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Successful Project Management, Fourth Edition

 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