Organizations initiate IT projects to extract as much value as possible from the tsunamis of data they deal with daily. However, 70% fail to deliver promised results on budget and on time, often because companies neglect to invest adequately in effective project management. However, as these strategies change, a computer information systems degree becomes an increasingly ideal education for launching a future-proof career.
The online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Information Systems (CIS) program offered by Florida Institute of Technology focuses on emerging theories and practices in IT infrastructure, software systems, security, programming and application development. Graduates are prepared to step into roles requiring not only technological expertise but also skills such as leadership and communication.
What Is a Computer Information System (CIS)?
A CIS consists of the software, hardware, databases, networks and people that public and private sector organizations rely on to achieve goals. While not all projects involve upgrading or installing all components, objectives include increased productivity, optimized network performance, reduced costs, enriched customer service and supported collaboration.
Computer science (CS) is related to CIS but distinct from it. CS focuses on the skills needed to build and manage computer systems, while CIS centers on how businesses use computers and related technologies to drive efficiency and profits. CIS degree programs also help students master the phases of IT project management.
Demand for project management specialists is expected to grow by 7% annually through 2033. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that the rate is faster than growth in all other careers, with annual median pay estimated at $98,580 as of January 2025. “Nearly every industry uses technology extensively. As such, the demand for skilled professionals to manage IT-related projects is high and continues to grow,” according to Torque IT, confirming the government job-growth projection.
What Are the Phases of Information Technology Project Management?
Effective IT project management comprises overseeing all phases of digital upgrades, installation application development and maintenance. Project managers (PMs) coordinate all the moving parts of the initiative, including scope, timelines, costs, personnel and technology resource allocation and communication among team members, teams, sponsors, stakeholders and end users.
Therefore, a successful project rollout depends on how well the PM articulates and gets buy-in on the five standard phases of the initiative. Those stages are as follows:
- Initiation: Identifying the business needs for the project, agreeing upon its goals, establishing the desired return on investment and developing a proposal are steps in the first phase of the initiative. The proposal goes to key stakeholders for buy-in and funding.
- Planning: The PM and team start developing a detailed project plan to achieve the agreed-upon goals. The plan will specify technical requirements, allocate funding, identify risk and management strategies, and create milestone goals and a timeline for completion. The PM uses it as an end-to-end map to keep the project on track and within budget.
- Execution: The PM’s primary responsibility during this phase is ensuring that the milestones set out in the planning are met on time and within budget. “Scope creep” accounts for most project failures. Execution is the longest phase of a project, which creates time and space for it to run late and over projected costs. Staying within the boundaries of the overall plan and meeting the milestones is the best tactic for avoiding that.
- Monitoring and controlling: Constantly evaluating project progress enables a certain amount of flexibility in execution when unforeseen problems occur. For instance, a supplier’s inability to deliver on time may require redistributing resources to work around the issue and bring that sub-phase back online. Continuous communication among the PM, teams and stakeholders is critical during this phase.
- Closing: Deployment is not the end of the project. Once the technology is online, the PM will complete a final assessment to document how well the plan performed — including all players and vendors — and identify opportunities for improvement. This “postmortem” perspective is vital to informing future project management strategies.
“IT project managers should possess an array of skills,” Oracle notes. These include “fluency in project management methodologies and tools, budgeting, resource management, risk management, scheduling, technology, communication, team leadership, empathy, organization and flexibility.”
How IT Professionals Acquire Project Management Skills: Earn Your Degree With Florida Tech
The broad scope of Florida Tech’s online BS in Computer Information Systems program curriculum delivers a comprehensive education that sets the foundation for a career in project management. Courses include the following:
- Information Technology and Project Management
- Information Resource Management
- Systems Analysis and Design
- Enterprise Architecture
- Network Theory and Design
“Understanding the phases of project development, like initiation and execution, can help students lead teams and create business solutions,” the Indeed Career Guide asserts. Students gain these crucial insights in Florida Tech’s program and can pursue careers as network and computer systems administrators, computer programmers and database administrators or as analysts in areas such as computer systems, application systems and database reporting.
Learn more about Florida Tech’s online Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems program.
