Service Overview: Project Management at Penn

Information Systems and Computing (ISC) uses the Project Management at Penn (PMAP) methodology when developing and carrying out project plans. PMAP is a phased, structured process for managing information technology projects. For those who would like more information about PMAP or would like to use PMAP to accomplish their projects, please contact pmaphelp@lists.upenn.edu.

How PMAP works

PMAP is divided into four phases: Project Definition, Project Planning, Project Execution and Project Close-out. Each PMAP phase includes a number of activities that involve deliverables. Some activities (such as certain kinds of reporting) continue throughout all four phases, whereas others are unique to an individual phase. The heart of PMAP is phased approval. The project sponsors and/or owners approve the project phase by phase as additional information becomes available.

PMAP specifies roles and responsibilities for achieving a project. A project manager leads the working group that accomplishes the project. The project manager is responsible to project sponsors and/or project owners, who govern the project. The project team may include a client (functional) group as well as a technical group.

ISC initially developed PMAP for large-scale projects; however, PMAP components, such as phased project approval, project governance, and management checklists, can be incorporated into the management of all projects large or small. PMAP is designed to be scalable and it can be applied to projects with durations as short as three months or as long as several years.

Feel free to send questions about using PMAP to: pmaphelp@lists.upenn.edu.

Consulting Services

ISC offers an array of consulting services to the University. If you have a project, ISC can help you design a project plan and develop a strategy for carrying it out and reaching your goals. ISC can help with large-, medium- and small-scale projects and will work with your staff to accomplish the project. We can also provide additional staff to help with the project if desired. For more information regarding consulting services please see General IT Consulting