Tools for project management, workshops and consulting : a must-have compendium of essential tools and techniques

Title:

Personal Author:

Andler, Nicolai

Publication Information:

New York, NY : Wiley, 2008

Physical Description:

290 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.

ISBN:

9783895783029

Subject Term:

Industrial project management

Business consultants

Available:*

Library	Item Barcode	Call Number	Material Type	Item Category 1	Status
Searching... PSZ JB	30000010196496	HD69.P75 A53 2008	Open Access Book	Book	Searching... Unknown

Typically today's management tasks include project management, running workshops and working with consultancies - all complex activities, which require a multitude of skills and competencies. This book gives you a reference or cookbook-style access to the most important skills in a user-friendly format.
Nicolai Andler presents in his book about 100 of such tools arranged according to task complexes. To make personal use of the tools as easy as possible, they are grouped into task-specific categories entitled Define Situation, Gather Information, Creativity, Goal Setting, Organisational Analysis, Technical Analysis, Strategic Analysis, Decision Making, Project Management, Checklists and Questions as well as Scenarios.
Elements of information this books covers:
- Relevant and appropriate for your needs
- Up to date and as timely as possible
- Comprehensive and sufficiently wide in scope, combined with a practical level of detail without being too academic
- Reliable information from numerous tested sources and real implemented cases
- Accessible and easy-to-use due to many different search options and self-help guides
This book is a unique reference work and guide for those wanting to learn about or who are active in the fields of consulting, project management and problem solving in general. It presents cookbook-style access to most important skills, including a rating of each tool in terms of applicability, ease of use and effectiveness.

Author Notes

After working for BSG (Business Systems Group) and Gemini Consulting Nicolai Andler started working as a free consultant and executive coach in 2003. He lives in Roggebaai, South Africa, and works for enterprises in South Africa and Central Europe.

Brief contents/Overview of tools	p. 5
Application areas of each tool	p. 8
1 Introduction	p. 17
1.1 Structure of this book	p. 17
1.2 How to use the book	p. 17
1.3 The target audience of this book	p. 18
1.4 The scope of this book	p. 19
1.5 Skills and competencies for your personal development	p. 19
1.6 Clarification on methodologies, models, tools and techniques	p. 21
2 The concept and application of this book	p. 23
2.1 Problem solving	p. 23
2.1.1 Different problem solving processes and approaches	p. 24
2.1.2 The problem solving process used in this book	p. 25
2.2 Categories of tools	p. 29
2.3 How to select the right tool	p. 32
2.3.1 Overview of tools (A)	p. 33
2.3.2 Where 'in' the problem solving process am I? (B)	p. 34
2.3.3 Checklist for problem solving processes to identify required tool (C)	p. 34
2.3.4 What is the right category? (D)	p. 34
2.3.5 How to compile the shopping list (scenario for workshop, E)	p. 34
3 Diagnosis	p. 37
3.1 Definition of a situation/problem	p. 37
3.1.1 Black box	p. 39
3.1.2 Is - Is Not	p. 41
3.1.3 Helicoptering	p. 42
3.1.4 Hypothesis	p. 43
3.1.5 Stakeholder map	p. 44
3.1.6 Stakeholder analysis - Expectation management	p. 48
3.1.7 Stakeholder influence matrix	p. 51
3.1.8 Stakeholder accordion	p. 54
3.1.9 Stakeholder swapping	p. 55
3.1.10 Context diagram tool	p. 57
3.1.11 Silo view tool	p. 60
3.1.12 Mind map	p. 61
3.2 Information gathering	p. 64
3.2.1 Interview (unstructured)	p. 68
3.2.2 Climate assessment (structured)	p. 70
3.2.3 Tripod (mixed)	p. 73
3.2.4 Octagon	p. 74
3.2.5 Focus groups (unstructured)	p. 75
3.2.6 Questionnaires (structured)	p. 77
3.2.7 Survey/field study - dipstick	p. 79
3.2.8 Direct observation (DILO = day in the life of)	p. 81
3.2.9 Delphi or expert panel	p. 83
3.2.10 Desk research/database research	p. 84
3.2.11 5 Whys	p. 85
3.3 Creativity and grouping of information	p. 85
3.3.1 Brainstorming	p. 87
3.3.2 Cardstorming tool	p. 89
3.3.3 6-3-5 tool	p. 90
3.3.4 Nyaka (defect analysis)	p. 91
3.3.5 Bionic	p. 93
3.3.6 Attribute listing	p. 94
3.3.7 Morphological matrix	p. 95
3.3.8 Merlin technique/Osborn checklist	p. 96
3.3.9 Force field	p. 99
3.3.10 Introduction to alternative creativity tools	p. 102
3.3.11 Affinity diagram tool	p. 103
3.3.12 Venn diagram	p. 105
3.3.13 Fishbone or cause-effect tool	p. 106
3.3.14 Pareto (80:20)	p. 109
3.3.15 ABC tool	p. 111
4 Goals and objectives setting	p. 114
4.1 Goal catalogue	p. 115
4.2 Smart goals	p. 117
4.3 Well-defined outcomes	p. 119
4.4 3 P statements	p. 120
4.5 Goal hierarchy	p. 122
4.6 Goal grid	p. 125
4.7 Charter	p. 126
4.8 SNAP	p. 128
5 Analysis and synthesis	p. 130
5.1 Organisational analysis	p. 133
5.1.1 Organisational structure	p. 133
5.1.2 Span of control	p. 137
5.1.3 Org structure versus process	p. 139
5.1.4 Organisational assessment	p. 141
5.1.5 Powergram	p. 142
5.2 Technical analysis (system, process, data, technology)	p. 145
5.2.1 Architectural decomposition view	p. 145
5.2.2 Functional decomposition	p. 146
5.2.3 Process analysis	p. 148
5.2.4 Entity relationship diagram	p. 152
5.2.5 Logical data relationship	p. 153
5.2.6 Technology and systems landscape	p. 155
5.2.7 Requirements catalogue	p. 157
5.2.8 Logical and functional system modelling	p. 160
5.3 Strategic analysis	p. 161
5.3.1 Value chain analysis	p. 163
5.3.2 Critical success factor (CSF)	p. 167
5.3.3 Swot and Tows	p. 170
5.3.4 Life cycle	p. 176
5.3.5 5 Forces	p. 181
5.3.6 Competitor analysis	p. 186
5.3.7 Environmental analysis (PEST)	p. 189
5.3.8 Strategic market group	p. 192
5.3.9 Customer segmentation	p. 196
5.3.10 Strategic development	p. 199
5.3.11 Business matrix	p. 200
5.3.12 Product/market mix	p. 204
5.3.13 Strategic development options	p. 208
5.3.14 Strategy matrix	p. 212
6 Decision making (incl. evaluation, prioritisation)	p. 215
6.1 Introduction to decision making	p. 216
6.1.1 Decision making process steps	p. 218
6.1.2 Selection table for decision making tools	p. 218
6.2 Decision tree	p. 220
6.3 Perspectives 3	p. 222
6.4 Argument balance	p. 223
6.5 Cross of beliefs	p. 224
6.6 Polarities tool	p. 226
6.7 Utility analysis	p. 227
6.8 Nominal group tool	p. 229
6.9 100 Points	p. 231
6.10 Cartesian coordinates	p. 232
6.11 Vroom Yetton	p. 234
6.12 Risk analysis	p. 236
6.13 Prioritisation matrices	p. 241
7 Project management tools	p. 246
7.1 Project management skills radar	p. 248
7.2 Expectation review tool	p. 250
7.3 Roadmap	p. 252
7.4 Gantt chart	p. 253
7.5 Work breakdown structure (WBS)	p. 255
7.6 Action steps and reviews	p. 258
7.7 Project management roles and responsibilities	p. 259
7.8 Accountability matrix (CIDA)	p. 262
7.9 Project structure	p. 264
7.10 Project communication plan	p. 266
7.11 Workshop guideline tool	p. 270
7.12 De Bono thinking hats (6 hats)	p. 272
7.13 Booz ball evaluation	p. 273
8 Annex A - Check Questions	p. 275
8.1 Check questions for a project start	p. 275
8.2 Check questions to define the current situation - diagnostic	p. 276
8.3 Check questions to define goals and objectives	p. 277
8.4 Check questions during an analysis	p. 277
8.5 Check questions during decision making	p. 278
9 Annex B - Scenarios ('Shopping Lists' of Tools)	p. 280
9.1 Feasibility study	p. 280
9.2 System development	p. 281
9.3 Organisational restructuring	p. 282
9.4 Strategy workshop	p. 282
9.5 Business process improvements	p. 283
9.6 Project definition/scope	p. 284
Bibliography	p. 285
Application areas of each tool (in alphabetic order)	p. 288

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents