A proliferation of new technologies has lulled many into thinking that we actually have to think less about how we communicate. In fact, communicating and collaborating across time, distance, and cultures has never been more complex or difficult. Written as a series of bulleted tips drawn from client experiences and best practices, Leading Effective Virtual Teams: Overcoming Time and Distance to Achieve Exceptional Results presents practical tips to help leaders engage and motivate their geographically dispersed project team members. If you're a leader of any type of virtual team and want to help your team members collaborate more effectively, then buy this book. You will learn how to: Build trust and cultivate relationships, virtually, across your team Design and facilitate virtual meetings that are focused and engaging Influence without authority Motivate and galvanize a virtual team for top performance Blend asynchronous and synchronous communications for better virtual collaboration Navigate cross-cultural and generational differences in the absence of vital visual cues Assess skills, strengths, aptitudes, and preferences from afar Handle other tough issues that can trip up virtual teams The ideas in this book are based on Nancy Settle-Murphy's decades of experience working as a change management consultant, facilitator, and trainer for project teams around the world. Designed to be read section by section in any order, this book shares approaches and techniques to help you address some of the toughest challenges virtual team leaders face, including keeping team members engaged from afar.

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.

This book covers methods adopted for undertaking the design and construction of civil engineering projects. The options for separate design and construction are compared with design and build projects, construction management, and man agement contracting. The salient differences are shown between the various con ditions of contract used. The roles of the engineer, employer's project manager or his representative under different forms of contract are compared. Requirements for the production of contract documents, specifications, tendering procedures and choice of contractor are set out. The engineer's powers and the duties of his resident engineer on the site of con struction are considered in detail. Records, filing systems, programme and progress charts used by the resident engineer are illustrated, and advice is given on the handling of safety problems and difficult situations on site. Problems of measurement and billing of quantities according to the civil engi neering standard method are described. Correct procedures for setting rates for varied work, payment for method-related items, and handling claims for unfore seen conditions under ICE Clause 12 are given. Difficulties with delay claims and situations where the contractor submits quotations before undertaking varied work are discussed. The approach is essentially practical throughout and covers many actual prob lems met on site, including measures that are advisable in relation to site surveys and investigations, construction of earthworks and pipelines, and the production and placing of concrete."

Timely and accessible content on the traditional project management activities of control, risk, time and cost, and quality and value
The Wiley Guides to the Management of Projects address critical, need-to-know information that will help professionals successfully manage projects in most businesses and help students learn the best practices of the industry. They contain not only well-known and widely used basic project management practices but also the newest and most cutting-edge concepts in the broader theory and practice of managing projects.
This second book in the series explains the "traditional" project management activities of control, risk, time, cost, and quality. The expert contributors show that project control represents more than the simple evaluation of project performance. They detail the principles of project time and cost control and offer a detailed review of critical chain project management. In addition, they provide a framework for project performance measurement, show how to make risk management more effective, and tell how to improve quality management.
Touching on all of the fundamental levers of project control, this book will prove to be a comprehensive "owner's manual" for project and team managers, project team members, engineers, business consultants, and all those involved in any aspect of project management.
Complete your understanding of project management with these other books in The Wiley Guides to the Management of Projects series:
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The Wiley Guide to Project Organization & Project Management Competencies
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The Wiley Guide to Project Technology, Supply Chain & Procurement Management
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The Wiley Guide to Project, Program & Portfolio Management

Most business leaders struggle mightily when transitioning from working in the U.S. or any modern country to working in Shanghai, Dubai, Nairobi or Pune. Despite organizational efforts to facilitate this transition through training and coaching, leaders often find themselves bewildered and frustrated by the unwritten and often unacknowledged cultural dictates of a given country. These leaders struggle with everything from motivating direct reports to getting deals done. They discover that their best practices have little to do with the practices that have been ingrained in societies for thousands of years. This book is written to provide inside information about working outside traditional business environments. It presents nine rules that will serve leaders well no matter where they're stationed--Asia, South America, the Middle East and elsewhere. As readers will discover, these rules are not taught in typical global leadership courses. Instead, they have emerged from the work of the authors with leading companies in foreign countries or from our efforts to coach others in all parts of the globe.

Computer Science Project Work: Principles and Pragmatics is essential reading for lecturers and course designers who want to improve their handling of project work on specific courses, and deans and department heads who are interested in strategic issues and comparative practices. It explores working practices within the curriculum and provides a resource of guidelines and practical advice, including tried and tested "good ideas" and case studies of innovative practices.
It looks at different approaches to key aspects of project work such as:
- Allocation
- Supervision
- Assessment Integration with the curriculum
and allows readers to "mix and match" approaches to create a system which suits their individual needs.
"Computer Science Project Work: Principles and Pragmatics is passionate, well-researched, and well-written...I wish I had this book from the beginning of my teaching career, and you will too."
"Susan Fowler, Professor of Technical Communication and " "Usability, Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, New York"
"Sally Fincher and her colleagues have assembled a cornucopia of practical advice and case studies, solidly referenced. This is the source book on using projects in computer science education."
"David Baume, Director of Teaching Development, Centre for " "Higher Education Practice, The Open University, UK"
..".very well-researched, it covers all the aspects, from the allocation of projects and teams, to managing the project process, assessing projects, and so on.....It will prove invaluable to all lecturers involved in teaching computing...."
"Professor Mike Holcombe, University of Sheffield, UK "

Presenting findings from research into Sweden's leading multinationals this book focuses on engineering companies operating in global industries such as pharmaceutical, aerospace, packing systems and automotive. It explores research and practice within the area of HRM focusing on project-based organizations.

I first became interested in the methods of planning the sequence and timing of jobs on large-scale development projects, as a field officer involved in planning and implementing mechanised farming schemes in Uganda in the mid-sixties. This interest was reinforced by experience of agro-industrial projects in both Nigeria and Iran, when it became obvious that the lax traditional methods of both planning and controll ing the implementation of agricultural and other rural development projects were very ineffective compared with those already in use in other disciplines. An extended spell as Resident Adviser on a World Bank project to strengthen planning and project management services in the agricultural sector in Sind Province, Pakistan, stimulated this interest further, and gave opportunities to develop the use of improved methods on some very complex schemes. This book summarises the experience gained in adapting critical path methods, well established in other fields, to Third World development projects, with their peculiar problems. It would not have been possible to reach this point without the help and stimulation of discussions with a large number of colleagues, includ ing John Joyce (then of Hunting Technical Services), Hatsuya Azumi (World Bank), and-particularly-Zaffar Sohrwardy and Akhtar Ali of Aarkays Associates in Karachi, during our work together. My thanks are also due to Yasin Mohammed, who typed most of the original draft; Anwar Mohammed and Irene Mills for final typing; and to my wife, Jill, for drawing the original figures.

Finding ways to improve margins can be the difference between organizations that thrive and those that simply survive during times of economic uncertainty. Describing why cost reductions can be just as powerful as increases in revenue, Total Quality Management for Project Management explains how to integrate time-tested project management tools with the power of Total Quality Management (TQM) to achieve significant cost reductions. Detailing the ins and outs of applying project management methods to TQM activities, the book provides the understanding you'll need to enhance the effectiveness of your TQM work. To clear up any confusion about what a true quality improvement is, it includes sections that cover the fundamentals of total quality management and defines the terms used throughout the text. The book examines profitability as it relates to product cost-including the initial work determining investment paybacks. It compares TQM/PM versus Six Sigma and illustrates the use of scrum in the context of TQM for improving quality initiatives. Complete with real-world success stories that facilitate comprehension, it illustrates methods that can help to minimize distractions and keep your team focused. The authors consider the full range of quality improvement tools as applied within the framework of project management. For the section of the book on the application of TQM to scrum, they demonstrate how these analytical methods can be used on the data produced within a scrum project and made into actionable information. Filled with innovative methods for improving costs, the text arms you with the tools to determine the approaches best suited to your corporate culture and capabilities.

Practical Project Management for Building and Construction covers the 14 knowledge areas of project management that are essential for successful projects in the construction industry. For each knowledge area, it explains the processes for scope, time, risk, cost, and resource management. Filled with work and process flow diagrams, it demonstrates how projects progress throughout the project life cycle. The book details the processes that must be included in the management process to deliver projects on time and within budget. The processes and knowledge areas described reference the ISO 10006 Standard (guidelines for quality management in projects), the international project management standards of the PMBOK (R) Guide, and the rapidly emerging ISO 21500 standard. Coverage includes change management, working environment, quality and communication, and procurement management. Illustrating the entire project process, this pioneering reference: Reports on regulations from the European Union and the United States that impact construction projects Identifies the knowledge areas a project manager must control Examines time-tested strategies, various types of contracts, remuneration forms, and contract close out Includes many examples and templates to help you generate essential project documents The book supplies accessible information on a range of helpful tools such as work breakdown structure and earned value. Explaining how to use a network diagram with its gaps and critical paths, the methods described in the text will help you control the WHAT, HOW, and WHEN to do things as well as WHO is responsible for doing them, which will lead to successful project management. Because a large part of the book addresses general project management concepts, the lessons learned will also be helpful to project managers outside the building and construction industry.

Technology breakthroughs in sustainable renewable energy and energy conservation technologies require that there be a strong institutional ecosystem in place which supports innovation, but the nature of this foundation and how it works is not well-known. Becoming a leader necessitates new forms of cross-sector cooperation.

The approach to project management is too often formulaic, describing what should be done and how to do it, but not adequately describing why those actions are important. "Improving Project Performance" outlines the what and how of project management, emphasizing why actions matter, the overall intention of the formulaic steps, and the strengths or weakness of various tools and techniques. Successful project teams must understand and focus intently on what Wellman describes as the eight essential habits of successful project teams: -Nurture a shared vision of what is to be accomplished
-Translate that vision into a coherent set of performance specifications
-Have an integrated plan for accomplishing the purpose
-Measure their performance against the plan and their progress toward the requirements
-Allow for uncertainty
-Manage change
-Continually act to influence their future
-Over-communicate

The concept of sustainability has grown in recognition and importance. The pressure on companies to broaden their reporting and accountability from economic performance for shareholders, to sustainability performance for all stakeholders is leading to a change of mindset in consumer behaviour and corporate policies. How can we develop prosperity without compromising the life and needs of future generations? Sustainability in Project Management explores and identifies the questions surrounding the integration of the concepts of sustainability in projects and project management and provides valuable guidance and insights. Sustainability relates to multiple perspectives, economical, environmental and social, but also to responsibility and accountability and values in terms of ethics, fairness and equality. The authors will inspire project managers to be aware of these considerations, and to apply them to the role they play in projects, not just 'doing things right' but 'doing the right things right'.

This book presents the current and future issues facing opera houses and opera companies. Problems in different environments need different solutions. In particular, it opposes the American method of managing cultural institutions, preferring a European one where public support and funds plays a major role.

This book gives an alternative observational scheme to better understand knowledge creation and learning in project-based companies. It builds upon emergent new ways of looking at projects which is important - as any discipline stays alive by reflection and re-framing ideas as they are challenged, argued and clarified.

Focusing on turning an initial idea into a project with a successful outcome, this book fills a gap in current literature on project management and is thoroughly grounded in the latest research in this field. It emphasizes the practical application of decision making based on qualitative and judgmental information.

This book offers practical guidelines to project directors in the publishing industry for managing organizational changes, introducing new business models, and implementing book projects. It describes every step of project development from launch to completion and helps readers to avoid pitfalls with instructions, checklists, and tips. The author presents a unique cross-section of examples for applying project management methods.

Derived from industry-training classes that the author teaches at the Embedded Systems Institute at Eindhoven, the Netherlands and at Buskerud University College at Kongsberg in Norway, Systems Architecting: A Business Perspective places the processes of systems architecting in a broader context by juxtaposing the relationship of the systems architect with enterprise and management. This practical, scenario-driven guide fills an important gap, providing systems architects insight into the business processes, and especially into the processes to which they actively contribute.

The book uses a simple reference model to enable understanding of the inside of a system in relation to its context. It covers the impact of tool selection and brings balance to the application of the intellectual tools versus computer-aided tools. Stressing the importance of a clear strategy, the authors discuss methods and techniques that facilitate the architect's contribution to the strategy process. They also give insight into the needs and complications of harvesting synergy, insight that will help establish an effective synergy-harvesting strategy. The book also explores the often difficult relationship between managers and systems architects.

Written in an approachable style, the book discusses the breadth of the human sciences and their relevance to systems architecting. It highlights the relevance of human aspects to systems architects, linking theory to practical experience when developing systems architecting competence.

The organizational environment in the 21st century is not what it was in the 20th Century. It metamorphosed with bulk outsourcing and computer-based decision support tools, and easily coupled with low-cost PC hardware which has created improvements in the productivity of the people, resulting in the reduced numbers. Managers of today manage the results expected of the position rather than managing to get things done as it was expected. In the physical sciences, academia leads the industry whilst in social sciences like management, marketing and economics, industry leads academia. To bridge the knowledge gap that exists between theory and practice, two practitioners from the industry have authored Managing People at Work - A New Paradigm for the 21st Century. Specific new concepts discussed in this book include: - Organizational framework for effective management of people - Capacity planning to optimize the numbers and the costs - Acquisition of Human Resources to take advantage of outsourcing and freelancers - Managing people at work or work management - Employee relations of geographically spread workforce - Motivation and morale detailing only the effective models and a model developed and used effectively by the authors - Performance management supplanting the performance appraisals - Skill retention and development - Attrition management rather than employee retention - Roles and responsibilities of different agencies in the organization to ensure effective human resources management - Tools used in HRM

This book presents the current and future issues facing opera houses and opera companies. Problems in different environments need different solutions. In particular, it opposes the American method of managing cultural institutions, preferring a European one where public support and funds plays a major role.

All companies draw on resources outside the business, and have to compete with other enterprises to attract these resources. Standard texts on management and organization argue that the best way to get ahead in business is by getting a firm grasp of this external environment, by 'representing' it internally. Kaj Koskinen claims that this is the wrong approach.
He argues that business knowledge doesn't just represent the world outside the company but is a construction of the company and the people working in it. The success of a company depends less on how clearly it represents the external environment than on factors such as institutional memory, a culture of trust and appropriate organizational mechanisms for learning. In short, the most successful companies are those which are what the author calls autopoietic knowledge systems. In this book, he presents a novel scheme for understanding knowledge creation and learning in project-based enterprises. He shows how autopoietic knowledge systems can be built and the benefits they can bring.
All scholars and students of knowledge management will benefit from the radical new approach to business organization presented in this book. It will also be of great interest to knowledge managers looking to understand how they can drive their businesses forward.

The widespread deployment of millions of current and emerging software applications has placed software economic studies among the most critical of any form of business analysis. Unfortunately, a lack of an integrated suite of metrics makes software economic analysis extremely difficult. The International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG), a nonprofit and member-governed organization, has become the recognized leader in promoting the effective management of application software development and maintenance activities. The IFPUG Guide to IT and Software Measurement brings together 52 leading software measurement experts from 13 different countries who share their insights and expertise. Covering measurement programs, function points in measurement, new technologies, and metrics analysis, this volume: Illustrates software measurement's role in new and emerging technologies Addresses the impact of agile development on software measurement Presents measurement as a powerful tool for auditing and accountability Includes metrics for the CIO Edited by IFPUG's Management and Reporting Committee, the text is useful for IT project managers, process improvement specialists, measurement professionals, and business professionals who need to interact with IT professionals and participate in IT decision-making. It includes coverage of cloud computing, agile development, quantitative project management, process improvement, measurement as a tool in accountability, project ROI measurement, metrics for the CIO, value stream mapping, and benchmarking.

The field of project management experiences conceptual, technological, and decision issues when projects are created, implemented, and executed without the needed strategic connection. It is important to improve the connection between knowledge management and project management practices. The Handbook of Research on Effective Project Management through the Integration of Knowledge and Innovation bridges the gap between knowledge management and project management practices by providing both classical and modern views on their relationship. Discussing principles, practices, methods, and real case studies, this book describes the importance of aligning projects with a knowledge-based strategic plan to the benefit of practitioners, professionals, scholars, and researchers in the fields of management and information science.

Clear-Cut Ways to Manage Inevitable Project Changes
If you're a typical project manager, you're probably aware of the importance of change management but may not have the time or expertise to develop a full-blown plan. Here's a quick and practical guide to applying the disciplines of proven change management practices without the rigor of complex processes.
Part of the "Project Manager's Spotlight" series from Harbor Light Press, this straightforward book offers solutions to real-life project change scenarios. Author Claudia Baca highlights critical components of change control and equips you with tools, techniques, checklists, and templates you can put to use immediately. By following a realistic case study from start to finish, you'll see how a project manager deals with each concept. Ultimately, this book will help you establish effective guidelines for dealing with change and provide you the flexibility to minimize disruptions and derailments.
"Project Manager's Spotlight on Change Management "teaches you how to: Define roles and responsibilities of the change management team Build a process flow one step at a time Design your own change management system Process exceptions and escalations Create the necessary documentation

"Focusing on turning an initial idea into a project with a successful outcome, this book fills a gap in current literature on project management and is thoroughly grounded in the latest research in this field. It emphasizes the practical application of decision making based on qualitative and judgmental information"--