Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium. Answer: Introduction: Critical Path Method or CPM is a stepwise technique of project management that is used for planning of strategies for the various processes that identifies critical and non-critical tasks to prevent time and process related issues in the project. The CPM is generally applied to those projects that have numerous activities interacting in a complicated pattern (Bhme et al. 2012). The steps of applying Critical Path Method to a project are as follows: The tasks of the project are required to be defined and listed sequentially. Relevant diagrams and flowcharts are required to be made that specifies the relation of the tasks with each other. The critical and non-critical relations within the tasks need to be recognised and segmented. The approximate completion time for each task is to be determined. Backup plans should be made for the most critical tasks (Schwalbe 2015). Planning Software and its Utility in Project Management The most popularly used and admired tool for the planning and management of any kind of project of any size is MS Project developed by Microsoft Corporation. It helps a team to complete projects with ease by providing built-in project management and planning templates, easy tools for scheduling the steps of performing a project and ease of access from any type of computing device like laptop, computer, tab and mobile phone. The MS Project helps the team to plan the shortest and easiest path to proceed in the project that requires less time and resource (Products.office.com 2017). Monitoring Project Progress The progress of a project can be easily monitored by using the various features of the MS Project Management Software. Each individual related to the project can upload progress report on daily basis and overall report on weekly basis in the MS Project, which can be viewed and updated by all the team members and manager of the project. The upcoming methods of execution of the project can also be shared within the project personnel so that the manager and others get an idea on the proceedings of the project (Products.office.com 2017). To ensure a successful project management it is the duty of the project manager to take frequent follow ups on the progress of the project from the team members of the project. This can be done easily by using a project planning software such as the MS Project the project team can upload daily or weekly reports on the progress of the project in the form of Gantt charts, Timeline charts, Spreadsheets, Excel Sheets, and such. The manager can also arrange for weekly meetings with the team of the project and discuss the progress of the project and the future planning regarding the progress of the project (Young 2013). Changes possible in an IS/IT Project and their Management Three types of changes are there that can be experienced in an IS/IT Project: Developmental Change This type of change is made within a project when some sudden modifications or alterations are required to be made within the project. The whole situation of the project is not altered; rather a part of it is modified (Lee, Bull and Ho 2013). Transitional Change This type of change occurs when it becomes necessary to implement a new method or strategy in the project. The previous course of actions of the project is discarded and new ones are implemented (Kerzner 2013). Transformational Change This type of change generally occur when a new process is born because of failure of a previous process. It is an uncontrolled change that cannot be prevented from occurring but can be modified gradually (Hayes 2014). The changes can be managed by implementing proper change control methodology within the project and if the type of change can be identified within the project, the manager can control the reactions of the team members to the changes (Hayes 2014). References Bhme, D., Wolf, F., de Supinski, B.R., Schulz, M. and Geimer, M., 2012, May. Scalable critical-path based performance analysis. In Parallel Distributed Processing Symposium (IPDPS), 2012 IEEE 26th International (pp. 1330-1340). IEEE. Hayes, J., 2014. The theory and practice of change management. Palgrave Macmillan. Kerzner, H., 2013. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Products.office.com. 2017. Microsoft Project Management, Templates, Scheduling, Tools. [online] Available at: https://products.office.com/en-in/project/project-management [Accessed 27 Aug. 2017]. Schwalbe, K., 2015. Information technology project management. Cengage Learning. Young, T.L., 2013. Successful project management (Vol. 52). Kogan Page Publishers.