Checkered Flag Projects : Ten Rules for Creating and Managing Projects that Win!

by Randolph, W. Alan; Posner, Barry Z.

• ISBN13: 9780130093998
• ISBN10: 0130093998
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Financial Times Prentice Hall

Summary

Today, all work is project work, as organizations seek to accomplish more than ever -- with fewer resources -- in loosely coupled and temporary teams. Checkered Flag Projects focuses on the crucial skills every project leader and team member needs. Renowned project management experts W. Alan Randolph and Barry Z. Posner identify 10 rules that dramatically increase the likelihood of success in any project -- and show exactly how to leverage those rules to meet any business challenge.

Author Biography

Barry Z. Posner is Professor of Leadership and Dean at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, in Santa Clara, California.

Table of Contents

About the Authors	xv
Acknowledgments	xvii
Introduction	xix
Managing Projects: Challenge and Opportunity	1	(130)
Becoming an Effective Project Leader	3	(2)
Learning the 10 Rules for Creating and Managing Checkered Flag Projects	5	(2)
Clarify the Project Goal	7	(12)
Setting Project Goals That Are Clear and Compelling	10	(2)
The Criteria to Use-``Power Goals''	12	(3)
Pinpointed	12	(1)
Owned	13	(1)
Well Defined	13	(1)
Energizing	14	(1)
Resource Framed	15	(1)
An Example of a Really Important Goal	15	(3)
Summary: Rule One	18	(1)
Use Objectives to Define Responsibilities	19	(10)
Problems in Setting Objectives	22	(5)
Focusing Too Narrowly	22	(1)
Using Reward Systems That Inhibit Teamwork	23	(1)
Responsibility but Not Enough Authority	24	(3)
Summary: Rule Two	27	(2)
Establish Checkpoints, Activities, Relationships, and Time Estimates	29	(14)
Examining the Noah's Ark Project	32	(2)
Monitoring as Motivation	34	(1)
Determining Relationships Among the Activities	35	(1)
Estimating Time, Cost, and Other Resources	36	(4)
Final Thoughts on Building a CART	40	(1)
Summary: Rule Three	41	(2)
Supercharge the Plan with a Picture	43	(12)
Understanding Gantt Charts	44	(3)
Understanding PERT Charts	47	(2)
Working with Gantt and PERT Charts	49	(3)
Getting Projects Back on Track	52	(1)
A Note on Computer Software	52	(2)
Summary: Rule Four	54	(1)
Develop an Empowered Project Team	55	(12)
Know Yourself	56	(2)
Know Others: All Behavior Makes Sense	58	(1)
Know Others: All People Are Motivated	59	(1)
Know Others: People Are Unique	60	(1)
Know How to Create an Empowered Project Team	61	(4)
Stage One: Orientation	61	(1)
Stage Two: Dissatisfaction	62	(1)
Stage Three: Resolution	63	(1)
Stage Four: Productivity	64	(1)
Stage Five: Termination	64	(1)
Stage Postview	64	(1)
Summary: Rule Five	65	(2)
Reinforce People's Motivation and Energy	67	(10)
Drawing upon Internal Motivation	69	(1)
Building and Maintaining Energy	70	(1)
Tapping People's Motivation and Energy	71	(4)
Summary: Rule Six	75	(2)
Inform Everyone Regularly	77	(16)
Barriers to Effective Information Flow	79	(2)
Getting Your Message Across Effectively	81	(6)
Listening for Impact	87	(5)
Summary: Rule Seven	92	(1)
Vitalize People with Energy from Conflicts	93	(14)
Types of Conflict in Projects	94	(2)
Encountering Conflicts over the Life of a Projects	96	(1)
Causes of Conflict in Projects	97	(2)
Building Agreements that Vitalize	99	(3)
Successful Negotiators of Conflict	102	(3)
Summary: Rule Eight	105	(2)
Empower Yourself and Others	107	(12)
Six Sources of Power	108	(2)
Position Sources of Power	109	(1)
Personal Sources of Power	109	(1)
Power and Performance	110	(1)
Using Power to Get the Results You Want	111	(4)
Building and Using Referent Power	111	(1)
Building and Using Relationship Power	111	(1)
Building and Using Expert Power	112	(1)
Using Legitimate Power	113	(1)
Using Reward Power	114	(1)
Using Coercive Power	115	(1)
Giving People What They Want (Need) from Their Leaders	115	(3)
Summary: Rule Nine	118	(1)
Risk Being Creative	119	(12)
Blocks to Creativity	120	(1)
Facilitating Creativity and Innovation	121	(2)
Developing Better Ideas for Your Projects	123	(7)
Summary: Rule Ten	130	(1)
Driving to the Checkered Flag	131	(4)
References	135	(6)
Index	141