Project Management for Dummies

Autorentext

Nick Graham is founder and director of Inspirandum Ltd, and is a member of the Association for Project Management and of the Institute of Directors. His consultancy work has ranged from helping plan complex projects to advising senior managers on how to implement project management approaches.

Klappentext
Learn to:

• Plan, execute and deliver your projects with confidence
• Stay in control to deliver on time, within budget and to the right quality

• Motivate your teams to perform to their full potential Guide your project to success, stay within budget and reduce risk Updated with fresh content, tips, and tactics that cover everything you need to know from a project's start to finish, this fun and accessible guide takes the guesswork out of project management. Showing you what works—and what doesn't—it arms you with the latest best practices and techniques so you can plan and manage projects like a pro.

• Great expectations — identify unique characteristics of projects, set realistic expectations and focus on project justification
• Lay the foundation — build your plans with a sturdy structure from start to finish, develop the project schedule and estimate the resources you need
• Get your ducks lined up — assign roles and responsibilities and find out how to get the very best from your teams

• Get behind the wheel — discover how to monitor, track, analyse and report on your project&#39s progress once it&#39s up and running Open the book and find:

• Clear and simple explanations of powerful planning techniques
• Essential areas of financial planning and risk management
• Why understanding your project's stakeholders is key
• How to use technology to up your game
• The importance of good project governance
• How to write a convincing Business Case
• Access to online templates and checklists

Zusammenfassung
Manage your projects like a pro Now revised to stay in line with today's unique business challenges and project approaches, Project Management For Dummies, 2nd UK Portable Edition is updated with fresh content, tips, and tactics that cover everything you need to know from a project's start to finish. You'll find out how to make project planning both easier and more effective, manage resources to stay on track and within budget and utilise powerful risk management techniques to keep risks at a minimum during the project. Plus, clear descriptions of who should do what and plain-English explanations of the latest concepts behind best-practice project management techniques make it easy to stay focused and on target throughout the project's life cycle.

In today's time-pressured and cost-conscious global business environment, reliable project planning and competent delivery are more important than ever. Luckily, this approachable and on-the-go guide shows you what works and what doesn't, taking the guesswork out of project management and arming with the tools you need to succeed.

• Includes access to online templates and checklists
• Shows you how to avoid being part of the 70% project failure statistic
• Serves as the perfect portable reference to every aspect of project management
• Covers delivery-focused planning, team motivation techniques, and managing resources
  Whether you're taking on a project for the first time or a more experienced project manager looking to catch up on the latest thinking and techniques in the field, this fun and accessible guide makes it easy.

Inhalt

Introduction 1

Part I: Understanding Projects and What You Want to Achieve 7

Chapter 1: Success in Project Management 9

Chapter 2: Thinking Through the Life of Your Project 21

Chapter 3: Defining the Scope and Producing a Business Case 35

Chapter 4: Knowing the Stakeholders 51

Part II: Building the Plans 65

Chapter 5: Planning with Deliverables First 67

Chapter 6: Planning the Activities 91

Chapter 7: Looking at Resources 123

Chapter 8: Planning at Different Times and Levels 141

Chapter 9: Managing the Risk 149

Part III: Putting Your Management Team Together 169

Chapter 10: Organising the Project 171

Chapter 11: Working With Teams and Specialists 189

Chapter 12: Being an Effective Leader 205

Part IV: Steering the Project to Success 217

Chapter 13: Tracking Progress and Staying in Control 219

Chapter 14: Keeping Everyone Informed 235

Chapter 15: Closing the Project 247

Chapter 16: Using Technology to Up Your Game 257

Chapter 17: Governance and Standards 269

Part V: The Part of Tens 279

Chapter 18: Ten Questions to Ask Yourself for Project Planning 281

Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Writing a Convincing Business Case 287

Index 293