Table of Contents
Introduction
Many project managers guess as a way to estimate the level of effort for a project. However, there is a better way to manage projects, and you dont need to be a genius or even have an MBA to understand how. It doesnt take a special certification to manage a project, but it does take special skills to bring projects in on time and within budget. Yes, some planning and charting is involved in moving projects from start to finish, but this book takes a practical approach to the process and puts you in control. The following pages map the road to successful project management.
The Complete Idiots Guide to Project Management, Fourth Edition, explains in easy-to-understand language how the power of time-proven project management methods can help your mission-critical projects come in on time, on budget, and on target. Youll learn how to point project teams, in spite of politics and personalities, in the same direction; and how to manage changes, no matter how frequent, to keep projects on track. Youll learn that its skill, not luck or fancy degrees, that makes the difference in making your project a success.
How to Use This Book
The book has seven parts, which we recommend you read from beginning to end. The parts work together to provide you with the steps and tools behind successful project management and offer practical advice you can adapt to the needs of todays fast-moving, ever-changing organizations.
Part 1, Project Management Power, explains how to balance all the different needs all project managers must satisfy. Well introduce you to steps you can use to bring any project to a successful conclusion on time and within budget and the three secrets to success behind any project: the project manager, the team, and the plan.
Part 2, The Project Definition Phase, presents techniques to start a project off on the right foot with a clear scope and a motivated project team. This part is especially important because the way a project starts off usually defines the way it will end up.
Part 3, The Project Planning Phase, explains the basic planning processes central to successful project management. Youll observe how to define, schedule, and budget tasks using powerful charting and analysis tools that can help you scope out projects of all shapes and sizes. This is the most technical part of the book, so you might want to read it twice. Mastering the information in this part is important because no project is ever better than the plan used to manage the effort.
Part 4, The Execution Phase, presents proven techniques to transform the plan into action focused toward meeting the project requirements. This is key to successful project management. The end result of a project is always related to the way the plan is translated into actual work in the real world.
Part 5, The Controlling Processes, talks about ways to monitor, track, and adjust each project so that you can keep everything on schedule, within budget, and with the right quality. Youll also find easy-to-follow guidelines for dealing with the most common project problems and for minimizing the impact of the changes and conflicts that are part of almost every project.
Part 6, The Close-Out Phase, shows you how to finish your project and reap the rewards of a job well done. This is often the most ignored part of project management, but youll see why it is so important.
Part 7, The Organization and Tools to Make Project Management Prosper, introduces some software packages that can help you find out how to put the discipline of project management to work throughout your organization.
Extras
To add to the material in the main text, a series of sidebars throughout the book highlight specific items that can help you understand and implement the material in each chapter:
Time Is Money
Use the suggestions in these boxes to keep your schedule up-to-date and your budget under control. Hopefully the advice will spare you the embarrassment of running out of money before the project is completed. Youll also pick up on a variety of tips used by veteran project managers to run projects of all sizes and kinds.
definition
These boxes define the most important concepts in project management. Use these words in meetings to impress your boss and your co-workers because it will demonstrate that you know what you are talking about.
Along the Critical Path
Stories or information related to project management appear in these boxes as examples from experienced project managers.
Words from the Wise
These quotes and tips include observations from our experience and other experts that may help inspire you to greater achievements or simply help keep you motivated to do your best, even when the project seems impossible.
Risk Management
Sometimes things just go wrong, no matter how well you plan your project. Luckily, there are usually warnings before things get too bad if you know how to recognize them. In these boxes, youll learn how to read the danger signs before you get swamped with problems.
Acknowledgments
All of the people at Alpha Booksespecially Michele Wells and Lynn Northrup for their professionalism, skill, and good ideasdeserve our thanks. Weve appreciated the opportunity to work with them.
Just as important, we want to thank you, the reader, for purchasing this book. We understand how important your projects are to your personal and professional success, and we feel a deep sense of gratitude that you believe we can teach you something about becoming a better project manager.
In addition, Mike Campbell would like to thank Stephen Schwarz and Dave Feineman at BP, and Greg Ranft and Cliff Halverson at TXDOT for providing great examples of project managers in action.
And any acknowledgement would be incomplete without recognizing Michaels wife, Molly, and her undying patience as he worked to complete this book. Her support, and the love of his children, is the rock upon which everything else is built.
Trademarks
All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be or are suspected of being trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Alpha Books and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.
Part 1
Project Mangement Power
Each year, organizations launch mission-critical projects involving millions of dollars in capital investment plus significant requirements for project-savvy human capital. The processes and methods of project management provide the structure, focus, flexibility, and control to help guide these significant investments to outstanding results, on time and within budget.
