Executive's Guide to Project Management : Organizational Processes and Practices for Supporting Complex Projects

by Wysocki, Robert K.

• ISBN13: 9781118004074
• ISBN10: 1118004078
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-07-05
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

This will be the first book that examines the management of complex and uncertain projects from the perspective of senior management. It is a practical, self-contained "how to" guide for executives and senior managers. It should be their constant companion and desk reference because it collects in one place the relevant "how to" information for understanding and establishing an environment for improving complex project performance. Four major topics are presented: Supporting the organizational challenges to managing complex projects Improving project ROI using agile project portfolio management Improving project success through staffing processes and practices Establishing and maturing an enterprise project support office Each is discussed from the perspective of the organization and how its senior management team can establish structure and processes to support the management of complex projects, programs, and portfolios.

Author Biography

Robert K. Wysockl, PhD, has over forty years of experience as a project management consultant and trainer, information systems manager, systems and management consultant, author, training developer, and provider. He is the founder of Enterprise Information Insights, Inc., a project management consulting and training practice. He has written twenty books on project management and information systems management.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Preface	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
The Nature of Project Complexity and Uncertainty	p. 1
The Risk Mitigation and Business Value Roles of the Senior Management Team	p. 2
Organizational Culture and Velocity	p. 3
How to Carefully Manage the Creative Process	p. 3
About this Book	p. 3
Who Should Read this Book	p. 7
Challenges to Supporting Complex Projects	p. 9
The Project Landscape	p. 11
The Nature of Project Complexity and Uncertainty	p. 13
Goal and Solution Clarity	p. 14
Through the Eyes of Senior Management Team Members	p. 19
Putting It All Together	p. 22
Project Management Life Cycle Models	p. 23
Traditional Project Management	p. 24
Agile Project Management	p. 28
Extreme Project Management	p. 32
Emertxe Project Management	p. 35
How to Choose the Best Fit Project Management Life Cycle	p. 36
Putting It All Together	p. 39
The Complex Project Team	p. 41
What Is a Complex Project Team?	p. 41
Complex Project Team Position Family	p. 42
Complex Project Manager Use of the Complex Project Team Profile	p. 49
Senior Management Team Applications of the Complex Project Manager Position Family Profile	p. 50
Putting It All Together	p. 52
Summary	p. 53
Organizational Challenges and Mitigation Strategies	p. 53
Executive Bookshelf	p. 56
Improving Project Success With Human Resource Strategies and Processes	p. 59
Project Manager, Business Analyst, Business Process Professional, and Information Technology Professional Integration	p. 61
Position Families	p. 62
An Historical Perspective	p. 63
Complex Project Team and Complex Projects	p. 66
Putting It All Together	p. 78
A Professional Development Model	p. 79
The Professional Development Plan	p. 80
Role of the Senior Management Team in the Personal Development Program	p. 88
Putting It All Together	p. 89
Integrating the Project Manager, Business Analyst, Business Process Professional, and Information Technology Professional into the Project Landscape	p. 91
Project Complexity Assessment	p. 91
Generalists Versus Specialists	p. 94
Project Manager, Business Analyst, Business Process, and Information Technology Skill Profile	p. 96
Mapping the Project Managers and Business Analysts into the Project Landscape	p. 100
Putting It All Together	p. 101
Summary	p. 103
Organizational Challenges and Mitigation Strategies	p. 103
Executive Bookshelf	p. 106
Improving Project Return on Investment (ROI) Using Agile Project Portfolio Management	p. 107
The Project Birth and Death Process	p. 109
Project Birth Process	p. 110
Project Maturation Process	p. 118
Project Death Process	p. 118
Putting It All Together	p. 119
Agile Project Portfolio Management Process	p. 121
What Is a Project Portfolio?	p. 122
What Is Agile Project Portfolio Management?	p. 123
Putting It All Together	p. 133
An Agile Portfolio Strategy	p. 135
Adapting the Project Management Life Cycle Models to the Agile Project Portfolio Management Model	p. 135
Problem/Opportunity Prioritization	p. 137
Strategic Alignment Model	p. 138
Alternatives to the Strategic Alignment Model	p. 140
Putting It All Together	p. 150
Summary	p. 151
Organizational Challenges and Mitigation Strategies	p. 151
Executive Bookshelf	p. 155
Establishing and Maturing an Enterprise Project Support Office	p. 157
Organizing and Defining Your Project Support Office	p. 159
Definition of a Project Support Office	p. 159
Spotting Symptoms that You Need a Project Support Office	p. 166
Organization and Placement of a Project Support Office	p. 171
Steps to Establishing a Project Support Office	p. 173
Putting It All Together	p. 174
Growing and Maturing Your Project Support Office	p. 175
Project Support Office Stages of Growth	p. 175
A Step-by-Step Plan	p. 177
Challenges to Implementing a Project Support Office	p. 182
Putting It All Together	p. 183
The Future of the Project Support Office	p. 185
Hub and Spoke BP4SO	p. 187
Putting It All Together	p. 199
Summary	p. 201
Organizational Challenges and Mitigation Strategies	p. 201
Executive Bookshelf	p. 203
Next Steps	p. 205
Define Your Role in Supporting Complex Projects	p. 205
How Will You Make It Happen?	p. 205
Final Thoughts on the Book	p. 209
About the Author	p. 211
Index	p. 213
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