The definitive guide to project management : the fast track to getting the job done on time and on budget

That moment when you know that it's going to happen on time, that it's avoided the pitfalls and delays that could have derailed it, and that people and resources have come together surely and smoothly, is a moment to savour. Fortunately, it's a very achievable moment if you have mastered the tools and techniques of great project management.

Developed from the day to day experiences of real project managers facing real organisational and logistical challenges, this book is designed to put you on a fast-track to managing projects of every shape and size with speed and accuracy. This will be a powerful skill to possess in a business world where work is increasingly organised around projects.

The Definitive Guide to Project Management will show you, step by step, how to deliver the right projects in the right way at the right time, while keeping your life in balance. Using the principles critical chain management, the authors help you master the essentials of good project management and then explore the situations where good projects and good business meet. How to manage risks and politics; how to demonstrate the value added by a project; how to communicate upwards and downwards in project teams; how to energise projects; how to turn failing projects around; and how to spot likely problem projects.

It is practical, to the point, and can be used immediately. An essential companion if you want projects to be a source of inspiration not perspiration.

Inside you will find key questions, step-by-step guidance and action checklists to help with each stage of a well-executed project:

Before you start Planning Preliminary definition Full definition Design Build and test Implementation Shutdown and review WithThe Definitive Guide to Project Management, you can deliver results on time, every time. Financial Times Prentice Hall's best-selling 'Definitive' suite provides managers and entrepreneurs with a fast-track to acquiring a range of essential executive skills. Other titles in the series include:

The Definitive Business Plan
The Definitive Guide to Managing the Numbers
The Definitive Guide to Marketing Planning

Author Notes

Sebastian was edcucated at Birkbeck & Imperial Colleges, University of London and has an MSc in finance from the London Business School. He was trained in investment banks, the insurance industry, the IT industry and publishing.

Sebastian is the author of a number of business books published by Pearson Education.

List of Figures	p. xi
Checklists	p. xiii
Cases	p. xiii
Preface	p. xv
Part I Background information
Introduction	p. 3
Imagine	p. 5
About this book	p. 5
Projects	p. 8
Project life cycle outline	p. 16
Basic principles	p. 21
Business principles	p. 23
Management and control principles	p. 25
People principles	p. 30
Part II Project management processes Project organization and team	p. 37
What do we mean by project organization and team	p. 39
Project roles	p. 39
Team management	p. 43
Everyday basics and administration	p. 53
What do we mean by everyday basics and administration	p. 55
Time recording	p. 55
Meetings	p. 56
Project file	p. 59
Document version control	p. 61
Purchasing authority	p. 62
Planning	p. 63
What do we mean by planning	p. 65
Why plan	p. 65
Planning tools	p. 66
Work breakdown structure	p. 68
Gantt/Project timeline charts	p. 71
Network (PERT) diagrams	p. 78
Planning process	p. 81
Re-planning and speeding-up the project	p. 90
Monitoring and control	p. 97
What do we mean by monitoring and control	p. 99
Information gathering	p. 99
Using the project plan	p. 102
Problem diagnosis and resolution	p. 108
Scope management and risk management	p. 115
Scope management	p. 117
Scope creep	p. 117
The issue log	p. 119
Scope management process	p. 120
Risk management	p. 122
Sources of risk	p. 122
Risk control	p. 124
Risk management process	p. 126
Part III Project life cycle stages Define	p. 133
What is the define phase	p. 135
Objectives	p. 136
Scope	p. 137
Starting inputs	p. 138
Deliverables	p. 138
Responsibilities	p. 138
Process	p. 140
Design	p. 155
What is the design phase	p. 157
Objectives	p. 157
Scope	p. 158
Starting inputs	p. 158
Deliverables	p. 158
Responsibilities	p. 159
Process	p. 160
Build and test	p. 167
What is the build and test phase	p. 169
Objectives	p. 169
Scope	p. 170
Starting inputs	p. 170
Deliverables	p. 170
Responsibilities	p. 171
Process	p. 172
Implement and review	p. 177
What is the implement phase	p. 179
Objectives	p. 179
Scope	p. 179
Starting inputs	p. 180
Deliverables	p. 180
Responsibilities	p. 180
Process	p. 182
What is the review phase	p. 186
Objectives	p. 186
Scope	p. 186
Starting inputs	p. 187
Deliverables	p. 187
Responsibilities	p. 187
Process	p. 188
Appendix A The critical chain method	p. 191
Understanding activity durations	p. 191
Criticial chain and activity durations	p. 193
Focus on critical activities	p. 195
The project buffer as a diagnostic	p. 198
Action summary	p. 200
Appendix B Classic planning and progress measurement tools	p. 203
Critical path and PERT plans	p. 203
Progress measurement	p. 209
Appendix C Managing large and complex projects	p. 213
Appendix D Project planning software tools	p. 217
Tools for single projects	p. 218
Tools for multi-project environments	p. 219
Glossary	p. 221
Index	p. 224

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Table of Contents