Harvard Business Essentials Managing Projects Large and Small

by Luecke, Richard

• ISBN13: 9781591393214
• ISBN10: 1591393213
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-01
• Publisher: Harvard Business School Pr

Summary

Managing Projects Large and Small: The Fundamental Skills for Delivering on Cost and On Time When it comes to project management, success lies in the details. This book walks managers through every step of project oversight from start to finish. Thanks to the book's comprehensive information on everything from planning and budgeting to team building and after-project reviews, managers will master the discipline and skills they need to achieve stellar results without wasting time and money. The Harvard Business Essentialsseries is for managers at all levels but is especially relevant for new managers. It offers on-the-spot guidance, coaching, and tools on the most relevant topics in business. Each book includes the critical information that managers need on a given topic-from budgeting to hiring to communication to strategy-and offers interactive tools and worksheets that translate advice into action. Providing ready answers to day-to-day issues, these guides make sound, trusted mentoring advice available whenever managers need it. Other Books in the HBE Series: Managing Change and Transition Hiring and Keeping the Best People Finance for Managers Business Communications Innovation Negotiation

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
1 Project Management As a Process	1	(12)
Four Phases
Defining and Organizing the Project	3	(5)
Planning the Project	8	(2)
Managing Project Execution	10	(1)
Closing the Project	10	(1)
Summing Up	11	(2)
2 The Cast of Characters	13	(26)
Who's Who in Project Management
Project Sponsor	14	(2)
Project Manager	16	(1)
Project Team Leader	17	(6)
Project Team Members	23	(7)
Characteristics of Effective Project Teams	30	(7)
Summing Up	37	(2)
3 A Written Charter	39	(10)
Your Marching Orders
A Mandate for Action	40	(2)
Clarify Objectives	42	(2)
Make It Time-Bound	44	(1)
Be Specific About Project Scope	45	(2)
Summing Up	47	(2)
4 A Framework for Action	49	(20)
Important First Steps
Decisions, Decisions	50	(4)
Tracking and Disposing of Unresolved Issues	54	(1)
Documenting Decisions and Actions	55	(1)
Creating a Communications Plan	56	(5)
Bringing People into Contact	61	(3)
Developing the Budget	64	(2)
Summing Up	66	(3)
5 Work Breakdown	69	(12)
From Huge Job to Manageable Tasks
Work Breakdown Structure	71	(2)
Time and Resource Estimates	73	(2)
Assigning the Work	75	(1)
An Extended Example	76	(2)
Shall We Proceed?	78	(1)
Summing Up	79	(2)
6 Scheduling the Work	81	(12)
Put the Horse Before the Cart
Examine the Relationships Between Tasks	82	(2)
Create a Draft Schedule	84	(5)
Optimize the Schedule	89	(1)
Using Scheduling Software	90	(1)
Summing Up	91	(2)
7 Adjustments and Trade-Offs	93	(8)
More Fine Tuning
When the Project Won't Fit	94	(2)
Challenge Assumptions	96	(3)
Revisit Tasks and Times	99	(1)
Summing Up	100	(1)
8 Managing Risk	101	(10)
Scanning the Hazy Horizon
What Is Risk Management?	103	(1)
Identify and Prioritize Project Risks	104	(1)
Take Actions to Avoid or Minimize Risks	105	(2)
Develop Contingency Plans to Handle Potential Setbacks	107	(2)
Summing Up	109	(2)
9 Project Adaptation	111	(10)
Dealing with What You Cannot Anticipate
Sources of Unanticipated Risk-and Their Consequences	113	(3)
The Adaptive Management Approach	116	(4)
Summing Up	120	(1)
10 Getting Off on the Right Foot	121	(8)
Project Needs to Keep in Mind
Why Launch Meetings Matter	122	(3)
Create Integrative Mechanisms	125	(1)
Establish Norms of Behavior	125	(3)
Summing Up	128	(1)
11 Keeping on Track	129	(16)
Maintaining Control
Monitoring and Controlling the Project	130	(5)
Dealing with People Issues	135	(5)
The Role of Communication	140	(1)
Handling Problems	141	(3)
Summing Up	144	(1)
12 The Closedown Phase	145	(10)
Wrapping It Up
Performance Evaluation	147	(1)
Documentation	148	(1)
Lessons Learned	149	(3)
Celebration	152	(1)
Summing Up	153	(2)
Appendix A: Useful Implementation Tools	155	(4)
Appendix B: A Guide to Effective Meetings	159	(4)
Notes	163	(2)
Glossary	165	(4)
For Further Reading	169	(2)
Index	171	(6)
About the Subject Adviser	177	(1)
About the Writer	178