Question

Information Technology Project Management: Providing Measurable Organizational Value by Marchewka 5th Edition

Quick Thinking-Involving The User page 19

1. What are some key factors or characteristics you should consider when attempting to identify the correct user or user group to be part of a project team?

2. What are some potential conflicts between users and developers? As a project manager, what steps could you take to minimize or avoid these conflicts to ensure that the user or user group is involved?

Answer 1

1) Some Key factors that can be considered when attempting to identify the correct user or user group to be part of project team are User Involvement : User should involve in the discussion conducted to express their feedback.Executive Support : Support from the user in all respects.Clear Business Objectives : User Group having a clear business vision moving forward.Reliable Estimates and formal methodology that is adopted also play a vital role in deciding the User groups.

2)Some potential conflicts that arise between the Users and developers are frequency with which these two groups communicate with each other.Negative thought/Perception on each other.Disagreement on the features developed.Poor communication also plays a major role in this.

As a project manager i would insist on frequent interaction between the developers and users so that both groups come on same page and the misunderstanding would be reduced.Fun Activities that can organised between the groups so that every one will get to know each other more personally.