Situational Project Management

Situational Project Management

Author: Oliver F. Lehmann

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2016-08-19

Total Pages: 299

ISBN-13: 1498722628

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Most project managers would agree that every project is unique. But not all project managers would agree that the best way to manage a unique project is unique. Many still cling to the old practice of having a methodology that is applied to all projects. "One size fits all" is still in common use, and this approach has proven to lead to project failure. Flexibility, situational intelligence, and creativity are essential to deliver project success. The need to recognize and master ever-changing requirements and environmental conditions is a tough challenge for professional project managers. The same practices that led to success yesterday may cause failure today. Selecting favorable responses to a given situation is often the most critical factor of the dynamics of success and failure. This book is designed to help project professionals assess a situation, predict the appropriate approach, methodology and achieving styles, and then apply them in a situational fashion. To guide project managers in selecting the appropriate responses, Situational Project Management (SitPM) shows how to assess a given project, determine its unique characteristics, and select the appropriate methods to complete the project. With this book, projects managers can use SitPM to develop profiles of their projects on the basis of the projects’ physical characteristics, the project teams’ behavioral characteristics, the enterprise environment, and the market environments receiving project deliverables. These profiles help project managers to determine the appropriate project life cycle approach and leadership style. The book also explores various ways to engage stakeholders on the basis of a project’s SitPM profile. The book’s author, Oliver F. Lehmann, has developed a set of templates to apply SitPM in practice. It can be downloaded from www.oliverlehmann.com/SitPM/Templates.zip.


Success and Failure of IS/IT Projects

Success and Failure of IS/IT Projects

Author: D. Laurie Hughes

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-10-28

Total Pages: 98

ISBN-13: 331923000X

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This book examines the link between change and project management and how creating a closer alignment between these two methodologies can yield greater benefits and mitigate elements of failure of information systems (IS) projects. This study explores the underlying challenges and practicalities of closer integration of the two disciplines and asserts that such a successful change goes beyond the simple training of project managers in the practitioner context. Instead, it requires organizations to conceptualize the necessary challenges to realize the potential benefits of this recommended integrated approach. The integration of both project and change management has been advocated in existing research, but the challenges of moving from a current position of separate methodologies, different standards bodies and in some cases totally separate organizational structures, is a step change for many organizations. Change initiatives where good change management practices are implemented, can increase the probability of successful organizational change. The tasks of leading and sustaining change can be complex and often entail the interplay of multiple factors involving action by people at every level of the business. This book offers a guide that identifies the barriers and major challenges that may arise in the development of the closer integration of change and project management. With a better understanding of these issues, organizations can avoid such pitfalls when establishing their own integrated approach.


Adapt

Adapt

Author: Tim Harford

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Published: 2011-05-10

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 1429920688

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In this groundbreaking book, Tim Harford, the Undercover Economist, shows us a new and inspiring approach to solving the most pressing problems in our lives. When faced with complex situations, we have all become accustomed to looking to our leaders to set out a plan of action and blaze a path to success. Harford argues that today's challenges simply cannot be tackled with ready-made solutions and expert opinion; the world has become far too unpredictable and profoundly complex. Instead, we must adapt. Deftly weaving together psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, physics, and economics, along with the compelling story of hard-won lessons learned in the field, Harford makes a passionate case for the importance of adaptive trial and error in tackling issues such as climate change, poverty, and financial crises—as well as in fostering innovation and creativity in our business and personal lives. Taking us from corporate boardrooms to the deserts of Iraq, Adapt clearly explains the necessary ingredients for turning failure into success. It is a breakthrough handbook for surviving—and prospering— in our complex and ever-shifting world.


Successes and Failures of Knowledge Management

Successes and Failures of Knowledge Management

Author: Jay Liebowitz

Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann

Published: 2016-06-17

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 0128053372

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Successes and Failures of Knowledge Management highlights examples from across multiple industries, demonstrating where the practice has been implemented well—and not so well—so others can learn from these cases during their knowledge management journey. Knowledge management deals with how best to leverage knowledge both internally and externally in organizations to improve decision-making and facilitate knowledge capture and sharing. It is a critical part of an organization's fabric, and can be used to increase innovation, improve organizational internal and external effectiveness, build the institutional memory, and enhance organizational agility. Starting by establishing KM processes, measures, and metrics, the book highlights ways to be successful in knowledge management institutionalization through learning from sample mistakes and successes. Whether an organization is already implementing KM or has been reluctant to do so, the ideas presented will stimulate the application of knowledge management as part of a human capital strategy in any organization. - Provides keen insights for knowledge management practitioners and educators - Conveys KM lessons learned through both successes and failures - Includes straightforward, jargon-free case studies and research developed by the leading KM researchers and practitioners across industries


Grand Successes and Failures in IT: Public and Private Sectors

Grand Successes and Failures in IT: Public and Private Sectors

Author: Yogesh K. Dwivedi

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2013-06-22

Total Pages: 688

ISBN-13: 3642388620

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This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the IFIP WG 8.6 International Working Conference on Transfer and Diffusion of IT, TDIT 2013, held in Bangalore, India, in June 2013. The 35 revised full papers presented together with an invited paper, 12 short papers and 3 poster papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 65 submissions. The full papers are organized in the following topical sections: IS success and failure; studies of IT adoption; software development; IT in the public sector; and theory and methods.


Success Through Failure

Success Through Failure

Author: Henry Petroski

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2018-05-29

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 0691180997

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This book examines the importance of engineering design as well as society's ability to respond to design flaws.


Project Recovery

Project Recovery

Author: Harold Kerzner

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2014-02-07

Total Pages: 445

ISBN-13: 1118809173

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Best practices for picking up the pieces when projects fail There are plenty of books available offering best practices that help you keep your projects on track, but offer guidance on what to do when the worst has already happened. Some studies show that more than half of all large-scale project fail either fail completely, or at least miss targeted budget and scheduling goals. These failures cost organizations time, money, and labor. Project Recovery offers wise guidance and real-world best practices for saving failed projects and recovering as much value as possible from the wreckage. Since failing project cannot be managed using the same lifecycle phases employed with succeeding projects, most project management professionals are unprepared to tackle the challenge of project recovery. This book presents valuable case studies and a recovery project lifecycle to help project managers identify and respond effectively to a troubled project. Includes case studies and best practices for saving failing projects or recovering projects that have already failed Written by experience project manager Howard Kerzner, the author of Project Management Best Practices, Third Edition Features proven techniques for performing project health checks and determining the degree of failure and the recovery options available Includes a new recovery lifecycle that includes phases and checklists for turning around failing projects With comprehensive case studies, checklists, worksheets, and cross listings to the appropriate project management body of knowledge, Project Recovery offers a much needed lifeline for managers facing the specter of failure.


The Success of Failure

The Success of Failure

Author: Mike Bensi

Publisher: Morgan James Publishing

Published: 2017-08-04

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 1683504259

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An inspiring story to motivate anyone who wants to lead with confidence. Even leaders sometimes find that the thoughts and beliefs they have about themselves can hold them back from their day-to-day life. The Success of Failure tells the story of a young and growing leader finding his way in a promising new role at a growing tech company. When he is confronted with failure and conflict, he must struggle with the need for confidence within himself and with others. From a consultant who has helped numerous organizations meet their challenges and shape effective cultures, The Success of Failure provides a path to allow us all to pick ourselves back up and be stronger than before.


Rescue the Problem Project

Rescue the Problem Project

Author: Todd C. Williams

Publisher: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 0814416829

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Rescue the Problem Project provides project managers, executives, and customers with ways to accurately assess issues and fix problems. Many books explain how to run a project, but only this one shows how to bring it back from the brink of disaster.


Determinants of Construction Project Success in India

Determinants of Construction Project Success in India

Author: Kumar Neeraj Jha

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2014-07-08

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 9400762569

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This study presents exploratory work and seeks to identify and evaluate the success and failure factors that could form a guideline for further study and to some extent help professionals to understand some critical aspects that impact project performance concerning construction in India. A total of 55 attributes affecting the performance of construction projects are analysed in terms of their level of influence on four key performance criteria – schedule, cost, quality, and no disputes – using a two-stage questionnaire survey. These attributes are then further analysed, interpreted and evaluated. Based on the critical success factors obtained from the study, a neural network model-based predictive model for project performance has been developed. The performance prediction models have been derived for all four project performance criteria. Further, a hypothesis that ‘project success’ is influenced by ‘success traits’ has also been formulated. The hypothesized positive inter-relationships between success traits and project success have been tested using the structural equation modelling technique. Besides supporting the intuition of past researchers in recognizing ‘coordination’ as a key success factor, this study has revealed that coordination is not an isolated and independent activity, but is a typical management function with an inherent role in all major management activities. Key elements affecting coordination have also been identified and their influence on coordination effort has been studied. Furthermore, the present study has also identified three broad skill groups required of effective project coordinators. The results are validated through case studies of live projects and structured interviews with experts in the field of construction management.