Introduction

Project management is a fundamental component of IS and nontechnical projects. The history of information technology (IT) project management can be traced back to the 1950s, when huge computer systems were designed to be used by the government. As computer systems became more complex, formal project management practices emerged, such as a technique called the critical path method and the Program Evaluation and Review Technique.

In the 1970s, project management became more structured with the development of standards such as the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) created by the Project Management Institute (PMI). These standards enabled the profession to explode in the 1980s, and the establishment of the Project Management Professional certification further fueled this expansion. Since then, IT and IS project management has become a career many professionals with IS expertise choose—and businesses are eager to employ them.

Today, IT and IS project management is one of the fastest growing professions in the world. It brings together the elements of IS—such as hardware and software, data management, information security and risks—with steps to keep the team and product in scope, on budget, and within schedule. With the emergence of new software, technologies, and methodologies, businesses need effective project management to optimize complex capital projects, strategic operational initiatives, and day-to-day operations.