Project Management Tools for IT Executives (continued)
strategy aspect of projects. Portfolio management straddles the line between that and the actual execution of individual projects," says Joseph Phillips, director of education at Project Seminars Inc., a project management consulting firm based in Indianapolis, Ind.
Another way to put it is that project management is about "doing things right" and that portfolio management is about "doing the right things." Garrett says, "If you just manage projects individually, you might be doing the wrong things exceedingly well -- which doesn't really get you anywhere. If you do both project management and portfolio management, hopefully you are 'doing the right things right.'"
Complex Jobs Need Complex Tools
IT is infamous for the exceedingly high rate of change. Whether you are installing a network, building a new data center or developing or upgrading an application, it is "guaranteed that things will change between today and tomorrow," says Phillips. "There will be viruses and bugs and software upgrades and new hardware devices, and vendors entering and leaving the market. IT is extraordinarily difficult to manage as a result."
IT executives frequently make the mistake of planning for the long term but settling for short-term results. What's needed, says Phillips, is a more granular view across the board. "IT is radically different from manufacturing or construction -- executives who move from other functions to IT are astounded at the rate of change," says Phillips. "It needs to be managed accordingly using the right tools."
About the Author
Alice LaPlante is an award-winning writer and editor who has covered business for more than 20 years.
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