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Managing the development of software projects presents several challenges. This presentation discusses the unique methodology required: approaching the development using specific phased activities and milestones. The project team has to be chosen and organized around technical skills as well as team communication. The project plan is unique because planning is a large part of the development. The greatest challenge is getting the correct requirements and keeping them current. Activities such as prototyping, iterative approaches, validation and client involvement are necessary. Risk management in software projects requires thoughtful approaches to a unique set of risks that historically have increased project cost and time by up to 50%. Most important, estimating a software development effort is difficult. Specific work breakdowns, formulas, templates, and historical data must be used. This presentation steers you through this maze of issues, giving specific, practical advice.

John Rakos, MSc, PMP, President of John J. Rakos & Associates Consultants Ltd., has been in the project management training and consulting business for over thirty years. He has managed many software projects for Government and private industry. He also teaches project management at the University of Ottawa (MBA level). Mr. Rakos has published two books, the first entitled “Software Project Management for Small to Medium Sized Projects” (Prentice-Hall, 1990) and the second entitled 'The Practical Guide to Project Management Documentation” (Wiley, 2004).