Successful Project Management, Fourth Edition
Author: Michael S. Dobson
Testing Format: multiple choice
Your Price: $159.00
ISBN: 9780761215677
Format: Paper or Softback
Overview
Deliver real results with PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project management is an increasingly essential skill for today’s fast-moving business world—and practitioners are in high demand. Serving as a comprehensive introduction, Successful Project Management, 4th editioncovers the fundamentals, focusing on practical tools and techniques students can apply immediately to complete projects on time, on budget, and on target. Packed with proven strategies, the course explains how to clarify objectives, avoid serious errors of omission, and eliminate costly mistakes.
Students will learn how to:
• Set measurable project objectives and create a practical plan to achieve them
• Control time, cost, and scope
• Obtain approval and buy-in from senior management and key stakeholders
• Create a work breakdown structure to ensure a solid foundation for project activities
• Use network diagramming to control the project schedule
• Employ standard estimating techniques, including analogous, parametric, and bottom-up methods
• Prepare a project plan using progressive elaboration and the Critical Path Method
• Lead the project team and manage relationships effectively and productively across the spectrum of project stakeholders
• Identify project risk and manage change
• Evaluate and report on project performance
Now completely revised and updated, Successful Project Management aligns with the 5th edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), and covers outsourcing and procurement planning, the role of the Project Management Office, the use of three-point estimating and Monte Carlo simulation, earned value management, and much more. Throughout, a case study reinforces key concepts while exercises and review questions provide students the opportunity to strengthen their skills and apply what they’ve learned.
Who Will Benefit
The course is designed for active project managers, technical team members who need to understand the overall project approach in order to perform their roles effectively, and senior managers and executives who must hire, supervise, and evaluate project managers in their employ.
Table of Contents
About This Course xiii
How to Take This Course xv
Pre-Test xvii
1 Understanding Project Management 1
Origins of Modern Project Management
Projects and Project Management
Projects and the Organization
The Process of Project Management
The Many Hats of a Project Manager
Recap
Review Questions
2 Defining the Project 21
From Problem to Project
Project Initiation
Project or Phase
Stakeholders
Constraints
Assumptions
Project Charter
Obtaining Approval and Buy-In
Progressive Elaboration and the Project Objective
Recap
Review Questions
3 Planning the Activities 41
Iterative Planning
Statement of Work
Requirements Document
Work Breakdown Structure
Network Diagramming
Gantt Chart
Recap
Review Questions
4 Estimating the Activities 65
Uncertainty in Project Planning
Estimating Methodologies
Standard Estimating Techniques
Three-Point Estimating
Issues in Estimating
Recap
Review Questions
5 Preparing a Project Plan 79
Progressive Elaboration and the Project Plan
Staffing and Resource Requirements
Building the Project Team
Loading and Leveling the Schedule
Outsourcing
Critical Path Method (CPM) Analysis
Communications and Stakeholder Management Plan
Recap
Review Questions
6 Managing Risk and Quality 95
The Project Universe
Risk
Risk Management Process
Quality
Recap
Review Questions
7 Transition to Execution 123
From Plan to Work
Plan Approval
Performance Measurement Baseline
Teams and Other Resources
Change Management
Solving Problems
Recap
Review Questions
8 Controlling Time, Cost, and Scope 139
Planning Monitoring and Control
Monitoring Project Status
Reporting Project Status
Risk Monitoring and Control
Monitoring and Controlling Quality
Earned Value Management
Updating the Project Plan and Baseline
Recap
Review Questions
9 Evaluating and Reporting on Project Performance 157
Project Closeout
Closeout Checklist
Transfer
Contract and Procurement Closure
Administrative Closure
Celebration and Reward
Lessons Learned
On to the Next Project!
Recap
Review Questions
Appendix A: Answers to Exercises and Case Studies 169
Appendix B: Glossary 195
Appendix C: Bibliography and Recommended Reading 209
Appendix D: Additional Resources 213
Post-Test 217
Index 223
List of Exercises
List of Exhibits