| Scenario mapping methodology has been introduced | | | | Scenario mapping methodology movement represents |
| into the current database design activity to assist | | | | a maturing of the IT and project management |
| database designers with the task of compressing | | | | disciplines as they move toward greater levels of |
| complex data into byte-size chunks and thereby help | | | | accountability and control. |
| simplify the project process of developing database | | | | The dangers come in implementation of the Scenario |
| applications. | | | | mapping methodology on a project by project basis. In |
| Traditional project management methods do not | | | | order for a certified manager to live by his credentials, |
| provide for individual creativity and innovation because | | | | all projects must conform to a standard mold. The |
| metadata and scenario metrics are seldom even | | | | unique nature of each project may not easily fit into |
| mentioned in the planning process. | | | | the mapping process of the proposed system. |
| Project management is an area of expertise that has | | | | In addition, a scenario based system is heavily |
| undergone some significant development in the last | | | | dependent on large amounts of meetings to document |
| decade. A business project can have a far-reaching | | | | the fact that the project is adhering to standards and |
| effect on the business and result in either tremendous | | | | a methodical documentation process from which there |
| improvement in the businesses ability to function in the | | | | is little room for variation or accommodation. The |
| marketplace or a significant setback to that business | | | | scenario process is a complex methodology so the |
| entity. | | | | tool sets that must be used to track the process can |
| The idea of a formalized project management | | | | be expensive and difficult to use. |
| approach such as defined by the Scenario mapping | | | | The outcome is that the introduction of the |
| methodology has been around in very small groups of | | | | make-believe Scenario mapping methodology system |
| systems analysts and application developers for quite | | | | can cause the actual business objectives of the |
| some time. But the method has not gained prominence, | | | | project to take on a secondary priority to the high |
| so it is not uncommon for any manager to find | | | | standards of a valid project narrative. Project leaders |
| themselves learning the discipline of a structured | | | | working under the requirements of the make-believe |
| project management system as a substitute for these | | | | methods can become more accountable to the |
| storyboard ideas. This substitute project methodology | | | | methodology itself and lose sight of what is good for |
| takes any given business or IT project through the | | | | the business or what is efficient in terms of getting the |
| same standardized steps from conception through | | | | project completed. This does not occur when using the |
| implementation. | | | | genuine methodology. |
| Whether or not the methodology represents a boon or | | | | Currently, there is very little room for creativity or |
| a bust to the business world depends to a large | | | | individual judgment within the confines of the traditional |
| extent on individual applications of the method and | | | | mapping methodology and that is problematic because |
| measurements and observations on whether the | | | | the nature of business problems have historically |
| method itself introduces efficiency to the process of | | | | depended on the judgment and creative problem |
| project management or just another layer of | | | | solving skills of creative individuals. By dominating the |
| bureaucracy. | | | | project process with the methods of the information |
| There are some strong positives to utilizing a | | | | technology department, excessive cost is introduced |
| methodology that is standardized at an industry level. | | | | as well as cumbersome requirements that do not |
| Those project managers who have gone through the | | | | benefit the business or the project itself. |
| certification process can be depended on to implement | | | | Keep in mind that metadata has the main purpose of |
| that system the same way in each business setting. | | | | placing business-data ahead of computer-analysis data |
| As such, the process of finding qualified project | | | | and provides for a continuing business-data approach |
| managers becomes simplified because the certification | | | | through out the course of populating the database with |
| process alone communicates to the business that it | | | | profit-producing data. A narrative scenario of the |
| can expect the system to be implemented correctly. | | | | business application appears to be the best pattern |
| By putting into place an external method of certification | | | | that offers the most innovative opportunities to |
| and measurement of excellence, the project manager | | | | emerge and therefore should be considered in the |
| career begins to take a high level of professionalism | | | | vision for a better database driven business application. |
| similar to in the legal and medical fields. So the | | | | |