Strategic Project Management Made Simple

Strategic Project Management Made Simple PDF Author: Terry Schmidt
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 047044293X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 314

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Book Description
When Fortune Magazine estimated that 70% of all strategies fail, it also noted that most of these strategies were basically sound, but could not be executed. The central premise of Strategic Project Management Made Simple is that most projects and strategies never get off the ground because of adhoc, haphazard, and obsolete methods used to turn their ideas into coherent and actionable plans. Strategic Project Management Made Simple is the first book to couple a step-by-step process with an interactive thinking tool that takes a strategic approach to designing projects and action initiatives. Strategic Project Management Made Simple builds a solid platform upon four critical questions that are vital for teams to intelligently answer in order to create their own strong, strategic foundation. These questions are: 1. What are we trying to accomplish and why? 2. How will we measure success? 3. What other conditions must exist? 4. How do we get there? This fresh approach begins with clearly understanding the what and why of a project - comprehending the bigger picture goals that are often given only lip service or cursory reviews. The second and third questions clarify success measures and identify the risky assumptions that can later cause pain if not spotted early. The how questions - what are the activities, budgets, and schedules - comes last in our four-question system. By contrast, most project approaches prematurely concentrate on the how without first adequately addressing the three other questions. These four questions guide readers into fleshing out a simple, yet sophisticated, mental workbench called "the Logical Framework" - a Systems Thinking paradigm that lays out one's own project strategy in an easily accessible, interactive 4x4 matrix. The inclusion of memorable features and concepts (four critical questions, LogFrame matrix, If-then thinking, and Implementation Equation) make this book unique.

Strategic Project Management Made Simple

Strategic Project Management Made Simple PDF Author: Terry Schmidt
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 047044293X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 314

Get Book

Book Description
When Fortune Magazine estimated that 70% of all strategies fail, it also noted that most of these strategies were basically sound, but could not be executed. The central premise of Strategic Project Management Made Simple is that most projects and strategies never get off the ground because of adhoc, haphazard, and obsolete methods used to turn their ideas into coherent and actionable plans. Strategic Project Management Made Simple is the first book to couple a step-by-step process with an interactive thinking tool that takes a strategic approach to designing projects and action initiatives. Strategic Project Management Made Simple builds a solid platform upon four critical questions that are vital for teams to intelligently answer in order to create their own strong, strategic foundation. These questions are: 1. What are we trying to accomplish and why? 2. How will we measure success? 3. What other conditions must exist? 4. How do we get there? This fresh approach begins with clearly understanding the what and why of a project - comprehending the bigger picture goals that are often given only lip service or cursory reviews. The second and third questions clarify success measures and identify the risky assumptions that can later cause pain if not spotted early. The how questions - what are the activities, budgets, and schedules - comes last in our four-question system. By contrast, most project approaches prematurely concentrate on the how without first adequately addressing the three other questions. These four questions guide readers into fleshing out a simple, yet sophisticated, mental workbench called "the Logical Framework" - a Systems Thinking paradigm that lays out one's own project strategy in an easily accessible, interactive 4x4 matrix. The inclusion of memorable features and concepts (four critical questions, LogFrame matrix, If-then thinking, and Implementation Equation) make this book unique.

Project Management Made Simple

Project Management Made Simple PDF Author: David King
Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR
ISBN: 9780137177295
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description
Whether you're a professional systems development project manager, or simply aspiring to enter this challenging field, this compact book is all you need! Complete with checklists, progress reports, and questions with answers, it's a practical, hands-on project management 'cookbook' of useful techniques, information, and recommendations that can be used as a daily reference manual as well as a 'dictionary' for the vast database of project management information available.

Strategic Project Management Made Simple

Strategic Project Management Made Simple PDF Author: Terry Schmidt
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 111971818X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Learn to plan and execute projects in any organization with this practical and insightful resource The comprehensively updated and revised edition of Strategic Project Management Made Simple cements this series’ status as the leading resource for anyone looking for step-by-step guidance on project design and action initiatives. Written by celebrated management consultant Terry Schmidt, this book fully covers the necessity of systems thinking and the logical framework approach to solve today’s challenging problems. Strategic Project Management Made Simple also includes: An expanded section on turning ideas, problems, and opportunities into projects A newly created chapter on managing your “inner game” to achieve project excellence Fresh case studies that cover how to pivot your business to meet changing needs A new approach, Iterating to Excellence, to create your Minimum Viable Project and produce solutions smoother and faster Strategic Project Management Made Simple, Revised and Updated is an indispensable volume for leaders and workers seeking to transform their approach to planning, driving, and executing projects in their organizations.

Project Management That Works

Project Management That Works PDF Author: Rick A. MORRIS
Publisher: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn
ISBN: 081441088X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 241

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Book Description
Project management is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the world. The Project Management Institute has seen membership growth of more than 1000% in the last 10 years. But while many of these managers know how to plan a successful project in theory, very few have the practical tools needed to navigate the politics of today’s corporate world. Project managers need more than just technical skills; they need the right communication skills to succeed. Filled with real-world examples, Project Management That Works gives readers the tools they need to: communicate with their team as well as stakeholders • get their teams to function well • run fewer and more productive meetings • turn around failing projects • utilize data properly to make emotional conversations unemotional • know when a project is really done The only book that addresses the real challenges project managers face today, this is an accessible and invaluable tool that will show every reader how to accomplish his mission—no matter the obstacles.

Project Management for Non-project Managers

Project Management for Non-project Managers PDF Author: Jack Ferraro
Publisher: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn
ISBN: 0814417361
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 257

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Book Description
A seasoned project management consultant introduces critical project management skills, tools and techniques. Includes case studies, checklists and exercises.

Making Things Happen

Making Things Happen PDF Author: Scott Berkun
Publisher: "O'Reilly Media, Inc."
ISBN: 0596517718
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 408

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Book Description
Offers a collection of essays on philosophies and strategies for defining, leading, and managing projects. This book explains to technical and non-technical readers alike what it takes to get through a large software or web development project. It does not cite specific methods, but focuses on philosophy and strategy.

Creative Project Management

Creative Project Management PDF Author: Michael S. Dobson
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071739343
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
The seven essential tools for keeping projects on time and under budget You're executing risk management, leadership, and planning--all hallmarks of outstanding project management. And yet you're still having trouble keeping your projects on schedule. Creative Project Management adds two new elements to the mix: creativity and innovation. Internationally renowned project management consultants Michael Dobson and Ted Leemann combine traditional project management skills, such as risk evaluation, decision-making, and human dynamics, with outside-the-box thinking and business creativity. They provide seven new tools and approaches you can apply to any project. The methods discussed inside Creative Project Management show you how to: Realistically imagine the outcome of your decisions Work with--and around--the realities and constraints that affect your decisions Read and predict trends Manage the long- and short-term ramifications of your decisions Evaluate the impact of present and future technologies on your decisions Imagine new choices you didn't think you had Creative Project Management provides an invaluable new set of tools for any project management professional tasked with making difficult decisions in these uncertain times.

Transforming Project Management: An Essential Paradigm for Turning Your Strategic Planning into Action

Transforming Project Management: An Essential Paradigm for Turning Your Strategic Planning into Action PDF Author: Duane Petersen
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 1264258364
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
Turn your strategy into business reality with proven project management and leadership best practices According to Harvard Business Review, IT project failure costs businesses $3 trillion dollars annually. That’s just IT. For the full scope this issue, increase that number exponentially. If you expect more from strategic planning and don’t think projects should decimate budgets and professional reputations, you’re in good company. CEO of UltiMentors Duane Petersen has dedicated his career to helping business leaders transform their companies by turning their strategic vision into portfolios of successful projects. Now, Petersen shares his winning method with you. Transforming Project Management takes you beyond envisioning a great strategy and into the realm of implementing it―with skill, care, and expertise. Petersen explains how to break down a strategic plan into key objectives and project portfolios to make sense of all the project “parts”—then successfully lead the execution of the plan. You’ll learn how to evaluate where you are versus where you want to be, develop plans to move your vision forward, translate strategic plans into action plans with tangible efforts, budgets, and schedules, and guide and inspire the individuals and teams tasked with implementing their plans. Knowing precisely how much a major project will cost before it begins and having processes and tools to monitor how well it’s meeting benchmarks along the way should be standard business practice. Clearly, it’s not. With Transforming Project Management, you have everything you need to tie strategic planning directly to project management—and lead your company to the head of your industry.

The Eight Essential People Skills for Project Management

The Eight Essential People Skills for Project Management PDF Author: Zachary Wong
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ISBN: 1523097949
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
Zachary Wong offers practical strategies, skills, and tools to help project managers diagnose and solve their toughest people problems. Based on decades in the trenches, the book shows how to confront and correct bad behavior, increase team performance and inclusion, turn around difficult people and poor performers, get people to do what you want them to do, boost employee motivation and attitude, reduce change resistance and risk aversion, and manage difficult bosses. Wong believes that the best team leaders are problem-solvers and facilitators, so this book provides problem-solving models and tools to diagnose people problems, and facilitative methods, processes, and techniques to correct them. It's an approach that can be personalized to fit any person or situation. Each skill is explained with a well-balanced mix of case stories, examples, strategies, processes, tools, and techniques along with illustrations, graphics, tables, and other visuals to clarify key concepts and their workplace application. To reinforce the most important learnings, Wong includes a “Memory Card” and “Skill Summary” at the end of each chapter. Nothing is harder than leading people and managing project teams. Being successful takes a combination of knowing human psychology, organizational behaviors, and human factors; having supervisory, process, and communication skills; ensuring good teamwork, high integrity, and strong leadership; and having the ability to integrate and apply these skills to a diverse work team. The Eight Essential People Skills for Project Management is designed for individuals, team leaders, and managers who oversee and coordinate the daily performance of others and who are seeking solutions that they can apply immediately.

The Data-Driven Project Manager

The Data-Driven Project Manager PDF Author: Mario Vanhoucke
Publisher: Apress
ISBN: 1484234987
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 164

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Book Description
Discover solutions to common obstacles faced by project managers. Written as a business novel, the book is highly interactive, allowing readers to participate and consider options at each stage of a project. The book is based on years of experience, both through the author's research projects as well as his teaching lectures at business schools. The book tells the story of Emily Reed and her colleagues who are in charge of the management of a new tennis stadium project. The CEO of the company, Jacob Mitchell, is planning to install a new data-driven project management methodology as a decision support tool for all upcoming projects. He challenges Emily and her team to start a journey in exploring project data to fight against unexpected project obstacles. Data-driven project management is known in the academic literature as “dynamic scheduling” or “integrated project management and control.” It is a project management methodology to plan, monitor, and control projects in progress in order to deliver them on time and within budget to the client. Its main focus is on the integration of three crucial aspects, as follows: Baseline Scheduling: Plan the project activities to create a project timetable with time and budget restrictions. Determine start and finish times of each project activity within the activity network and resource constraints. Know the expected timing of the work to be done as well as an expected impact on the project’s time and budget objectives. Schedule Risk Analysis: Analyze the risk of the baseline schedule and its impact on the project’s time and budget. Use Monte Carlo simulations to assess the risk of the baseline schedule and to forecast the impact of time and budget deviations on the project objectives. Project Control: Measure and analyze the project’s performance data and take actions to bring the project on track. Monitor deviations from the expected project progress and control performance in order to facilitate the decision-making process in case corrective actions are needed to bring projects back on track. Both traditional Earned Value Management (EVM) and the novel Earned Schedule (ES) methods are used. What You'll Learn Implement a data-driven project management methodology (also known as "dynamic scheduling") which allows project managers to plan, monitor, and control projects while delivering them on time and within budget Study different project management tools and techniques, such as PERT/CPM, schedule risk analysis (SRA), resource buffering, and earned value management (EVM) Understand the three aspects of dynamic scheduling: baseline scheduling, schedule risk analysis, and project control Who This Book Is For Project managers looking to learn data-driven project management (or "dynamic scheduling") via a novel, demonstrating real-time simulations of how project managers can solve common project obstacles