Chapter 2

phase exit

A management review that should occur after each project phase to determine if projects should be continued, redirected, or terminated; also called a kill point

kill point

A management review that should occur after each project phase to determine if projects should be continued, redirected, or terminated; also called a phase exit

agile software development

A method for software development that uses new approaches, focusing on close collaboration between programming teams and business experts

systems analysis

A problem-solving approach that requires defining the scope of the system to be studied, and then dividing it into component parts for identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs

outsourcing

An organization's acquisition of goods and services from an outside source

matrix organizational structure

An organizational structure in which employees are assigned both to functional and project managers

functional organizational structure

An organizational structure that groups people by functional areas such as IT, manufacturing, engineering, and human resources

project organizational structure

An organizational structure that groups people by major projects

systems philosophy

An overall model for thinking about things as systems

politics

Competition between groups or individuals for power and leadership

offshoring

Outsourcing from another country

agile

Quick and coordinated in movement; a method based on iterative and incremental development, in which requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration

IT governance

The authority and control for key IT activities in organizations, including IT infrastructure, IT use, and project management

project feasibility

The first two phases in a project (concept and development) that focus on planning

project acquisition

The last two phases in a project (implementation and close-out) that focus on delivering the actual work

Scrum

The leading agile development methodology for completing projects with a complex, innovative scope of work

kanban

a just-in-time method of inventory control that can be modified used in conjunction with Scrum

project life cycle

A collection of project phases, such as concept, development, implementation, and close-out

political frame

A frame that addresses organizational and personal politics

structural frame

A frame that deals with how the organization is structured (usually depicted in an organizational chart) and focuses on different groups' roles and responsibilities to meet the goals and policies set by top management

human resources (HR) frame

A frame that focuses on producing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of people

symbolic frame

A frame that focuses on the symbols, meanings, and culture of an organization

systems development life cycle (SDLC)

A framework for describing the phases involved in developing and maintaining information systems

virtual team

A group of people who work together despite time and space boundaries using communication technologies

executive steering committee

A group of senior executives from various parts of the organization who regularly review important corporate projects and issues

systems approach

A holistic and analytical approach to solving complex problems that includes using a systems philosophy, systems analysis, and systems management

systems thinking

A holistic view of an organization to effectively handle complex situations

deliverable

A product or service, such as a technical report, a training session, a piece of hardware, or a segment of software code, produced or provided as part of a project

champion

A senior manager who acts as a key proponent for a project

organizational culture

A set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization

adaptive software development (ASD)

A software development approach used when requirements cannot be clearly expressed early in the life cycle

predictive life cycle

A software development approach used when the scope of the project can be articulated clearly and the schedule and cost can be predicted accurately

systems management

Addressing the business, technological, and organizational issues associated with creating, maintaining, and modifying a system