In an organization, we assign in best balanced both managements of operation and the management by projects in order to achieve organization strategic goal. To achieve the goal, we propose the new evaluation framework. For this study, we use PMI's new Standards and others with multi view points.

View full abstract

In order to eliminate projects with large cost overruns, we have started company-wide "Hitachi Phase-Gate program" to improve the organizational project management. Since Hitachi has a wide variety of business operations, we first analyzed best practices in advanced business divisions, and developed "Phase-Gate Mutulity Model." Using this model, we have assessed and improved the project management process of the target divisions. As a result, we found that our Phase-Gate process is effective at governing and controlling projects, in wide range of divisions and development processes. We also found that this model is useful as a tool to improve project management process to a division.

View full abstract

By using EVM with variance analysis between the planed value and the actual value, project overall progress can be monitored and values at completion can be estimated. While it is demanded to use EVM as an analysis tool to correct schedule delay or cost overrun. To make an action plan in actual, it is needed to know the progress of small work package level rather than the project overall. In this paper, it is discussed how to utilize EVM to monitor the progress of small work package level and analyze the project status.

View full abstract

The increasing level of customer demand for quality projects, SI business as facing multiple projects simultaneously, PL Sako need to provide uniformly high quality of each project rather than being dependent on personal skills and project members being. PL in order to support the project management, internal departments and PMO staff, including top management / third party like the strengthening of monitoring and experts from various sectors of the approach in support of the project in the field follow-up "now" in the know, "ahead" to Aburidasu to enhance risk analysis, project quality and to maintain, PM confirmed the effectiveness of any training point. In this paper, we introduce examples of quality improvement efforts by these third-party monitoring.

View full abstract

In the IT company these days, various actions making project succeed are performed systematically. One of them is an community activity aimed for information sharing among project managers, and the human resources development for project management. For that activity, the Kuruma-za meeting are held in the virtual organization activity called PM community in Fujitsu Limited. In reference to this activity, the workshop for the project management has been started from two years ago also in the product development divisions. At first, the Kuruma-za meeting was held to make the project managers become aware of anything important, however, it has gradually been changing to a place where the project manager him or herself tries to argue mutually toward actual field issue solution. And the participants learned knowledge or know-how obtained in the workshop into his or her own project field to solve the problems. In addition, each project manager's know-how (tacit knowledge) obtained through this activity is categorized based on each knowledge area of PMBOK, and then they are put into data base (formal knowledge) and opened widely. This paper introduces support activity of the project management through the workshop activity.

View full abstract

SCRUM is one of Agile Development Methods which has been implemented in some projects in IBM. This tutorial paper explains SCRUM about the points based on actual projects: 1. overview of SCRUM 2. Project Management of SCRUM 3. an explanation of success case of SCRUM project 4. explanations of risks/issues of SCRUM projects and their solutions From these points, this paper proposes one of the methodology how to utilize SCRUM development method effectively.

View full abstract

Risk Management is being reviewed from organization's project management maturity view point, considering lessons learned from the unsuccessful projects and/or the failures. Engineer's ethics are also taken account of PMI standard; OPM3 (Organizational Project Management Maturity Model) is referred as a maturity model in reviewing Risk Management. The review is still under way and some discussing points are presented.

View full abstract

By the advancement of sensor and analysis technologies, a system that can automatically measure and visualize a team activity has been developed. We have applied this system to a large-scale project and have experimentally measured and analyzed the condition of a communication within it. As a result, we have successfully quantified and visualized the condition of a project communication. A result of a quantification analysis shows that there is a strong relationship between the productivity and the time spent for face-to-face communication. By continually monitoring the face-to-face communication time, we have been able to help exposing a project's problem in the early phase. It has also helped us offer useful information to project manager for solving this exposed problem.

View full abstract

For the project management of a large-scale IT project, a communication is the important factor. We feel that the most team with good quality also has a good communication within the team. This time, we have made an automatic measurement of the team activity using the Organizational Activity Measurement System and visualized the result. We also have made quantitative and objective monitoring of the activity using this system. In this paper, we will introduce our speculations on the index of the team quality and the team communication monitored by the Organizational Activity Measurement System.

View full abstract

We propose an evaluation methodology for new technologies introduced in software development projects. In recent years, along with increasing scale and getting complex of software, a variety of tools and methods are introduced to a project for the purpose of productivity improvement of a development project and quality improvement for the development of a product. When project manager introduce new technologies, it is necessary for them to evaluate whether new technologies are effective for projects. Our Methodology reduces the risk of deriving wrong evaluation results by using process and framework. Additionally, it enables them to perform an effective evaluation.

View full abstract

Because of requested a system high-quality more than the past, it is very difficult in the recent software development to attempt making to the high quality and the reduction in cost at the same time. 「Hitori Ipponme Check(R)」 is the quality control technique not to make defect systematically in early stage of a development process. In this text, we will explain the basic thought and effect of this technique.

View full abstract

Modern-PM has been shaped for a half century. It is still not internationally standardized as explicit knowledge, and would still be on developing stage when regarded as one of the engineering or scientific subjects. Hence, there would be such questions as what would happen if all the current PM best-practices were applied, or which areas of modern-PM should be much more advanced in the near future? This paper tries to summarize the trends and foresight, based on recent modern-PM activities, discussions and available data. As a conclusion, it is explained why personal-PM could be one of the rapidly advancing areas of modern-PM.

View full abstract

Our company had experienced many unprofitable projects during second half of 2003 through 2004 fiscal year. Its reasons could be classified into the three types of problems regarding to estimate, project management and capability of project managers. Correspondingly we were promoting three types of activities so called "reinforcement of entry management", "revolution of project management" and "manager training" since 2005 fiscal year. Improving the management process by the second activity, ironically we found our project management had many issues. On the third activity, we also found well-known project management courses had less effect for resolving troubles happening at actual project sights. In order to break this situation, we surveyed the causes of troubles from recent unprofitable projects, and picked up many insufficient parts of management. Based on its results, we decided to develop the practical project management technologies suitable to actual project cases, so as to exactly meet to the original purpose of project management and cover the project manager's official tasks. Since total development period was estimated two years, we divided the development into three phases and started the training and practice for design and development divisions by development completion basis. Currently the first development phase has completed and the training has just started. According to questionnaire to students, the usefulness seems to reach to more than expected level. We are going to complete second and third phases, and to spread to all over the company, in order to exterminate all troubles caused by poor project management.

View full abstract

In a system construction project, in terms of QCD we face difficulty to share common understanding and agree with stakeholders about the project costs. Clients and vendors are likely to face conflicts because of a gap between them: Clients want to fix the schedule and costs before clarifying their requirements; however, vendors do not want to estimate the whole project costs without clarifying the clients' requirements. There are two reasons why this happens: (1) The concept of PMBOK (the method raising the accuracy of the project costs step by step) is not still in common, and (2) Lack of clarification and common understanding of the idea that how requirement modification occurring during the project will affect the whole project schedule and costs. This thesis provides effectiveness of the project management method which shares the scale change with clients by considering of results of the actual project using this method.

View full abstract

For the development project management of the local government information system (the Local e-Government) which is one of the Social Project Management, there are many problems. With this short essay, I consider the problems and their countermeasures of the Local e-Government development project management by a case study.

View full abstract

The project manager is expected the role function as change leadership in a change project. That is because the change project have a different mission from a old mission in the old project. The change project must produce the new innovative result which was not obtained in a old project. In order to obtain a suggestion when promoting such a change project, effective role and function which a project manager achieves may be what kind of thing. We performed experiment and consideration with the interview to a change project manager, and the technique of the multi-agent simulation. We report the implication obtained from the trial result.

View full abstract

As for risk management, due to importance of plan conversion and counter-measure examination at early stage of planning stage, various activities such as organizational activities and tool construction...etc, have been conducted. But, it is considered that methods about continuously monitoring risks are not so matured yet, when compared to those of planning stage. On the other hand, as the project is executed as a several series of activity process associated with WBS at project execution stage, it is appropriate that continuous monitoring of risks is conducted for each WBS. In this study, it reports about the case using the technique, which is a kind of risk monitoring method used at risk management stage, that is paying attention to WBS. This technique gives a simple way of sharing risk monitoring for each WBS and stake holder judgement, and "visualization of the project" is easily conducted with it accordingly.

View full abstract

The purpose of this research is to understand how people utilized information policies. We analyzed materials (newspapers, magazines, and public documents) about ITSS (Information Technology Skill Standard) that was published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry in Japan. We found that people did not use the ITSS in any unique manner. This was because they had the perspective based on given patterns of using it.

View full abstract

Improvements of project management activities are desired in every business domain. Sharing project lessons-learned across business units, can be an effective way to improve project management activities, on an enterprise composed of various business units. In order to share project lessons-learned across business units, we collect 31 project failure cases analyzed in each business unit from 8 business unit, re-analyze them, and extract 50 sharable project lessons-learned. Moreover, we design an analysis method to extract sharable project lessons-learned, that reflects analysis know-how gathered from actually performed re-analysis activities.

View full abstract

In order to achieve the business plan and to plan the project properly, it is important subject making progress in accurate estimation. The systematical evaluation methodology, certainty of the input data which is basis of estimation, taking risks into consideration and 'definition of the grounds of evaluation value' are key factors for improvement of evaluation accuracy. We have tried to establish evaluation model which systematically integrates these factors In this article we propose our activities to derive productivity metrics from the actual productivity data of the similar projects which we have completed, in order to achieve 'definition of the grounds of evaluation value' of the estimation model

View full abstract

Recently most Japanese software development companies take advantage of the Offshore Development in order to reduce development cost. Offshore Development enables to provide inexpensive labor in large quantities, however it is inevitable to rework the product received from Offshore Development company due to problems of less communication and low quality consciousness. We have introduced the control chart as a tool which the Offshore Development company uses for quality management in order to develop good quality software from the early stage of the production phase. They can detect the problems and improve them at the beginning of both the code review and the program testing. In this paper we describe effectiveness of control chart and the refer to improve.

View full abstract

It is imperative to manage risks of projects to lead them to success. In our firm, risk assessment by a third party has been introduced and an associated effect has been recognized. However, we have not succeeded in eradicating troublesome projects. This paper reports our approaches toward risk management, so far. Also, we have especially understood the importance of approaches to reduce risks at upper processes to eradicate troublesome projects from a thorough analysis of problem occurrence existing causes. And, additional perspectives to be confirmed and their operation methods used to predict risks are described here.

View full abstract

On the package development site, when the work of increase the sale of a present product, the work of maintenance work of a present product, and the work of develop a new product were being done at the same time, if you were not able to grasp the work realities correctly, you had to modify the man-hour plan in fiscal year repeatedly. Therefore, to apply the PMA (Project Management Assistant) techniques to the whole work group, and through the PMA tool to grasp and analysis the work-hours of SE correctly. As the result, it is will be possible to grasp the actual status of work, especially when you have to spend a lot of time for mistake of old edition. When you consider the focus on work efficiency, and respond to contact votes of mistakes, comparing with the responsible for each assignment method in Legacy systems, the allocation of first-come method can increase by 20% in the work efficiency, and it is possible to planning a high-precision Manpower plan too. On the other hand, about the work time of this analysis / planning measures in the future, with the PMA definition, it has been possible, that accord the working-hours responding to customer to get the net working-hours of internal SE / Business, then capture the net non-operating, and formulate measures aim to increase the net time. Another, in the package develop department, it is also necessaiy to analyze and improve the working-hours base on the net working-hours of internal SE / Business. There are many will want to improve and opinions.

View full abstract

In a project to use COSMIC method for a scale measurement, there is the case which you must measure when there is not enough information. In this case the early & approximate estimation is necessary. If it is the project that it uses IFPUG method for, I can use NESMA method. Because there was not suggestion of the early & approximate estimate technique based on COSMIC method in Japan I did not understand what kind of technique I should have estimated it. In this report I suggest an application method to incomplete definition of requirements in the project to use COSMIC method after I introduce the early & approximate estimate technique based on COSMIC method suggested so far, and having surveyed it.

View full abstract

Facing the severe business situations, each IT service organization has been making efforts for survival. In this paper, application of biological concepts such as evolution, survival of fittest, biodiversity to IT business is proposed. Beyond surface-like arguments, problems on the area of project-management, problem management, and portfolio management of IT service organization are analyzed from the view-points of ecological theorems. Finally, several survival strategies are proposed.

View full abstract

Project Management is required to reach an appropriate decision under difficult condition. One way to make a project successful is an understanding the essence of past experiences. To develop a scheme for learning from the past experiences, it is important to accumulate valuable knowledge of organization and to develop an ability to use the knowledge. We think that ability to use the knowledge consist of ability to use knowledge to find the timing and bility to use its own context to replace the knowledge. A training using the case method is important to develop these abilities. In this paper, we propose the case method which include development of teaching materials and instructional mode. We evaluate the teaching materials and the instructional mode, and show the effectiveness of the case method.

View full abstract

Offshore development should be an attractive prospect for Japanese companies, however, Japanese offshore company development is often associated with risk and frustration. Therefore, in recent years, more and more Japanese companies have been reluctant to undertake offshore development. One major reason for this negative outcome is that Japanese project staff were not sufficiently trained to the appropriate human resource level. In the first section, I clarify keywords: "culture", "intercultural contacts", "culture shock", and "competency". I next evaluate interactions between Chinese contacts and Japanese management staffs in IT offshore development. The study shows that Chinese bridge-system engineers working as project coordinators received high-level training for offshore projects and polished their linguistic competence, technological level, and cultural understanding, etc. In contrast, Japanese system engineers coordinating offshore projects were not adequately trained for the intercultural communication. In order to further promote trade between China and Japan, this issue should be resolved. The aim of this paper is to clarify the key points in human resources that are needed to improve intercultural training for emerging IT companies.

View full abstract

The relations of Best Practices and Capabilities to realize Best Practices are expressed as Dependencies in the PMI OPM3. I renumbered Best Practice ID and made graphs of the Capability relations by this unified ID system. The structure and characteristics became visible. And I show an abnormal point, structures to be reconstruct, and loops of dependency.

View full abstract

In the Stakeholder Analysis process, stakeholders are classified into a power and interest grid, and the Stakeholder Management Strategy is established. As a progress of the project, stakeholders move to another grid or new stakeholder is identified, and the project manager needs to pay attention in which grid each stakeholder is classified at all times. In this paper, in which case stakeholder moves to another grid is discussed.

View full abstract

In the order-receiving business that the company provide the product and the system based on the customer request, it is important to sophisticate the decision-making before signing the contract for preventing the project trouble. Then, we develop the selection method of prior project risk factor items to be responded in order to navigate the project to decide the response to risk factors that have high depression effect of earnings variation. The feature of this method is to search the combination of prior project risk factors that is estimated to have high depression effect based on genetic algorithm. We verified the selecting performance of this method by real data of the system development project, and confirmed that the algorithm of this method is effective.

View full abstract

This paper discusses training of project members, including project managers, as elements constituting of an organizational portfolio. In functional organizations or matrix organizations, goals of project and those of organizations in which the project members belong to are sometimes not concurrent. However, thanks to the establishment and utilization of appropriate systems outside projects, individual career development plans and personnel training for attaining organizational goals can be promoted effectively in project activities, which concurrently need to involve with essential skill development for achieving project goals. On the other hand, this system does not achieve the desired effects in the case that project members, especially project managers, are not motivated appropriately. The paper introduces the system of personnel training of the author's organization and summarizes the effectiveness of the system.

View full abstract

The following feature exists when the embedded software development is seen from an aspect the project management, (1)It is development for a short term though it is comparatively large-scale software. (2)It is chiefly development of hardware and software simultaneously. It is peculiar and expected a lot of risks to development. However, the importance of the project management is not so recognized enough, and the case that the project management doesn't function enough is not a little in a lot of development projects of the embedded software. It is described about the risk management of an embedded software development.

View full abstract

When experiences with offshoring are discussed in Japan, many people who have experienced in offshoring outsourcing projects says, "The offshore workers do not read between the lines; They do not understand even though Japanese think they should be able to understand if they judge it from Japanese common sense," or "Although they understand the problem, they do not point it out". And most of Japanese say, as a result, a problem occurred. However, the members of offshore really do not neither "Understand" nor "Point it out"? Based on the example that has succeeded because they did "Read between the lines" and "Point it out", I summarize the points which they came to practice, as 11 knowhow, to be able to easily perform.

View full abstract

Various Global Integrated Companies has relocated some system operation and work operation into beyond the sea. As a result global virtual teams are required for the operations. To proceed with the operation without failure, the operation should not be relocated directly: operation optimization is required before the relocation. In this paper, hints, risk, problems, and solutions for the optimization are discussed.

View full abstract

Hotel development projects are a complicated and difficult collaboration between a lot of interested organizations and individuals; such as investors and developers, architects, designers/consultants, construction companies, procurement agents, operators, guests, administrative offices, and so on. They have involved in the project over a long period of time in various ways. Its purpose is that all parties related achieve a success in business and the fruit of the collaboration like function, space, and landscape contribute to a charm of the region or the city. For that purpose, accurate and flexible Project Management is required with no question.

View full abstract