The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, 2nd Edition

by Eric Verzuh ( )

• ISBN13: 9780471692843
• ISBN10: 0471692840
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

An updated and revised edition of a bestselling guide to project managementThe first edition of The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management sold over 100,000 copies and has been widely adopted in university courses and corporate training programs around the world. The book teaches the basic methods for defining, planning, and tracking a project, as well as techniques for leading and building strong project teams.This new edition includes:Downloadable, customizable project management formsStudy aids for passing the popular Project Management Professional certification examGuidelines for building high-performance project teamsNew examples of project management at work in the 21st centuryEric Verzuh (Seattle, WA) is certified by the Project Management Institute and is President of The Versatile Company, which delivers project management training and consulting services to such companies as Adobe Systems, Inc., GE, Lockheed Martin, Nordstrom, and the United States Postal Service. He is also the author of The Portable MBA in Project Management (0-471-26899-2), from Wiley.

Author Biography

Eric Verzuh is President of The Versatile Company, which provides project management training and consulting to such major corporations as Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Adobe Systems, Inc., and the U.S. Postal Service

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
PART 1 INTRODUCTION
Project Management in a Changing World	2	(10)
Introduction	2	(1)
Project Management Is the New Critical Career Skill	3	(2)
The Increasing Pace of Change	5	(1)
Everyone Benefits from Understanding Project Management	6	(1)
Downloadable Forms for Project Management	6	(1)
Project Management: Art Informed by Science	7	(2)
Project Management Magnifies Other Strengths	9	(1)
End Point	10	(2)
The Project Environment	12	(24)
Introduction	12	(1)
Projects Require Project Management	12	(3)
The Evolution of a Discipline	15	(3)
The Definition of Success	18	(1)
The Cost-Schedule-Quality Equilibrium	19	(1)
The Ultimate Challenge: No Damage	20	(1)
Project Management Functions	20	(2)
Project Life Cycle	22	(3)
Organizing for Projects	25	(4)
Project Managers Are Leaders	29	(1)
End Point	30	(6)
PART 2 DEFINING THE PROJECT
Project Stakeholders	36	(10)
Introduction	36	(1)
Stakeholders Are the Heart of a Successful Project	37	(1)
Stakeholder Roles: Project Manager	37	(1)
Stakeholder Roles: Project Team	38	(1)
Stakeholder Roles: Management	39	(2)
Stakeholder Roles: Sponsor	41	(1)
Stakeholder Roles: The Customer	42	(2)
Lead the Stakeholders	44	(1)
End Point	44	(2)
Making the Rules	46	(39)
Introduction	46	(1)
Project Rules Are the Foundation	46	(2)
Publish a Project Charter	48	(3)
Write a Statement of Work	51	(1)
Statement of Work: Minimum Content	52	(6)
Responsibility Matrix	58	(3)
Creating a Communication Plan	61	(6)
The Project Proposal Launches the Project	67	(4)
End Point	71	(14)
PART 3 THE PLANNING PROCESS
Risk Management	85	(28)
Introduction	85	(1)
The Risk Management Advantage	86	(1)
All Project Management Is Risk Management	86	(2)
The Risk Management Framework	88	(2)
Step One: Identify the Risks	90	(4)
Step Two: Developing a Response Strategy	94	(11)
Step Three: Establish Contingency and Reserve	105	(1)
Step Four: Continuous Risk Management	106	(1)
End Point	107	(6)
Work Breakdown Structure	113	(18)
Introduction	113	(1)
Defining the Work Breakdown Structure	113	(4)
Building a Work Breakdown Structure	117	(3)
Criteria for a Successful Work Breakdown Structure	120	(2)
Work Package Size	122	(4)
Planning for Quality	126	(2)
Breaking Down Large Programs	128	(1)
Watch for Different Terminology	128	(2)
Contractors or Vendors Can Provide a WBS	130	(1)
End Point	130	(1)
Realistic Scheduling	131	(35)
Introduction	131	(1)
Planning Overview	132	(1)
Planning Step Two: Identify Task Relationships	133	(3)
Planning Step Three: Estimate Work Packages	136	(7)
Planning Step Four: Calculate an Initial Schedule	143	(12)
Planning Step Five: Assign and Level Resources	155	(7)
End Point	162	(4)
The Dynamics of Accurate Estimating	166	(37)
Introduction	166	(1)
Estimating Fundamentals	167	(5)
Estimating Techniques	172	(10)
Building the Detailed Budget Estimate	182	(7)
Generating the Cash Flow Schedule	189	(1)
End Point	190	(13)
Balancing the Project	203	(29)
Introduction	203	(1)
Three Levels of Balancing a Project	204	(1)
Balancing at the Project Level	205	(12)
Balancing at the Business Case Level	217	(5)
Balancing at the Enterprise Level	222	(1)
End Point	223	(9)
PART 4 CONTROLLING THE PROJECT
Building a High-Performance Project Team	232	(40)
Introduction	232	(5)
A Framework for Building High-Performance Teams	237	(3)
Leadership Responsibilities	240	(4)
Building a Positive Team Environment	244	(1)
Ground Rules	244	(1)
Team Identity	245	(5)
Team Listening Skills	250	(4)
Meeting Management	254	(2)
Summary of Building a Positive Team Environment	256	(1)
Collaborative Problem Solving	256	(1)
Problem Analysis	257	(3)
Decision Modes	260	(3)
Conflict Management	263	(3)
Continuous Learning	266	(3)
Summary of Collaborative Problem Solving	269	(1)
Job Satisfaction	270	(1)
End Point	270	(2)
Communication	272	(33)
Introduction	272	(1)
Project Communication	272	(1)
Communicating within the Project Team	273	(8)
Communicating with Management and Customers	281	(1)
Control Documents	282	(1)
The Change Management Process	282	(4)
Configuration Management	286	(2)
Change Management Guidelines Are Essential for Managing Expectations	288	(1)
Closeout Reporting	288	(1)
End Point	289	(16)
Measuring Progress	305	(19)
Introduction	305	(1)
Measuring Schedule Performance	305	(4)
Measuring Cost Performance	309	(2)
Earned Value Reporting	311	(9)
Cost and Schedule Baselines	320	(2)
End Point	322	(2)
PART 5 PUTTING THE DISCIPLINE TO WORK
Enterprise Project Management	324	(47)
Introduction	324	(2)
Defining Enterprise Project Management	326	(2)
Three Tiers of Management within EPM	328	(4)
The Four Components of EPM	332	(1)
Establish Consistent EPM Processes	332	(7)
Technology Enables EPM Processes	339	(7)
The People Who Deliver Projects	346	(2)
Support Project Management: The Project Office	348	(7)
Organize for Project Management	355	(6)
Managing the Change to Enterprise Project Management	361	(6)
End Point	367	(4)
Application is the Art: Solving Common Project Problems	371	(8)
Introduction	371	(1)
Responsibility Beyond Your Authority	371	(1)
Disaster Recovery	372	(1)
Reducing the Time to Market	373	(1)
When the Customer Delays the Project	374	(1)
The Impossible Dream	375	(1)
Fighting Fires	376	(1)
Managing Volunteers	376	(1)
Achieving the Five Project Success Factors	377	(1)
End Point	377	(2)
Appendix: The Detailed Planning Model	379	(10)
Notes	389	(4)
Index	393