No longer restricted to the engineering industry, project management has at long last crossed over to mainstream business. Project Management for Business Professionals is the definitive reference on the essentials of contemporary project management. Featured here are some of the foremost practitioners and researchers from academia, consulting, and private industry, sharing their various areas of project management expertise and providing a wide range of perspectives on everything from risk management to resource planning to ethics management. Focusing on both the technical and human sides of the field, this unique resource follows the main points of the "project management body of knowledge"-the certification standard of the Project Management Institute. The experts address the procedures and processes for planning and managing projects and explore project team/group dynamics, examining the interpersonal relations and the political and organizational considerations that can impact a project.
There are plenty of books about project management, but this is the first one written for the people who have the most at stake: the senior executives who will ultimately be held accountable for the successes of the projects they approve and supervise. Top enterprise project management expert Michael Bender explains project management from the perspective that matters most to executives: adding value. Most books view project management from the inside, focusing primarily on lower-level issues, such as the creation of Work Breakdown Structures. A Manager's Guide to Project Management views it from above, explaining how project managers can best achieve the strategic goals of the business; the executive's role in successful project management; and the tools available to executives who want to gain greater value from project management. Drawing on his extensive experience, Bender shows how to: make sure project and enterprise goals align; structure organizations to support more effective project communication and decision making; integrate project processes with other organizational processes; oversee projects more effectively. This book contains a full section on understanding and managing projects as capital investments, including detailed coverage of building balanced project portfolios. Bender concludes with a sophisticated discussion of managing projects in global environments and optimizing resources where multiple projects must be managed.
This book is a guide to successful implementation of legal project management (LPM) practices for both lawyers and legal professionals alike. The discipline, frameworks, resources and tools described in this book have been tested and successfully used in many matters: from litigation and transactional work to intellectual property and regulatory work. They have been accepted by law firms of all sizes and by clients in law departments both in the US and internationally. The authors are the pioneers in legal project management. Their interdisciplinary approach is rooted in business, engineering, professional development and the practice of law.
The perfect workbook for project managers and PMP exam candidates seeking practical experience New project managers and students pursuing the Project Management Professional certification are looking for practical experience to solidify their skills. The step-by-step tasks presented in this book offer them an opportunity to practice the common tasks project managers face in the real world. The authors, both expert project management trainers and consultants, explore each phase of project management: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closing the project, with in-depth instructions for handling the tasks associated with each phase. New project managers and exam candidates need practical experience to perfect their skills; this book helps them learn through real-world scenarios Explores each phase of project management, offering step-by-step instructions to many of the tasks project managers confront each day Covers all phases of project management, including initiating the project, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing the project Looks at defining scope, developing a project charter, creating a plan to manage change, breaking down the work, managing resource allocation, measuring performance, and releasing resources Fully updated to cover everything required for the 2011 PMP exam PMP exam candidates and anyone new to project management will benefit from the hands-on exercises in this book.
"This book is intended to provide a simple, easy-to-use framework that can be applied from start to finish in a matter or with just some elements of it applied here and there to bring a bit more structure to it. The framework is now updated to include a comprehensive review and discussion of legal project management-the definitions and application, the ethical considerations, and the issues and constraints in implementation at the organizational level; and to be a desk reference for anyone implementing LPM to find helpful examples, case studies, tools, and methodologies"--
This is the eBook of the printed book and may not include any media, website access codes, or print supplements that may come packaged with the bound book. Succeed as a project manager, even if you’ve never run a project before! This book is the fastest way to master every project management task, from upfront budgeting and scheduling through execution, managing teams through closing projects, and learning from experience. Updated with more insights from the front lines, including agile approaches, dealing with security and privacy priorities, and leading remote/virtual teams, along with the latest on Microsoft Project and PMI standards and certifications and a special bonus chapter on preparing for the PMP certification. This book will show you exactly how to get the job done, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. Project management has never, ever been this simple! Who knew how simple project management could be? This is today’s best beginner’s guide to modern project management... simple, practical instructions for succeeding with every task you’ll need to perform! Here’s a small sample of what you’ll learn: • Master the key skills and qualities every project manager needs • Lead projects, don’t just “manage” them • Avoid 15 most common mistakes new project managers make • Learn from troubled, successful, and “recovered” projects • Set the stage for success by effectively defining your project • Build a usable project plan and an accurate work breakdown structure (WBS) • Create budgets and schedules that help you manage risk • Use powerful control and reporting techniques, including earned value management • Smoothly manage project changes, issues, risks, deliverables, and quality • Manage project communications and stakeholder expectations • Organize and lead high-performance project teams • Manage cross-functional, cross-cultural, and virtual projects • Work successfully with vendors and Project Management Offices • Make the most of Microsoft Project and new web-based alternatives • Get started with agile and “critical chain” project management • Gain key insights that will accelerate your learning curve • Know how to respond to real-life situations, not just what they teach you in school
The PMD Guide provides an introductory, independent exploration of Project Management within the context of the development sector. PMD Pro is an essential best practices guide for all non-profit organizations: international NGOs, country level and community based NGOs, humanitarian organizations, foundations, and funding organizations.The purpose of the PMD Guide is to improve development professionals' project management capacity. The Guide provides a contextualized, balanced, comprehensive, and adaptable resource to help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of projects in the development sector. It is intended for an audience that includes:* Project Managers and team members who are new to project management;* Project Managers and team members who are new to the development sector;* Development sector professionals who intend to pursue professional credentials in project management; * Consultants/contract staff operating in the development sector.The PMD Guide is organized into four sections:Section One: Projects in the Development SectorProjects pervade the culture of development organizations. As a result, project management is a critical competency for development professionals. Section One provides an introductory, high-level overview of projects in the sector, answering questions that include: * Why do projects matter? * How to define projects and project management? * How do projects fit in the larger strategic culture of development organizations? * What are the roles/responsibilities of the project manager and the project team? * What competencies are required to be a successful project manager?Section Two: Phases in the Life of a Development ProjectIn project management, as in much of life, a secret to success is balance. Section Two of the Guide explores the importance of balanced project management through the entire life of the project. Following a brief introduction that introduces the concept of the phases in the life of the project, Section Two of the Guide explores each of the six phases in the life of the project, including: * Project Identification and Design* Project Set Up* Project Planning* Project Implementation* Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Control* End of Project TransitionSection Three: Project Management DisciplinesTo succeed, project managers in the development sector need to develop an array of project management disciplines that must be applied through the entire life of the project. Section Three explores six discipline areas of project managers in the development sector, including:* Scope Management* Time Management* Project Resource Management* Risk Management * Project Justification Management* Stakeholder ManagementSection Four: Adapting the PMD ProThe PMD Guide is NOT a template to be applied indiscriminately to all projects and by all organizations. It is important to remember that each development organization is unique. Furthermore, within a single organization, projects will vary considerably in terms of value, complexity and risk. Even in situations where two projects seem to be similar, the environments in which projects are implemented are unpredictable and field realities can vary significantly from the scenarios anticipated in plans made just months earlier. Recognizing that development organizations and their projects are unique, Section 4 examines approaches project managers can employ to adapt the PMD Pro project management approaches to the context in which their projects work.
