Software effort estimation is one of the oldest and most important problems in software project management, and thus today there are a large number of models, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses in general, and even more importantly, in relation to the environment and context in which it is to be applied.

Trendowicz and Jeffery present a comprehensive look at the principles of software effort estimation and support software practitioners in systematically selecting and applying the most suitable effort estimation approach. Their book not only presents "what" approach to take and "how" to apply and improve it, but also explains "why" certain approaches should be used in specific project situations. Moreover, it explains popular estimation methods, summarizes estimation best-practices, and provides guidelines for continuously improving estimation capability. Additionally, the book offers invaluable insights into project management in general, discussing issues including project trade-offs, risk assessment, and organizational learning.

Overall, the authors deliver an essential reference work for software practitioners responsible for software effort estimation and planning in their daily work and who want to improve their estimation skills. At the same time, for lecturers and students the book can serve as the basis of a course in software processes, software estimation, or project management.

Project management can be broadly defined as the process of managing, allocating and timing resources to achieve given objectives in an efficient and expedient manner. The builders of the pyramids in Egypt and the Maya temples in Central America are often cited as the world's first project managers. Without the help of computers or planning software, they managed exceptionally complex projects, using the simplest of tools. Nowadays projects, sets of activities which have a defined start point and a defined end state and which pursue a defined goal and use a defined set of resources, come in many and various forms. The Manhattan project which created the first atom bomb, the Apollo moon program, the construction of the Channel tunnel, the design of the Airbus, the development of new products, the construction of large office buildings, the relocation of a factory, the installation of a new information system, as well as the development of a marketing plan are all well-known examples of projects.

Our objectives in writing Project Scheduling: A Research Handbook are threefold: (1) Provide a unified scheme for classifying the numerous project scheduling problems occurring in practice and studied in the literature; (2) Provide a unified and up-to-date treatment of the state-of-the-art procedures developed for their solution; (3) Alert the reader to various important problems that are still in need of considerable research effort. As such, this book should differ from other project scheduling books in its use of an innovative unified resource scheduling classification scheme, and a unified treatment of both exact and heuristic solution procedures.

Project Scheduling: A ResearchHandbook has been divided into four parts. Part I consists of three chapters on the scope and relevance of project scheduling, on the nature of project scheduling, and finally on the introduction of a unified scheme that will be used in subsequent chapters for the identification and classification of the project scheduling problems studied in this book. Part II focuses on the time analysis of project networks. Part III carries the discussion further into the crucial topic of scheduling under scarce resources. Part IV deals with robust scheduling and stochastic scheduling issues. Numerous tables and figures are used throughout the book to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of the discussions. For the interested and motivated reader, the problems at the end of each chapter should be considered as an integral part of the presentation.

TQM-based Project Planning addresses the dual issues of planning and quality improvement. It presents a set of tools, or methods, in a logical order, reinforced by the use of rolling examples. The examples, one from manufacturing and one from the service industry, constitute integrating contexts, linking the chapters. An additional example deals with the implementation of a TQM program in the context of project planning. The tools and methods are the common ones of quality improvement including the seven quality tools, the seven management and planning tools, deployment flowcharting, and methods from Hoshin planning. The unique aspect of the book is not the tools, but their presentation within an integrated structure. This exceptional book gives both understanding of the individual methods and of how they fit together in a successful project. As such it is the ideal text for engineering and project managers, managers of small businesses and quality managers in companies and organisations of all sizes.

This set brings together two essential books in understanding how to deliver and manage business transformation - A Handbook of Business Transformation Management Methodology and Business Transformation Essentials. The Handbook of Business Transformation Management Methodology providesa '360-degree' view on what business transformation means and how to manage it successfully. Suitable for business executives dealing with organizational change, illustrative case studies ensure this is also a valuable resource for academics interested in change and transformation management. Using a variety of case studies including: Allianz SE, Shell, SAP, Vodafone, and Mercedes-Benz, Business Transformation Essentials provides unprecedented insights into characteristics of current transformation programs and the potential that can be leveraged by applying a holistic transformation management approach.

This book presents the theory and practice of product lifecycle management, chiefly focusing on modern approaches suitable for digitalized enterprises. In addition to describing adaptive methods for advanced product creation using big data analytics, it presents economic and mathematical models for managing product lifecycles based on the application of recent methods (e.g. digital design and automated intelligent systems) to control pre-production and production processes. Given its scope, the book appeals to researchers, economic analysts and entrepreneurs alike.

Business leaders are frequently faced with investment decisions on new and ongoing projects. The challenge lies in deciding what projects to choose, expand, contract, defer, or abandon, and which method of valuation to use is the key tool in the process. This title presents a step-by-step, practical approach to real options valuation to make it easily understandable by practitioners as well as senior management. This systematic approach to project valuation helps you minimize upfront investment risks, exercise flexibility in decision making, and maximize the returns. Whereas the traditional decision tools such as discounted cash flow/net present value (DCF/NPV) analysis assume a ""fixed"" path ahead, real options analysis offers more flexible strategies. Considered one of the greatest innovations of modern finance, the real options approach is based on Nobel-prize winning work by three MIT economists, Fischer Black, Robert Merton, and Myron Scholes.

The "Multilingual Dictionary of Knowledge Management" comprises some 3,400 basic and topical terms in the major European languages, i.e. English, French, Spanish, Italian and German. The terms cover all areas relevant for making knowledge management a success, such as database technology, document management, knowledge presentation, database administration or ?data mining? (searching for new interesting connections in large amounts of data) which is becoming increasingly common in larger businesses.

The main part of the book is structured by the English-language terminology, along with explanations, synonyms or abbreviations if necessary. This is followed by corresponding terms in the other languages. Four alphabetical indexes, listing individual terms in the respective languages alongside their English equivalents, round off the main section. These indexes -- which also serve as individual bilingual dictionaries in their own right -- facilitate quick and easy access to the term in question.

The "Multilingual Dictionary of Knowledge Management" is an invaluable tool for any large business since professional knowledge management has become a significant key for success. Librarians, translators and many others involved in knowledge management will appreciate this highly practical and up-to-date reference work.

A new theory of balanced leadership in projects Leadership is not static. Instead, authority in projects shifts dynamically between project managers, individual team members, and sub-teams, depending on the situation. Leadership may be exercised through a vertical, horizontal, shared, or distributed leadership approach. However, balanced leadership ensures the best suitable approach is used in any given situation. Based on an award-winning global program of research studies, Balanced Leadership is a thorough investigation of balanced leadership in projects. Ralf Muller, Nathalie Drouin, and Shankar Sankaran present a project-specific leadership approach as well as a theory of balanced leadership, and the situations in which different strategies are required. They also outline the five building blocks that enable balanced leadership: nomination of team members, identification of potential leaders, selection and empowerment of leaders, empowered leadership and its governance, and leadership transition. The book explains the coordination of these building blocks through the socio-cognitive space shared by project manager and team. Using real-life case studies and clear examples, this book offers a new way of considering and utilizing dynamic leadership in project settings.

Technologies such as the Internet and mobile commerce bring with them ubiquitous connectivity, real-time access, and overwhelming volumes of data and information. The growth of data warehouses and communication and information technologies has increased the need for high information quality management in organizations. Information Quality Management: Theory and Applications provides solutions to information quality problems becoming increasingly prevalent.Information Quality Management: Theory and Applications provides insights and support for professionals and researchers working in the field of information and knowledge management, information quality, practitioners and managers of manufacturing, and service industries concerned with the management of information.

Project management for oil and gas projects comes with a unique set of challenges that include the management of science, technology, and engineering aspects. Underlining the specific issues involved in projects in this field, Project Management for the Oil and Gas Industry: A World System Approach presents step-by-step application of project management techniques. Using the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK(r)) framework from the Project Management Institute (PMI) as the platform, the book provides an integrated approach that covers the concepts, tools, and techniques for managing oil and gas projects.
The authors discuss specialized tools such as plan, do, check, act (PDCA); define, measure, analyze, improve, control (DMAIC); suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, customers (SIPOC); design, evaluate, justify, integrate (DEJI); quality function deployment (QFD); affinity diagrams; flowcharts; Pareto charts; and histograms. They also discuss the major activities in oil and gas risk assessment, such as feasibility studies, design, transportation, utility, survey works, construction, permanent structure works, mechanical and electrical installations, and maintenance.
Strongly advocating a world systems approach to managing oil and gas projects and programs, the book covers quantitative and qualitative techniques. It addresses technical and managerial aspects of projects and illustrates the concepts with case examples of applications of project management tools and techniques to real-life project scenarios that can serve as lessons learned for best practices. An in-depth examination of project management for oil and gas projects, the book is a handbook for professionals in the field, a guidebook for technical consultants, and a resource for students.

This book is an introductory text on building measurement and estimating for simple buildings in Hong Kong, based on the Hong Kong Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works 4th Edition Revised 2018 (HKSMM4 Rev 2018). It provides a toolkit for students and surveying technicians who are new to the subject. This second edition updates the contents in line with the HKSMM4 Rev 2018 and incorporates the latest industry developments such as BIM. The main text is divided into five parts following the development of a typical project. Part 1, Building the project team, introduces the team setup for a typical project. Part 2, Deciding the procurement strategy, explains the various procurement decisions to be made by an employer before any cost estimating and measurement work takes place. Part 3, Preparing for tender, covers the tendering methods, tender documentation and approximate estimating techniques used by Quantity Surveyors. Part 4, Measuring quantities, introduces measurement principles and HKSMM4 Rev 2018, followed by a detailed review of the measurement methods for each major trade, with worked examples. Part 5, Estimating unit rates, explores the basic techniques for unit rate preparation. The book contains worked examples from real Hong Kong building projects, self-assessment questions, reminders and points of note. It is essential reading for Hong Kong construction and surveying students, international Quantity Surveyors working in the local area and those wanting international examples of Quantity Surveryors practice.

1) Fills in the gap in ABET requirements to teach experiment design. 2) Provides a standardized approach to experiment design that can work for any experiment. 3) Provides completed experiment designs suitable for college laboratory and professional applications. 4) Shows how to organize experimental data as it is collected to optimize usefulness. 5) Provides templates for design of the experiment and for presenting the resulting data to technical and non-technical audiences or clients.

The primary aim of Project Management is to facilitate the successful completion of projects. For this reason it puts particular emphasis on the importance of careful preparation and strategic co-operation within the project team. The first part of this new textbook offers a description of the project-based approach to the work environment, an analysis of when such an approach is appropriate and an account of how to make projects work. In addition, this part of the book discusses the role of planning software within the project environment. Part Two of the book describes the practical tools and skills needed to tackle projects. A number of the skills outlined in Part Two are also relevant to learning contexts other than projects. This new edition offers additional material on the life-cycle of the project: from setting up to completing a project. New sections deal with skills such as brainstorming and decision making in the project group. The text makes for required reading for project management students everywhere.

* Introduces a new approach, project team performance, that can dramatically increase the probability of project success * Written by two renowned leaders of PMOs around the globe * Puts people back at the center of project management

This book provides a powerful insight into strategic portfolio management and its central role in the delivery of organisational strategy, maximisation of value creation, and efficient allocation of resources and capabilities to achieve organisational strategic objectives. The book makes a valuable contribution to the development of thinking on the translation of strategy into actionable work. Whether you are a senior manager building a high-performing strategic portfolio for your organisation or an academic searching for new perspectives on strategy execution through portfolio management, you will find great significance in this book. Twenty-eight chapters in four sections provide multiple perspectives on the topic, with in-depth guidance on organisational design for strategic portfolio management and covering all process, capability, and leadership aspects of strategic portfolio management. The book includes several detailed case studies for the effective deployment of strategic portfolios, bringing together theory and practice for strategic portfolio management. This book is particularly valuable for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of project and portfolio management, strategic management, and leadership who are looking to expand their knowledge within the multi-project environment. Highly practical and logical in its structure, it also shows project management professionals how to effectively manage their business portfolios and align this with their business strategy.

Many people struggle to lead a project with a successful outcome and they fail to keep them to budget, deliver on time and motivate a team. This book combines practical tools, personal tips and psychological insights to that you can:

- Realistically plan not only your time and resources but everyone else's
- Understand your team's strengths and weaknesses
- Monitor everyone's work and review their progress
- Ensure your communication skills and feedback inspire and encourage your team
- Successfully meet project initiatives and objectives

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.

The pharmaceutical industry has encountered major shifts in recent years, both within the industry, and in its external environment. The cost of healthcare rising due to an ageing population, the intensification of regulatory requirements and mergers within the industry have led to an increased need for restructuring, cost reduction and culture change projects. Project management is the key to addressing these needs, and also to effective drug development. Given the costs of development and the critical issue of 'time to market', project management techniques - appropriately used - are a key factor in bringing a drug to market. In this book, Laura Brown and Tony Grundy's pharmaceutical expertise and experience offers the reader a guide to the most relevant project management tools and techniques and how to rigorously apply them in the pharmaceutical industry. The authors cover the technical, strategic and human aspects of project management, including contingency planning, simulation techniques and different project options. Complete with decision-tree diagrams, checklists, exercises and a full glossary, Project Management for the Pharmaceutical Industry provides clinical research, drug development and quality assurance managers or directors with a one-stop reference for successfully managing pharmaceutical projects. The text has been revised for this edition and now includes some additional material on risk management.

This title pulls together the most powerful 'truths' that encourage you to focus on doing what is really necessary. The 'truth by truth' format is in short and easy to digest chapters that make it quick and easy to find the advice that will make all the difference to your productivity.

The 8th session of the annual Organizational Semiotics Workshop held in June 2005 in Toulouse - the French capital of aeronautics and space - tested ideas from Organizational Semiotics against two issues from space projects on two illustrative cases provided by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) - the government agency responsible for shaping and implementing France's space policy in Europe - through its Technical Competency Centre in Management (CCT MAN): - The management of complex, highly innovative and multidisciplinary projects during their early volatile phases.- The management of risks faced by such projects that may run far into the future and beyond human intervention.The twelve chapters of the book are the revised contributions of the workshop on these issues along with general themes of Organizational Semiotics.

Advanced Project Management is ideal for: Senior Project Managers on M.Sc Project Management courses, Project Sponsors, Portfolio Managers, Senior Executives on MBA courses. This book explains how the project sponsor can use a project methodology systems approach to develop and implement corporate strategy to realize benefits for the company. The Fusion Method XYZ integrates a number of the key project management techniques; Project Lifecycle, Project Management Process, Project Plan and Project Organization Structure to create a template that can be used to produce the corporate vision and values, identify the corporate needs and opportunities, and develop business cases. The text uses plenty of worked examples and case studies to explain the management and decision-making process which interlinks the project phases. The text is consistent with the following bodies of knowledge; PMBOK, APM BoK, IPMA ICB, USA NCB. Lecturers support material is available from [email protected].

Sustainable Self-Governance in Businesses and Society offers a sound introduction to Stafford Beer's Viable System Model (VSM) and clarifies its relevance to support organisational sustainability and self-governance. While the VSM has been known since the early 1980s, it hasn't been always easy to understand and to apply. It explains the self-transformation methodology to analyse the way organisations manage (or not) their complexity and govern themselves. The work is supported by multiple examples of application in organisations of all scales - from small to multi-national corporations and from organised social networks to communities and national organisations. It clarifies the relevance of Beer's theory to support systemic learning and change in organisations, and to coach them to self-organise and self-govern. Readers interested in further understanding insights from complex systems and cybernetics theories for designing and transforming organisations will benefit from this book, as it works to offer very detailed insights on how to put the VSM theory into practice. It clarifies how it improves adaptive capabilities, agile and self-regulated structures, more capable of fully implementing corporate sustainability strategies and self-governing themselves. The chapters provide key reading for managers, consultants, practitioners, and post-graduate students working in organisational transformation, governance, and sustainability.

This book gathers the best papers presented at the International Congress on Project Management and Engineering, in its 2017 and 2018 editions, which were held in Cadiz and Madrid, Spain. It covers a range of topic areas, including civil engineering and urban planning, product and process engineering, environmental engineering, energy efficiency and renewable energies, rural development, information and communication technologies, and risk management and safety.