Project Management

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Where to start in IT Project Management

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Amanda Alston Senior Project Manager| Alutiiq Technical Services, LLC Fort Washington, Md, United States
I am looking to move into IT Project Management. I have an issue of not having the necessary experience that a lot of companies require. I have been a Project Manager for 8 years (consulting and government). My question is how do i get the experience needed to move into IT Project Management?
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Deepesh Rammoorthy ICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood Service Tarneit, Vic, Australia
First of all ask yourself the question ..."Why do I want to get into IT Project Management?" is it because
1) everyone is doing it ? Is it because
2) that's where the money is ? or is it because
3) I keep myself informed of the latest technologies and trends in IT and i understand the Building blocks

If the Answer is 3,
First and foremost , you should make friends with your ICT Architect and get from them a high level understanding/ diagrams on how things are setup in your data center, eg Servers, Networking equipment etc and what software is installed on the servers? How is the backup taken? How do you ensure recovery from disasters using hardware and software components?

Second, you should acquaint yourself with buzzwords in hardware like Virtual Machines, Hyper-visors, Networking devices, Cloud Infrastructure, Firewalls. If you already know what these are , you could go a step further and ask them what makes and models of these devices are being used in your company and why the decision was made to use these particular makes and models? Latest Technology? Support? Licensing?

Third you could do some research to identify how the current setup in your company compares to the latest trends in the market and ask your IT Manager on what the IT landscape for the future looks like in your company.

Fourth, Once you equip yourself with knowledge , then you can ask your manager to get involved in a technology focused project which will give you exposure either to Hardware or Software components of the solution.

Finally, try and do some certificate courses like ITIL which will provide a good exposure to ICT Service Management and Service Delivery.
there are other courses like an Advanced Diploma in IT Project Management which will also give you a firmer foothold for IT Project Delivery
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1 reply by Amanda Alston
Jan 23, 2018 8:38 AM
Amanda Alston
...
I have thought about ITIL certification as well as CSM and CSPO. Right now i am currently a contractor for the government so it is a bit difficult to go to my company and request to shadow an IT PM because of legality. The PMO that I am a part of right now does not have IT projects or project managers that I can shadow. Work is very limited and of course federal employees will be appointed these projects before contractors. Thanks for your advice!
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Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD Senior Project Manager| Infosys Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
It sounds like you already have the desire to enter project management. The first step is somehow get involved in an IT project. Put your hand up for a role a team member by speaking to PM's or the PMO. You already have the PMP so I can't see how they would refuse in every instance.
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1 reply by Amanda Alston
Jan 23, 2018 8:28 AM
Amanda Alston
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Thank you for your response Sante. Yes, I am a project manager now in the PMO. Right now there arent any IT projects going on. I am a contractor with the government so it is going to be hard for me to shadow in a the IT department without issues rising. That is a great idea and will be looking for opportunities to shadow IT projects in the near future.
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Anonymous
Find a company that RESPECT project management and view the role of project manager as a PM and not a technical person under the guise of a PM
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Sonali Malu Maharashtra, India
May be you can start with PMO role. OR project manager role in product based organization. There are BAs and technical architects in product based organizations and you really don't have to get into details of requirements/analysis/issue resolving.
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1 reply by Amanda Alston
Jan 23, 2018 8:30 AM
Amanda Alston
...
I am currently a senior project manager in the PMO. That is a good idea of looking to join a product based organization. The only issue is having the experience to get the call for an interview.
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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Amanda -

If you are already working in a company as a PM in a different domain, you should start to build relationships internally with the technology folks to:

a) learn enough to "talk the talk"

b) job shadow technology PMs

c) be in people's minds when they are looking for a PM on a technology project

If this isn't an option, then some formal training as well as heavy networking focused on learning about a particular type of IT project (as there are many flavors!) will help.

Kiron
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1 reply by Amanda Alston
Jan 23, 2018 8:33 AM
Amanda Alston
...
Great advice. I have thought about formal training and am interested in a couple (CSM, CSPO, ITIL). My thoughts are once I receive these certs will I be able to get a job based on certs and minimal experience in IT. Right now, most of the projects we see in our PMO is strategy and policy. I will keep in mind if a IT project comes along to volunteer to shadow an IT PM.
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Amanda Alston Senior Project Manager| Alutiiq Technical Services, LLC Fort Washington, Md, United States
Jan 22, 2018 8:26 PM
Replying to Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
It sounds like you already have the desire to enter project management. The first step is somehow get involved in an IT project. Put your hand up for a role a team member by speaking to PM's or the PMO. You already have the PMP so I can't see how they would refuse in every instance.
Thank you for your response Sante. Yes, I am a project manager now in the PMO. Right now there arent any IT projects going on. I am a contractor with the government so it is going to be hard for me to shadow in a the IT department without issues rising. That is a great idea and will be looking for opportunities to shadow IT projects in the near future.
...
1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 23, 2018 3:23 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
I'm sure the IT projects will come around, they always do :-)
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Amanda Alston Senior Project Manager| Alutiiq Technical Services, LLC Fort Washington, Md, United States
Jan 23, 2018 4:46 AM
Replying to Sonali Malu
...
May be you can start with PMO role. OR project manager role in product based organization. There are BAs and technical architects in product based organizations and you really don't have to get into details of requirements/analysis/issue resolving.
I am currently a senior project manager in the PMO. That is a good idea of looking to join a product based organization. The only issue is having the experience to get the call for an interview.
avatar
Amanda Alston Senior Project Manager| Alutiiq Technical Services, LLC Fort Washington, Md, United States
Jan 23, 2018 7:55 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
Amanda -

If you are already working in a company as a PM in a different domain, you should start to build relationships internally with the technology folks to:

a) learn enough to "talk the talk"

b) job shadow technology PMs

c) be in people's minds when they are looking for a PM on a technology project

If this isn't an option, then some formal training as well as heavy networking focused on learning about a particular type of IT project (as there are many flavors!) will help.

Kiron
Great advice. I have thought about formal training and am interested in a couple (CSM, CSPO, ITIL). My thoughts are once I receive these certs will I be able to get a job based on certs and minimal experience in IT. Right now, most of the projects we see in our PMO is strategy and policy. I will keep in mind if a IT project comes along to volunteer to shadow an IT PM.
avatar
Amanda Alston Senior Project Manager| Alutiiq Technical Services, LLC Fort Washington, Md, United States
Jan 22, 2018 4:59 PM
Replying to Deepesh Rammoorthy
...
First of all ask yourself the question ..."Why do I want to get into IT Project Management?" is it because
1) everyone is doing it ? Is it because
2) that's where the money is ? or is it because
3) I keep myself informed of the latest technologies and trends in IT and i understand the Building blocks

If the Answer is 3,
First and foremost , you should make friends with your ICT Architect and get from them a high level understanding/ diagrams on how things are setup in your data center, eg Servers, Networking equipment etc and what software is installed on the servers? How is the backup taken? How do you ensure recovery from disasters using hardware and software components?

Second, you should acquaint yourself with buzzwords in hardware like Virtual Machines, Hyper-visors, Networking devices, Cloud Infrastructure, Firewalls. If you already know what these are , you could go a step further and ask them what makes and models of these devices are being used in your company and why the decision was made to use these particular makes and models? Latest Technology? Support? Licensing?

Third you could do some research to identify how the current setup in your company compares to the latest trends in the market and ask your IT Manager on what the IT landscape for the future looks like in your company.

Fourth, Once you equip yourself with knowledge , then you can ask your manager to get involved in a technology focused project which will give you exposure either to Hardware or Software components of the solution.

Finally, try and do some certificate courses like ITIL which will provide a good exposure to ICT Service Management and Service Delivery.
there are other courses like an Advanced Diploma in IT Project Management which will also give you a firmer foothold for IT Project Delivery
I have thought about ITIL certification as well as CSM and CSPO. Right now i am currently a contractor for the government so it is a bit difficult to go to my company and request to shadow an IT PM because of legality. The PMO that I am a part of right now does not have IT projects or project managers that I can shadow. Work is very limited and of course federal employees will be appointed these projects before contractors. Thanks for your advice!
avatar
Anish Abraham Privacy Program Manager| University of Washington Auburn, Wa, United States
I'm in IT Project Management and I think the best way is to get involved in an IT project in a product based organization. Since you have PMP and experience in project management it may not be difficult to get the job. Anyway good luck to you.
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