Debate: For IT security acquisitions (products or services), which is the most i

Question

Debate: For IT security acquisitions (products or services), which is the most important of the three project management constraints:

Cost

Quality

Schedule

Choose the constraint ("factor") that you believe should be prioritized when managing an IT acquisition project. Write a 3 to 5 paragraph briefing statement in which you identify and then defend your selection. Your statement should address the following items:

1. Provide definitions for each of the constraints

2. Identify your chosen constraint and provide a more detailed description of how this constraint impacts project management (what happens to the other two factors). For example, if you decide that cost is the most important factor, explain the tradeoffs you might need to make with respect to quality and schedule. Or, if you decide that quality is most important (e.g. correct implementation of security controls), explain how that might affect cost and schedule.

3. Provide a closing summary of the importance of project management for IT acquisitions (with respect to the overall IT security program).

Provide in-text citations and references for 3 or more authoritative sources. Put the reference list at the end of your article.

Explanation / Answer

Answer:

Three factors - Quality, Time and Cost are collectively called as Triple Constraints and form the sides of Project Management Triangle (PMT). These factors can be defined as:

Prioritizing a constraint:

For the success of any project, all these three constraints need to be in balance because changes to any one will affect the other two. Most of the times, based on the concerns and requriements of client, one constraint will need to be prioritized over the other and others will be adjusted accordingly. Sometimes, client may be clear what he/she wants, sometimes not. So, it is required to communicate with client to understand his/her concerns and priorities.

For projects like acquisition of IT security products and services, one criteria can be that acquisition should come at a resonable cost with good quality. So it will be a trade-off between cost and quality. A little stretching on cost front for good quality will steer through the project.

Summary:

In a nutshell, it is important to understand Triple Constraints and effects of adjusting one constraints on others. Trying to establish a proper balance among three will ensure a success.

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