Managing and Implementing Informatics and IT Projects: The perspective of the Project Management Professional (PMP)

Project Management Professionals (PMPs) are trained to approach all projects with a consistent framework as defined by the Project Management Institute.  The experienced project manager is able to look at each unique endeavor and determine how to define, plan and execute it in order to successfully meet the project objectives.  In IT projects the objective is often to build a software product or rollout new hardware, and the project tasks and resources are relatively consistent for each project.

Beyond hardware and software, informatics also includes the study of the social impact of information technologies. When initiating and planning an informatics project, the project manager must assist the executive sponsor with defining the vision, mission and objective that is broader than software development.  This research component of an informatics project requires additional tasks and appropriately skilled resources to accomplish. If the project manager is utilizing the standard framework of initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing, then the deliverable-based WBS, and subsequently project plan, should incorporate the informatics components that go beyond software development.  These additional requirements would be identified in initiation and planning. A major lesson learned from managing informatics projects is that the PM should not assume that informatics and IT are synonymous and the standard plan can be used.  He or she should begin as trained by defining the objective, including the research deliverables, and plan to it.  Once this plan is in place the standard project management practices and methodology should drive the project to a successful closure and delivery of expected outcomes.