ICAPMG501A
Manage IT projects

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage information technology (IT) projects within a medium to large organisation.

Application

This unit applies to information and communications technology (ICT) practitioners who manage the initiation, implementation and completion of reasonably complex IT projects in terms of scope, risk, control and financial factors. The projects vary across a wide range of ICT, financial, management and business areas. The provision of specific IT-related project management within projects is a key component of the ICT environment.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Manage project definition activities

1.1 Confirm organisational project governance policy and processes

1.2 Confirm business problem or opportunity as well as project objectives

1.3 Develop project charter, including preliminary statement of project scope and obtain sign-off

1.4 Conduct a feasibility study and prepare a business case as necessary

2. Undertake project planning

2.1 Plan information-gathering activities to determine project requirements, constraints and risks

2.2 Identify project partitioning on the basis of intended system development life cycle and risk

2.3 Prepare project work breakdown, schedule and budget

2.4 Compile project-management plan documents as necessary to communicate the intended management strategy for the project and obtain sign-off

3. Establish the IT project team

3.1 Identify and select team members, including roles and responsibilities, based on project solution requirements

3.2 Determine training and support needs of team members

3.3 Establish project team values and agreed behavioural standards with team members

4. Manage project execution activities

4.1 Monitor delivery and acceptance of assigned project team work activities and manage individuals as necessary

4.2 Monitor and control the quality of project deliverables

4.3 Monitor and control project scope changes, risks and issues

4.4 Manage system testing and hand-over activities

5. Coordinate project closure

5.1 Prepare IT support plans and maintenance or support documents

5.2 Obtain final project sign-off

5.3 Conduct post-project review and document lessons learned

5.4 Review and update disaster recovery plan

5.5 Close project

Required Skills

Required skills

analytical skills to determine current system deficiencies and new system objectives

communication skills to:

gather stakeholder needs

liaise with enterprise senior management

counselling skills to mentor and coach team members and resolve conflict

literacy skills to present options and recommendations in reports

negotiation skills to ensure expected project outcomes are achievable

numeracy and documentation skills to develop cost-benefit analyses

planning and organisational skills to plan project activities

research skills to identify solution alternatives

technical team management and leadership skills, including providing feedback.

Required knowledge

characteristics of leaders and technical teams

consultation and communication techniques and strategies

how to establish technical teams and determine stages of team development

estimation and cost-analysis techniques

methods of communication and communication styles, including interviewing techniques

objectives and benefits analysis

organisational values, policies and processes

performance management and project team appraisal methods

processes for monitoring team and own performance

project cash flow and budgeting

range of project-management methods and tools

self-awareness

systems analysis and modelling techniques

team roles and delegation within a multi-project methodology context

technology solution models and frameworks.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

define, plan, execute and close a reasonably complex project to meet project requirements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

real or appropriate simulated organisation with a desire to implement an IT project to address an identified problem, opportunity or unfulfilled legislative need

appropriate learning and assessment support when required

modified equipment for people with special needs.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of the candidate carrying out project work

verbal or written questioning to assess required knowledge and skills

review of reports and implementation plans

review of a portfolio of the project work undertaken.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Project governance policy and processes may include:

established roles and responsibilities for key project stakeholders

mandated positions to be filled on various project-governance boards or committees, such as the project steering committee or quality-review board

mandated project-management standard or development methodology for the organisation

project portfolio prioritisation process or criteria

project selection process or criteria.

Feasibility in relation to IT solutions may refer to:

economic

operational

technical.

Information-gathering activities may include:

interviews

research related to existing documents, and similar or previous projects

surveys

workshops.

Constraints may include:

external or internal project dependencies

limitations or standards that the project must adhere to:

resources budget

quality

timeframe.

Project-management plan documents may include:

change control

communications

human resource

procurement

quality

risk management

training.

Hand-over activities may include:

communications to users and other stakeholders

production system environment verification tests

user training and documentation.

Maintenance or support documents may include:

additional tasks or changed responsibilities within the support team for ongoing support of the new system

new policies and procedures and how these differ to current practices

technical documents relating to the system:

specifications

system dependencies

technical requirements.


Sectors

IT project management


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.