of project management.

I believe that successful information technology project delivery is a result of a well-organized project structure and the execution of the project using strong project management processes. Therefore, this book will focus mainly on the areas of project structure and project management, and less on the software delivery lifecycle (SDLC) process.

The intention is not for this book to be a formal model on how to perform IT audits, as there are plenty of industry standard materials and organizations that do this well. Rather, the intention is to focus on the content of the assessment which includes the main functions of project management and delivery (e.g. schedule management, resource management and program structure), and how to assess that they are structured and being used properly to ensure successful project outcomes.

This book is organized as a reference guide for assessing the key project management functions within a project. It also uses real world project management experience to identify important concepts to consider, themes to look for, checklists which can be leveraged, and case studies from real assessments to demonstrate the main points.

On the cover of this book is a picture of a compass which I think is an appropriate metaphor for how this book is written and intended. The focus should not be on the markings on the compass, or how shiny it may be, but on how it is used and the direction in which it is pointing, to enable the user of it to meet their destination. Similarly, a project assessment is not about checking boxes and having the best framework for auditing but rather ensuring that the use of the assessment optimizes value, and ultimately enables the projects to be successful (and thus the title of this book).