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Chapter 6
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-7536-0.ch006
ICT Strategic Project
Management
ABSTRACT
Depending on how project managers strategically plan and utilize them, ICTs can prove to be either
productive or counter-productive to any project. This chapter is about how project managers strategically
plan and incorporate Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in forming long-term objectives
as well as analysing the strengths and weaknesses of an ICT-based project. It has four subdivisions,
where the frst sub division dwells on the strategic use of ICTs in projects, then a brief synopsis on the
theoretical approach to ICT Strategic Project Management, which provides foundation for a detailed dis-
cussion on the roles of key players in ICT strategic project management, characteristics of ICT-compliant
projects, and the steps taken to strategically manage ICT-based projects. The chapter is wrapped up
with a disposition on the impetus of strategically managing communication in an ICT-based project.
INTRODUCTION
Information Communication Technologies (ICTs)
are introducing several digital modes of managing
projects every day. Depending on how Project
managers strategically plan and utilise ICTs can
prove them to be either productive or counter-
productive to the project. Pearlson and Saunders
(2009, p. 323) basically define strategy as a co-
ordinated set of actions orchestrated to fulfil the
project’s objectives, purposes and goals. It sets a
limit on what the project will seek to accomplish.
For a project to have an effective ICT strategy, it
should have a well laid out plan of coordinating its
activities to achieve the projects goal and mission.
A project in this aspect is basically an endeavour
undertaken to create a unique product, service, or
result (Schwalbe, 2014, p. 4). Projects are differ-
ent from operations because operations continue
but projects end when their objectives have been
reached or the project has been terminated.
ICT Strategic planning generally involves
forming long-term objectives and analyzing the
strengths and weaknesses of an ICT based project.
Not only strengths and weaknesses are analysed
but even opportunities and threats of the project.
Robert Stalone Buwule
Kyambogo University, Uganda