Using Project Management Information and Communication Technologies in Informal Education by Specialists of IT Companies

- Рантюк, І.І. (orcid.org/0000-0002-3607-9676) (2024) Using Project Management Information and Communication Technologies in Informal Education by Specialists of IT Companies Doctoral thesis, Інституті цифровізації освіти.

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Abstract

The study provides a generalized overview of IT company specialists' use of project management information and communication technologies in informal education. Analysis of scientific literature allowed refining and identifying the following concepts. Informal education aims to acquire knowledge, skills, and abilities, gain new and improve existing competencies outside the formal education system, and meet society's needs for adult qualification enhancement throughout life. It is proposed that ICT for project management encompasses the set of ICT tools used in IT companies for the project management process at all stages of its implementation, communication, visualization, planning, and progress tracking. It is generalized that competence in IT project management is the ability to possess professional or general skills required for the professional activities of managers in IT companies. Analysis of European practices in implementing informal education enabled the identification of critical issues of the educational process, which European companies are focused on during informal education. As a result, it is summarized that the implementation of the educational process in IT companies is an integral component of competitive existence and the development of employees' competencies, and the application of project management ICT plays a significant role in its implementation, aimed at fostering the development and enhancement of professionals' qualifications. As a result of the analysis of ICT for project management applied in informal education to develop IT project management competence in IT company specialists, criteria and corresponding indicators for the selection of ICT for project management in its use during the informal education of IT company specialists were formulated. It is established that for selecting ICT project management tools that are suitable to use in the informal education of IT company specialists, the following criteria for the respective groups of project management ICT should be considered. For the group of communication ICT: communication, functional-integration, project-technological; for the planning ICT group: communication-management, functional-integration, project-technological; for the documentation ICT group: communication-integration, project-technological, functional; for the visualization and collaboration ICT group: communication-integration, project-technological, functional; for the software development ICT group: communication-management, integration, project-technological, functional; for the real-time feedback presentation ICT group: communication-management, project-technological. Based on the results of the expert assessment, the following were chosen: Communication ICT: Microsoft Teams; Planning ICT: Microsoft Project; Documentation ICT: Microsoft 365; Visualization and collaboration ICT: Mural; Software Development ICT: Azure DevOps Services; Real-time Feedback Presentation ICT: Mentimeter. It has been established that the formation of competence in the management of IT projects among the specialists of IT companies requires carrying out a specially developed model, considering defined criteria and levels of proficiency in relevant project management skills. As a result, a model for using ICT for project management in the process of informal education by specialists of IT companies was developed, comprising the following interconnected blocks: goal-oriented, organizational, content, activity, evaluative, and result blocks. The author's model involves the utilization of Coursera MOOC courses: "Leading People and Teams Specialization" and "Engineering Project Management Specialization," as well as an author's course, "ICT for Project Management," aimed at forming competence in the management of IT projects among specialists of IT companies. It includes forms, methods, and means of training to be used to form competence in the management of IT projects among employees of IT companies. It entails assessing proficiency levels in the management of IT projects according to established criteria. The proposed model for using ICT for project management in the informal education of IT specialists can be implemented and adapted according to the needs of IT companies. As a result of the research, it was found that the application of ICT for project management in the process of informal education of specialists of IT companies creates new opportunities for the learning and development of employees, enhances their professional competitiveness, and contributes to the effective utilization of modern technologies in work. Continuous updating and improvement of these approaches are essential, considering both foreign and domestic experience, for the further development of informal education in IT companies. The proposed methodology for using information and communication technologies for project management in the informal education of specialists of IT companies includes the purpose and content of usage, forms, methods, and tools. The purpose is to utilize information and communication technologies tools for project management in the process of informal education of specialists of IT companies. The application's content involves implementing and improving the process of informal education for IT company professionals by employing the methodology of applying forms, methods, and tools during the implementation of the informal education process. To enable the implementation of the proposed methodology, an author's course, "ICT for Project Management," has been developed. It is specified that adapting the author's course to the needs of a specific IT company requires a deep preparation stage, during which an analysis of the company's internal ICT resources and essentials is conducted, with updates and adjustments to the relevant materials of the author's course. According to the proposed methodology, the tools for forming IT project management competence for IT company professionals during informal education with the use of ICT project management include personal computers, smartphones, tablets, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Mural, Microsoft Projects, Azure DevOps, Mentimeter, MOOCs, and the author's course "ICT for Project Management." The proposed methodology includes the following methods: project-based, situation modelling, explanatory-illustrative, heuristic, control, and testing. The combination of selected tools characterizes each technique. The primary forms of implementing informal education using ICT project management within this methodology are outlined as follows: training sessions, facilitated discussions, situational tasks, consultations, practical sessions, independent work, and group work. Each of them is described in detail. The detailed usage of ICT for project management to form IT project management competence among IT company professionals during informal education in IT companies is considered. Recommendations for configuring and applying ICT for project management in the informal education of employees of IT companies were provided. The scientific novelty and theoretical significance of the research lie in the following: The novelty is reflected in the indicators and criteria that were identified and developed for the selection of ICT for project management tools suitable for use in the informal education of IT company specialists and in the theoretical substantiation and development of a model for using ICT for project management in the informal education of IT company professionals that has been suggested. Clarification of the following concepts has been performed: "informal education" is defined as education aimed at acquiring knowledge, skills, and abilities, acquiring new ones, and improving the level of existing competencies of adults outside the formal education system, satisfying society's need for lifelong adult education; "IT project" are defined as a set of processes aimed at achieving specific goals and objectives using ICT and are limited in time (i.e., temporary phenomena), resources, and requirements; "ICT for project management" is defined as the use of knowledge, tools, methods, and skills to work on a project to meet the requirements and goals set before the project; "competence in IT project management" is defined as a set of abilities for professional or general skills necessary for managers in IT companies to carry out their professional activities; as well as the classification of the competencies in managing of IT projects for the IT company professionals involved into project management. Further development of theory and methodology for using computer-oriented systems and learning tools, particularly concerning the usage of ICT for project management in informal adult education. The practical significance of the research results lies in the following: The selection of ICT for project management tools suitable for use in informal education for IT company employees has been performed. - the methodology (content, purpose, forms, methods, tools) for using ICT for project management in informal education of specialists of IT companies has been created; The methodological recommendations for selecting and implementing ICT for project management in the informal education of IT company specialists have been developed. The research materials can be utilized in IT companies for the professional development of employees and the enhancement of necessary competencies among IT company managers, their departments, project managers, and other professionals involved in IT project implementation to improve teamwork and directly implement IT projects.

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