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Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, The
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Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, The


Sub Title 4th Edition
Title notes
Author Verzuh, Eric
Co-Author
ISBN 9781118073773
UPC
Edition Paperback
Publish Date 2011-12-06
Price: $CDN28.27




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519 pages

An updated and revised edition of the bestselling guide to managing projects

For any professional responsible for coordinating projects among different departments, across executive levels, or with technical complexity, The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management offers comprehensive instruction on how to deliver on time and on budget. Get the step-by-step advice you need to find the right sponsor, clarify objectives, and set realistic schedules and budget projections. This Fourth Edition of the 200,000-copy bestseller now covers critical new topics including: software and IT projects, agile techniques, and project selection.

Perfect for beginners or experienced managers needing to bring their systems up to date, The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management allows readers to extract maximum information in minimum time.

  • The most comprehensive introduction to project management, updated to reflect changes in the business environment over the past few years
  • Full of downloadable forms and spreadsheets to help you implement the techniques in the book
  • Offers updated advice on getting the most from Microsoft Project

    • Table of Contents:
    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xvii
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR xix
    PREFACE xxi
    DOWNLOADABLE FORMS xxiii
    PART 1   INTRODUCTION
    CHAPTER 1—PROJECT MANAGEMENT: THE KEY TO THRIVING IN THE NEW PROJECT-DRIVEN WORLD 2
       Introduction 2
       The Art and Science of Project Leadership 7
       The Practical Foundation for Successful Projects: How This Book Will Help You 9
       Project Management Relies on Other Disciplines 11
       End Point 12
       Stellar Performer: OrthoSpot 13
       Stellar Performer: PM4NGOs 14
    CHAPTER 2—FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT 16
       Introduction 16
       Projects Require Project Management 16
       The Challenge of Managing Projects 18
       The Evolution of a Discipline 19
       The Definition of Success 23
       Project Management Functions 25
       Project Life Cycle 26
       Organizing for Projects 30
       Project Managers Are Leaders 34
       End Point 34
       Stellar Performer: Seattle Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center 36
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 40
    PART 2 DEFINING THE PROJECT
    CHAPTER 3—KNOW YOUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND WIN THEIR COOPERATION 42
       Introduction 42
       Stakeholders Are the Heart of a Successful Project 43
       Stakeholder Roles: Project Manager 43
       Stakeholder Roles: Project Team 44
       Stakeholder Roles: Management 45
       Stakeholder Roles: The Customer 49
       Stakeholder Roles: Representatives of External Constraints 51
       Stakeholder Roles: Advocates, Opponents, and Innocent Bystanders 52
       Make Stakeholder Identification a Repeatable Process 52
       Lead the Stakeholders 53
       End Point 53
       Fast Foundation in Project Management 54
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 58
    CHAPTER 4—WRITE THE RULES: FIVE KEY DOCUMENTS TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS AND DEFINE SUCCESS 60
       Introduction 60
       Project Rules Are the Foundation 61
       Publish a Project Charter 63
       Write a Statement of Work 65
       Statement of Work: Minimum Content 66
       Responsibility Matrix 73
       Creating a Communication Plan 76
       The Project Proposal Launches the Project 82
       End Point 83
       Fast Foundation in Project Management 84
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 95
    PART 3 THE PLANNING PROCESS
    CHAPTER 5—RISK MANAGEMENT: MINIMIZE THE THREATS TO YOUR PROJECT 99
       Introduction 99
       All Project Management Is Risk
       Management 100
       The Risk Management Framework 103
       Step One: Identify the Risks 104
       Step Two: Analyze and Prioritize the Risks 108
       Step Three: Develop Response Plans 113
       Step Four: Establish Contingency and Reserve 118
       Step Five: Continuous Risk Management 121
       Unexpected Leadership 122
       End Point 122
       Fast Foundation in Project Management 123
       Stellar Performer: Washington State Department of Transportation 124
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 130
    CHAPTER 6—WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE: BREAK YOUR PROJECT INTO MANAGEABLE UNITS OF WORK 132
       Introduction 132
       Defining the Work Breakdown Structure 133
       Building a Work Breakdown Structure 136
       Criteria for a Successful Work Breakdown Structure 140
       Work Package Size 143
       Planning for Quality 145
       Breaking Down Large Programs 147
       WBS Guidelines Vary 147
       Contractors or Vendors Can Provide a WBS 148
       End Point 148
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 150
    CHAPTER 7—REALISTIC SCHEDULING 152
       Introduction 152
       Planning Overview 152
       Planning Step Two: Identify Task Relationships 154
       Planning Step Three: Estimate Work Packages 157
       Planning Step Four: Calculate an Initial Schedule 165
       Planning Step Five: Assign and Level Resources 175
       Small Projects Need Smaller Plans 184
       End Point 184
       Fast Foundation in Project Management 185
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 188
    CHAPTER 8—THE ART AND SCIENCE OF ACCURATE ESTIMATING 190
       Introduction 190
       Estimating Fundamentals 191
       Estimating Techniques 197
       Building the Detailed Budget Estimate 206
       Generating the Cash Flow Schedule 213
       End Point 214
       Fast Foundation in Project Management 215
       Stellar Performer: Tynet, Inc. 216
       Stellar Performer: Adobe Systems 219
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 226
    CHAPTER 9—BALANCING THE TRADE-OFF AMONG COST, SCHEDULE, AND QUALITY 228
       Introduction 228
       Three Levels of Balancing a Project 229
       Balancing at the Project Level 230
       Balancing at the Business Case Level 242
       Balancing at the Enterprise Level 247
       End Point 248
       Stellar Performer: Safeco Field 250
       Stellar Performer: Boeing 767-400ER Program 254
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 256
    PART 4 CONTROLLING THE PROJECT
    CHAPTER 10—BUILDING A HIGHPERFORMANCE PROJECT TEAM 260
       Introduction 260
       A Framework for Building High-Performance Teams 264
       Leadership Responsibilities 268
       Building a Positive Team Environment 272
       Ground Rules 273
       Team Identity 275
       Team Listening Skills 279
       Meeting Management 283
       Summary of Building a Positive Team Environment 286
       Collaborative Problem Solving 287
       Problem Analysis 287
       Decision Modes 290
       Conflict Management 294
       Continuous Learning 298
       Summary of Collaborative Problem Solving 300
       Job Satisfaction 300
       End Point 301
       Stellar Performer: Habitat for Humanity 303
    PMP Exam Prep Questions 304
    CHAPTER 11—CLEAR COMMUNICATION AMONG PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS 305
       Introduction 305
       Embrace Your Role as a Leader 306
       Communicating within the Project Team 309
       Communicating with Management and Customers 317
       Control Documents 318
       The Change Management Process 318
       Configuration Management 322
       Change Management Guidelines Are Essential for Managing Expectations 325
       Closeout Reporting 325
       End Point 326
       Fast Foundation in Project Management 327
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 340
    CHAPTER 12—MEASURING PROGRESS 342
        Introduction 342
       Measuring Schedule Performance 342
       Measuring Cost Performance 347
       Earned Value Reporting 349
       Cost and Schedule Baselines 357
       End Point 359
       PMP Exam Prep Questions 360
       CHAPTER 13—SOLVING COMMON PROJECT PROBLEMS 362
       Introduction 362
       Responsibility beyond Your Authority 362
       Disaster Recovery 363
       Reducing the Time to Market 364
       When the Customer Delays the Project 365
       The Impossible Dream 366
       Fighting Fires 367
       Managing Volunteers 367
       Achieving the Five Project Success Factors 368
       End Point 368
    PART 5 ADVANCING YOUR PRACTICE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
    CHAPTER 14—ENTERPRISE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: COORDINATE ALL PROJECTS AND PROJECT RESOURCES IN YOUR ORGANIZATION 373
       Introduction 373
       Defining Enterprise Project Management 375
       Three Tiers of Management within EPM 377
       The Four Components of EPM 379
       Establish Consistent EPM Processes 380
       Technology Enables EPM Processes 383
       The People Who Deliver Projects 387
       Support Project Management: The Project Office 388
       End Point 396
    CHAPTER 15—REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING: THE KEY TO BUILDING THE RIGHT PRODUCT 398
       Introduction 398
       Requirements Engineering and Project
       Management Are Intimately Connected 399
       Requirement Types Illustrate the Evolving Product Vision 400
       Requirements Engineering Scope and Processes 403
       Requirements Development Activities 405
       Requirements Management Activities 407
       Requirements Documentation Techniques 409
       Requirements Engineering Demands Discipline 409
       End Point 411
    CHAPTER 16—PROJECT INITIATION: TURNING A PROBLEM OR OPPORTUNITY INTO A PROJECT 412
       Introduction 412
       Project Initiation’s Place in the Project Life Cycle 413
       Enterprise Requirements Drive Project Initiation 415
       Common Principles for Project Initiation 416
       Basic Project Proposal Content 419
       Designing a Realistic Initiation Process 422
       End Point 423
       Stellar Performer: The Logical Framework Approach 424
    CHAPTER 17—INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECT SUCCESS FACTORS 434
       Introduction 434
       The Many Kinds of Software Projects 435
       Why Are Information Technology Projects So
       Challenging? 435
       Current Best Practices in IT Project Management 439
       Using an Agile Approach 442
       End Point 442
       Stellar Performer: The Agile Approach to Software Development 443
    CHAPTER 18—PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: ALIGN PROJECT RESOURCES WITH BUSINESS STRATEGY 454
       Introduction 454
       The Scope and Goals of the Portfolio 456
       Stakeholders: Roles in Project Portfolio Management 457
       PPM Information Supports Decisions 459
       Project Selection and Prioritization 460
       Ongoing Portfolio Management 463
       Monitor the Results of Projects and the Portfolio 464
       Culture Change 465
       End Point 466
    CHAPTER 19—PMP EXAM PREPARATION 467
       Introduction 467
       Requirements to Earn the PMP 468
       Top 10 Study Tips for the PMP Exam 469
       End Point 473
    CHAPTER 20—MICROSOFT PROJECT: GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE USE 474
       Introduction 474
       Project Management Software Supports the Discipline 475
       Looking under the Hood: The Design of Project 475
       Set Up the Project First 477
       Follow the Planning Model in This Book 479
       Task Types: Fix the Duration, Work, or Resource Level 482
       Assigning Resources to a Project 484
       Resource Leveling Your Schedule 486
       Maintaining the Plan throughout the Project 487
       Communicating with Your Team and Management 489
       Project Server and Project Web App 491
       End Point 492
    APPENDIX: THE DETAILED PLANNING MODEL 493
    NOTES 503
    INDEX 507

    About the author:
    verzuh_ ericEric Verzuh is President of The Versatile Company, which provides project management training and consulting to thousands of professionals each year. His clients include major government agencies, small and large companies, and nonprofit organizations in such diverse industries as aerospace, health care, information technology, and education.

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