Managing Projects

This book will undoubtedly become one of the classics of the project management literature.There will be a growing need for project managers who can look beyond the internal processes of their projects to the organisational, technological and socio-economic contexts in which projects must be managed. A good starting point would be for all project managers to read this.book.- Construction Management and Economics

Managing Projects offers a hands-on resource for building practical competencies for anyone who must manage one or more small- to mid-size projects. The book is filled with targeted processes, tools, techniques, and influencing skills that address the more difficult "people" side of project management. The author shows how to: influence stakeholders 360 degrees around you; encourage accountability from others who do not work for you and have plenty of projects to juggle without adding your priority; negotiate time, cost, quality, and scope with executives; and courageously tell the truth and get the help you need early enough. Praise for Managing Projects "No one knows more about project management than Lou Russell. Her easy coaching style paired with specific methods makes this book a real winner. This is one book all leaders, managers, supervisors, and project leads will use as their essential 'go to' resource."—Elaine Biech, ebb associates inc.; bestselling author, The Business of Consulting "Lou Russell has done it again! Managing Projects is comprehensive, practical, and easy to understand and apply to your projects, big or small. The book gives helpful tips and definitions that will enable the reader to move through the project management process with ease. Thanks, Lou, for creating such a great resource." —Amy L. Dinning, manager of Leadership and Talent Development, Saint-Gobain North America "Managing Projects is more than a book. It is a workshop between the covers, with one of the finest learning facilitators as your guide. If you find yourself dealing with projects in your work (and whether you know it or not, this is you), using the techniques in this book will make you less stressed and more successful." —Kevin Eikenberry, bestselling author, Remarkable Leadership "As the leader of an international logistics company, I know how critical project management is to meeting the needs of our customers. To hit their due dates we have to hit our own, with no excuses. Lou's practical approach to project management fits well into our time-constrained, date-focused workplace. It's simple, it's real, and it works." —Cathy Langham, CEO, Langham Logistics

The application of project management techniques is considered standard practice in today's business environment. What is not widely known is that the learning gap separating good project management from exceptional project management is not as great as one might think yet, the difference in the return on value can be quite significant. Many factors determine how projects are approached, such as rapid shifts in technology, a fluctuating market, changes in a business's organizational structure, and politics. As these forces add to a project's complexity and duration, project managers must develop strategies that allow them to think outside the box and create new on-the-go methodologies. Managing Complex Projects delivers the tools necessary to take on an unpredictable economy with an adaptable battle plan proven to meet the differing needs of an ever-expanding set of partners and stakeholders involved in a project. This book shows how to solve some of the issues facing today's project manager, including: Dealing with multiple virtual teams located around the world Working with partners and stakeholders that may have limited project management tools and experience Adjusting to long-term projects in which the stakeholders may change Managing projects where stated goals and objectives differ among stakeholders This book shows how companies such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and Siemens are exploring new avenues to aid them in taking on complex projects by combining "hard" skills, such as risk management and scheduling, with "soft" skills that focus on interpersonal communication. Managing Complex Projects serves as a lifesaver for time-crunched project managers looking for new ways to maximize their efforts.

In this third edition of Managing Projects in Organizations, J. Davidson Frame updates and expands on his classic book to provide an accessible introduction to the field of project management. Drawing on more than twenty-five years of consulting and training experience, Frame's most current edition of his landmark book includes a wealth of new topics, including: Managing virtual teams The evolving concept of the project manager's role Comanaged project teams The project office Project portfolios Web-based project management International project management

You've been asked to manage a key project--or perhaps you've volunteered for an assignment that could advance your career. So how do you make sure the project succeeds? Managing Projects walks you quickly through the basics, including: Drawing up a realistic schedule and project plan Monitoring key tasks and benchmarks Communicating with stakeholders Bringing the project to a close Don't have much time? Get up to speed fast on the most essential business skills with HBR's 20-Minute Manager series. Whether you need a crash course or a brief refresher, each book in the series is a concise, practical primer that will help you brush up on a key management topic. Advice you can quickly read and apply, for ambitious professionals and aspiring executives--from the most trusted source in business. Also available as an ebook.

Project managers appear to accept the ’iron triangle’ of cost, budget and quality but in reality focus more on being on time and budget. Quality in projects is often paid mere lip service and relegated to tick-box compliance. This lack of clarity and focus on quality is often the source of project failures. Ron Basu’s Managing Quality in Projects shines the spotlight on this aspect of project management that can often be overshadowed by the pressure to deliver on time and on budget. His investigation focuses initially on defining the dimensions of quality in project management and identifying sources of measurement for project excellence. Thereafter he expands his focus to discuss which tools can be effectively used in the quest for achieving and sustaining project excellence; and which processes are important in assessing the project maturity. The text also explores how the successes of operational excellence concepts, such as supply chain management, Lean Thinking and Six Sigma may be gainfully deployed in enhancing project quality and excellence. Finally a structured implantation plan guides those directly involved in project delivery, including suppliers, in how to ’make it happen’. A shared understanding and implementation of project quality by key project stakeholders will go a long way to ensuring a stable platform for delivering successful projects with longer lasting outcomes. It is also a fundamental building block in any organization’s strategy for improving consistency and achieving sustainable performance. On that basis, Ron Basu’s book is a must-have reference and guide for all project organizations.

With so many organisations using projects to implement change, and easy-to-use computer packages greatly reducing the mechanistic aspects of project planning, project managers now require more highly developed leadership skills than even before. Managing Projects, Managing People draws on theoretical aspects of managing and mitigating risks, motivational and leadership theory and excellent communication to provide the reader with the skills required for project management in today's business environment. In addition to the theoretical foundations, attention is given to PRINCE (Projects IN Controlled Environments) that supports and frames the application of projects to ensure conformance, compliance, adequate reporting procedures, due diligence and communication to all stakeholders. Managing Projects, Managing People takes a nontraditional approach to project management and is designed to facilitate the reader's understanding of the principles of managing a project. The book addresses most types of project, but particular emphasis is given to the non-manufacturing sector and, especially, the services sector. Chapters contain examples and relevant case studies to further demonstrate and support the foundations and skills addressed throughout. For academics prescribing this text, a comprehensive instructor's manual and power point presentations are provided on CD.

Project management is of critical importance in construction, yet its execution poses major challenges. In order to keep a project on track, decisions often have to be made before all the necessary information is available. Drawing on a wide range of research, Managing Construction Projects proposes new ways of thinking about project management in construction, exploring the skills required to manage uncertainty and offering techniques for thinking about the challenges involved. The second edition takes the information processing perspective introduced in the first edition and develops it further. In particular, this approach deepens the reader’s understanding of the dynamics in the construction project process – from the value proposition inherent in the project mission, to the functioning asset that generates value for its owners and users. Managing Construction Projects is a unique and indispensible contribution to the available literature on construction project management. It will be of particular benefit to advanced students of construction and construction project management, as well as contractors and quantity surveyors. Reviews of the First edition: "A massive review of the art and science of the management of projects that has the great virtue of being a good read wherever it is touched. It spills the dirt on things that went wrong, elucidates the history so you can understand the industry's current stance, draws on other countries experience and explains the latest management processes. Throughout it is liberally sprinkled with anecdotes and case histories which amply illustrate the dos and don't for practitioners wishing to deliver projects on time to expected quality and price. A valuable book for students and practitioners alike." —John D Findlay, Director, Stent "This is a valuable source for practitioners and students. It covers the A-Z of project management in a confident contemporary manner, and provides a powerful and much needed conceptual perspective in place of a purely prescriptive approach. The engaging presentation introduces a range of challenges to established thinking about project management, often by making comparisons between practices in the UK and those of other countries." —Peter Lansley, Professor of Construction Management, University of Reading "A refreshing and unique study of information management and its impact upon international construction project management.... The book is well presented and written, logical and succinct and is flexible enough to allow readers to either read from start to finish or to dip into selected chapters. This book deserves to be an established text for any construction or civil engineering under - and/or postgraduate course." —CNBR, 25th November 2003 "Generous use is made of anecdotes andc case histories throughout to support the theory. the book illustrates the mistakes made by others, and the means to deliver projects on time and to cost." —Building Services Journal, April 2004