The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, 3rd Edition

by Eric Verzuh ( )

• ISBN13: 9780470247891
• ISBN10: 0470247894
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-04-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

This is one of the bestselling books ever published on the topic of project management. Now in a revised new third edition, it presents you with a wealth of proven techniques for managing projectsfrom establishing project objectives to building schedules to projecting costs. It includes all the basics on defining, planning, and tracking a project, as well as building stronger project teams. This new edition includes new chapters on Agile Project Management, PMI exam prep, and more.

Author Biography

Eric Verzuh is President of The Versatile Company, which brings project management best practices to a wide variety of industries and government organizations, including such major corporations as Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Nordstrom, and the U.S. Postal Service.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xv
Downloadable Forms	p. xvii
Introduction
Project Management is the New Critical Leadership Skill	p. 2
Introduction	p. 2
Project Management Is the Essential Skill Set for Twenty-first Century Leaders	p. 3
Project Management as a Strategic Strength	p. 5
The Art and Science of Project Leadership	p. 6
The Practical Foundation for Successful Projects: How This Book Will Help You	p. 9
Project Management Relies on Other Disciplines	p. 10
End Point	p. 11
Stellar Performer: Orthospot	p. 12
Foundation Principles of Project Management	p. 13
Introduction	p. 13
Projects Require Project Management	p. 13
The Evolution of a Discipline	p. 16
The Definition of Success	p. 19
The Cost-Schedule-Quality Equilibrium	p. 20
The Ultimate Challenge: No Damage	p. 21
Project Management Functions	p. 21
Project Life Cycle	p. 23
Organizing for Projects	p. 26
Project Managers Are Leaders	p. 30
End Point	p. 31
Stellar Performer: Seattle Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center	p. 32
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 36
Defining the Project
Know Your Key Stakeholders and Win Their Cooperation	p. 38
Introduction	p. 38
Stakeholders Are the Heart of a Successful Project	p. 39
Stakeholder Roles: Project Manager	p. 39
Stakeholder Roles: Project Team	p. 40
Stakeholder Roles: Management	p. 41
Stakeholder Roles: The Customer	p. 45
Stakeholder Roles: Representatives of External Constraints	p. 47
Stakeholder Roles: Advocates, Opponents, and Innocent Bystanders	p. 47
Make Stakeholder Identification a Repeatable Process	p. 48
Lead the Stakeholders	p. 48
End Point	p. 48
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 53
Write the Rules: Five Key Documents to Manage Expectations and Define Success	p. 55
Introduction	p. 55
Project Rules Are the Foundation	p. 56
Publish a Project Charter	p. 57
Write a Statement of Work	p. 60
Statement of Work: Minimum Content	p. 61
Responsibility Matrix	p. 67
Creating a Communication Plan	p. 71
The Project Proposal Launches the Project	p. 76
End Point	p. 80
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 91
The Planning Process
Risk Management: Minimize the Threats to Your Project	p. 95
Introduction	p. 95
The Risk Management Advantage	p. 96
All Project Management Is Risk Management	p. 96
The Risk Management Framework	p. 98
Identify the Risks	p. 100
Analyze and Prioritize the Risks	p. 104
Develop Response Plans	p. 109
Establish Contingency and Reserve	p. 115
Continuous Risk Management	p. 116
End Point	p. 117
Stellar Performer: The Software Engineering Institute	p. 119
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 123
Work Breakdown Structure: Break Your Project into Manageable Units of Work	p. 125
Introduction	p. 125
Defining the Work Breakdown Structure	p. 126
Building a Work Breakdown Structure	p. 129
Criteria for a Successful Work Breakdown Structure	p. 133
Work Package Size	p. 135
Planning for Quality	p. 138
Breaking Down Large Programs	p. 140
WBS Guidelines Vary	p. 140
Contractors or Vendors Can Provide a WBS	p. 142
End Point	p. 142
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 143
Realistic Scheduling	p. 145
Introduction	p. 145
Planning Overview	p. 146
Identify Task Relationships	p. 147
Estimate Work Packages	p. 150
Calculate an Initial Schedule	p. 157
Assign and Level Resources	p. 169
End Point	p. 176
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 180
The Art and Science of Accurate Estimating	p. 182
Introduction	p. 182
Estimating Fundamentals	p. 183
Estimating Techniques	p. 188
Building the Detailed Budget Estimate	p. 198
Generating the Cash Flow Schedule	p. 205
End Point	p. 206
Stellar Performer: Tynet, Inc.	p. 208
Stellar Performer: Adobe Systems	p. 212
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 219
Balancing the Trade-off Among Cost, Schedule, and Quality	p. 221
Introduction	p. 221
Three Levels of Balancing a Project	p. 222
Balancing at the Project Level	p. 223
Balancing at the Business Case Level	p. 235
Balancing at the Enterprise Level	p. 240
End Point	p. 241
Stellar Performer: SAFECO Field	p. 242
Stellar Performer: Boeing 767-400ER	p. 246
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 248
Controlling the Project
Building a High-Performance Project Team	p. 252
Introduction	p. 252
A Framework for Building High-Performance Teams	p. 256
Leadership Responsibilities	p. 260
Building a Positive Team Environment	p. 264
Ground Rules	p. 264
Team Identity	p. 265
Team Listening Skills	p. 270
Meeting Management	p. 274
Summary of Building a Positive Team Environment	p. 276
Collaborative Problem Solving	p. 278
Problem Analysis	p. 279
Decision Modes	p. 282
Conflict Management	p. 285
Continuous Learning	p. 288
Summary of Collaborative Problem Solving	p. 291
Job Satisfaction	p. 292
End Point	p. 292
Stellar Performer: Habitat for Humanity	p. 294
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 296
Clear Communication Among Project Stakeholders	p. 297
Introduction	p. 297
Project Communication	p. 297
Communicating within the Project Team	p. 298
Communicating with Management and Customers	p. 306
Control Documents	p. 307
The Change Management Process	p. 307
Configuration Management	p. 311
Change Management Guidelines Are Essential for Managing Expectations	p. 313
Closeout Reporting	p. 313
End Point	p. 314
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 327
Measuring Progress	p. 329
Introduction	p. 329
Measuring Schedule Performance	p. 329
Measuring Cost Performance	p. 333
Earned Value Reporting	p. 335
Cost and Schedule Baselines	p. 344
End Point	p. 346
PMP Exam Prep Questions	p. 347
Solving Common Project Problems	p. 349
Introduction	p. 349
Responsibility Beyond Your Authority	p. 349
Disaster Recovery	p. 350
Reducing the Time to Market	p. 351
When the Customer Delays the Project	p. 352
The Impossible Dream	p. 353
Fighting Fires	p. 354
Managing Volunteers	p. 354
Achieving the Five Project Success Factors	p. 355
End Point	p. 355
Advancing Your Practice of Project Management
Enterprise Project Management: Coordinate All Projects and Project Resources in Your Organization	p. 359
Introduction	p. 359
Defining Enterprise Project Management	p. 361
Three Tiers of Management within EPM	p. 362
The Four Components of EPM	p. 365
Establish Consistent EPM Processes	p. 366
Technology Enables EPM Processes	p. 369
The People Who Deliver Projects	p. 373
Support Project Management: The Project Office	p. 374
End Point	p. 381
Project Portfolio Management: Align Project Resources with Business Strategy	p. 383
Introduction	p. 383
Project Portfolio Management as a System	p. 384
Building the Initial Portfolio	p. 389
The Portfolio Changes with the Enterprise	p. 393
End Point	p. 393
Requirements Engineering: The Key to Building the Right Product	p. 394
Introduction	p. 394
Requirements Engineering and Project Management Are Intimately Connected	p. 395
Requirement Types Illustrate the Evolving Product Vision	p. 396
Requirements Engineering Scope and Processes	p. 399
Requirements Development Activities	p. 401
Requirements Management Activities	p. 403
Requirements Documentation Techniques	p. 404
Requirements Engineering Demands Discipline	p. 405
End Point	p. 406
Applying Lean Principles to Projects	p. 408
Introduction	p. 408
Lean Principles for Project Managers	p. 409
Lean Techniques Tailored to Project Management	p. 412
A Word of Caution-Practicing Lean Is Customer-Specific	p. 415
End Point	p. 415
PMP Exam Preparation	p. 416
Introduction	p. 416
What Are the Requirements to Earn the PMP?	p. 417
Top 10 Study Tips for the PMP Exam	p. 418
End Point	p. 422
Microsoft Project: Guidelines for Effective Use	p. 423
Introduction	p. 423
Project Management Software Supports the Discipline	p. 423
Looking Under the Hood: The Design of Project	p. 424
Set Up the Project First	p. 425
Follow the Planning Model in This Book	p. 427
Task Types: Fix the Duration, Work, or Resource Level	p. 431
Assigning Resources to a Project	p. 432
Resource Leveling Your Schedule	p. 434
Maintaining the Plan Throughout the Project	p. 437
Communicating with Your Team and Management	p. 439
Project Server and Project Web Access	p. 439
End Point	p. 440
The Detailed Planning Model	p. 441
Notes	p. 450
Index	p. 453
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