If you’re considering a career in information systems, you’ll notice that many degree programs are offered with concentrations or specializations. These concentrations give students the opportunity to focus their studies on a specific area of the IS field most interesting to them.
One of the most common concentrations in an IS program is project management. Because IT managers and other IS professionals often lead projects of all sizes, having a background in information system project management can be a great way to prepare for your future career.
Understanding the Role of Project Management in IS
Working in information systems project management often involves working on a wide range of IT projects, some of which can be very complex. Information systems project managers are responsible for executing and completing IT projects in a timely manner, on budget, and within the original scope of the project. These professionals are responsible for various aspects of overseeing a project, ranging from the initial planning stages to handing over deliverables.
Key Responsibilities of an Information Systems Project Manager
While the specific duties and responsibilities of an information systems project manager can vary from one role to the next, there are some common job responsibilities that most professionals in this line of work will have.
Project Planning and Initiation
The initial stages of an IS project involves planning and initiation, which includes defining the overall scope of the project and making sure the proper resources can be allocated to complete the project successfully.
Stakeholder Communication
Another important role of an IS or IT project manager includes communicating with stakeholders to discuss the status of a project, providing regular updates and keeping expectations reasonable whenever possible.
Project Execution and Monitoring
Once the project gets rolling, IT professionals must take measures to ensure that everybody is staying on-task, as well as check in on individuals and teams for quality assurance purposes.
Risk Management
Risk management is another crucial role of any project manager in IT, as there are many things that can go wrong and throw the entire project off-budget or off-schedule. Project managers are responsible for identifying these risks ahead of time and creating comprehensive mitigation plans.
Budget Management
Projects in IT can quickly get out of control in terms of budget, and project managers play a vital role in managing budgets as much as possible. This includes careful financial planning at all stages of the project, as well as cost control measures to keep things from getting out-of-hand.
Team Leadership
Project managers are also responsible for leading and inspiring teams throughout every step of the project, which includes team coordination and handling conflicts between team members as they arise.
Project Documentation
Documenting every aspect of the project and its progress is also an essential job of a project manager. By maintaining thorough records and final reporting, it is possible to gauge the overall success of a project when it’s completed.
Project Closure
Even when a project is finished and the deliverables are handed over to the client, project managers must still handle post-implementation reviews and other closure tasks before moving on to the next one.
Skills Gained from a Project Management Information Systems Degree
With so many responsibilities to take on, you might be wondering about the specific skills required for IT project manager professionals and how to acquire them. Students in an IS degree program with a project management concentration can learn a number of project manager technical skills and even soft skills to prepare them for the challenges of the field. Below are some of the skills gained from a project management information systems degree:
Technical Skills
- Systems Analysis and Design – Project managers must learn how to meet with clients to analyze their wants and needs for a project, as well as design system architecture and develop detailed system specifications. In an information systems degree with a project management concentration, students can learn how to create detailed data flow diagrams and entity-relationship diagrams that can help start projects off on the right foot.
- Database Management – As part of an information systems management degree with a project management concentration, students may also expect to learn about designing and managing databases as part of a project. These aspiring project managers may also learn Structured Query Language (SQL), which is a coding language used to manage data. Project managers must also be proficient in the creation and management of database schema, as well as techniques used to ensure data integrity.
- Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) – Understanding the software development lifecycle and its various stages is an essential skill for any aspiring project manager, especially in the IT or IS fields. Likewise, these project managers must learn how to manage software projects from the earliest stages of planning to the finished deliverables and beyond, including maintenance. A strong understanding of Agile and Waterfall methodologies can be especially useful in this regard.
Project Management Skills
- Project Planning and Execution – The earliest stages of a project are among the most important, as project managers must use this time to create project plans, set specific milestones, and allocate resources to ensure the project is completed while meeting the client’s needs. This, on top of managing project timelines and budgets, can become complicated. For these reasons, many project managers learn how to use project management tools, such as Microsoft Project and Jira, to streamline their planning and keep projects on track.
- Risk Management – Risks are an inherent part of any project, which is why clients rely on project managers who understand how to identify potential risks, assess the impact of those risks, and develop mitigation strategies to avoid risk whenever possible. This includes building out comprehensive risk management plans and making sure everybody on the team is on-board.
- Quality Management – Project managers must also have strong quality management skills that include the ability to implement quality assurance processes and conducting regular quality audits with teams. Meanwhile, implementing continuous improvement techniques, such as Six Sigma, and ensuring project deliverables meet the clients’ quality standards is a must.
Analytical Skills
- Data Analysis and Decision Making – Important project management skills in data analysis and decision-making include data analysis to support decision-making processes, the use of data analytics tools, and creating robust decision models.
- Business Intelligence – Today’s project management leaders should also understand how to implement business intelligence solutions and use BI tools, such as Tableau and Power BI, to make the most of their resources.
Leadership and Interpersonal Skills
- Team Leadership and Management – Successful project managers in IT/IS are those who can confidently lead and inspire project teams while effectively managing team dynamics. This includes such skills as conflict resolution, being able to motivate team members, and driving organizational change.
- Communication and Collaboration – Strong communication is essential in managing any project, and this includes both written and verbal communication when presenting project updates, facilitating meetings, or meeting with stakeholders.
Strategic and Business Management Skills
- Strategic Planning and Implementation – Being able to develop strategic plans that align a project with business objectives is a must in project management, as is implementing strategic initiatives and conducting ongoing performance measurements.
- Financial Management – Project managers are tasked with budgeting and financial planning tasks, including the overseeing of project finances, estimating costs, and conducting thorough financial reporting at all stages.
Soft Skills
- Adaptability and Flexibility – Projects and their scope can change quickly at any time, so project managers need to be prepared to quickly adapt to changing requirements. Likewise, project managers must be flexible thinkers with open minds and the ability to handle unexpected challenges.
- Emotional Intelligence – Project managers also need to be able to understand and manage their own emotions well, in addition to being able to empathize with team members and build strong working relationships with others.
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution – During any given project, a project manager may need to negotiate project terms, resolve ongoing conflicts with team members, and reach mutually beneficial agreements.
- Time Management – Project managers often have to juggle many tasks at once, so being able to prioritize tasks while managing deadlines is a must for optimizing productivity.
Advanced Project Management Skills
- Risk Management and Mitigation – Project managers may also need to develop advanced skills for risk assessment, such as developing comprehensive risk mitigation plans and monitoring risks throughout the entire lifecycle of a project.
- Lean Project Management – Project managers who can apply Lean principles in a project can greatly reduce waste while maximizing efficiency, which can deliver a greater value to the end client.
- Program and Portfolio Management – Project managers must be able to handle multiple projects at the same time while being careful to balance resource allocation and time across projects.
Start Your IS Degree in Project Management at Baker
When it comes to information systems and project management, aspiring professionals must be able to lead teams through the most complex of IT projects. From planning and delegating tasks to ensuring that budgets and timelines are met, there are many skills required for those in IT project manager jobs.
At Baker College, we’re proud to offer an information systems management degree with a concentration in project management. This program is designed to help students build leadership skills while learning how to define project needs and goals. Plus, it can be completed in about four years.Interested in learning more? Get in touch to request more information or start your online application today!