The early explorers up through those of the early part of the last century were the supreme users of management practices that have been formalized today. Their expeditions had all the characteristics of a business project: goal setting, strategizing, applying finite resources, risk-taking, keeping people, dealing with competitors, and many others. During actual expeditions, the leaders faced many risks, issues, and conflicts that challenge the best leaders today, from small to large enterprises. Like all projects and business ventures, the expeditions met their goal, either partially or entirely, and in some cases even exceeded it or failed it completely. Management Lessons from the Great Explorers selects the most famous, and in some cases infamous, explorers to discuss and analyze the good and bad management practices-even though these explorers may have never called them management practices-they used before, during, and even after their expeditions. Each chapter provides historical background about one explorer and the details about their explorations. The chapters then discuss the challenges the explorers faced when planning and executing their expeditions and examine their successes and failures from a management perspective. The book will help managers to Manage unexpected and potentially catastrophic risks Set goals that open up new horizons Communicate effectively with team members Lead teams through hardships and difficulties The final chapter gives lessons learned that managers may take from the book and apply to their own business undertakings. These lessons include Learning from experience Having a strong sponsor and team Relying on data and information Applying risk management and adapting to changing circumstances Implementing unity of command and defining roles and responsibilities Identifying and understanding stakeholders Being decisive Being willing to say no

In the information highway age Just-In-Time Systems--JITS--are becoming increasingly visible: customers want to purchase rather than develop customized computing systems and they want these systems now. JITS will allow for developing systems at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price to address the right needs. This is promoted by covenant relationships between customer and supplier; JITS developers recognize that all system development projects and their maintenance have commonalities. They can apply technical, operational, and managerial approaches to similar problems--the managemant structure or system components of a project, for example, may be applicable to similar projects and follow similar lifecycles. JITS developers, therefore, avoid reinventing the wheel.

JITS will not appear overnight; its adoption will only come through evolution, not revolution. This incremental growth does not, however, imply that it's not revolutionary in substance. Managers, designers, programmers, engineers, analysts, planners, librarians, quality assurance specialists, customers, users, and suppliers of computing systems can benefit from this book.

This work introduces Practical Project Management Methodology (P2M2), an international joint venture developed by three experienced project managers the provide useful steps applicable throughout the life cycle of a variety of projects. It covers areas from leading, defining and planning to organizing, controlling and closing. The two disks include 21 prepared forms and 300 activities for use in Microsoft Excel and Project for Windows.

The early explorers up through those of the early part of the last century were the supreme users of management practices that have been formalized today. Their expeditions had all the characteristics of a business project: goal setting, strategizing, applying finite resources, risk-taking, keeping people, dealing with competitors, and many others. During actual expeditions, the leaders faced many risks, issues, and conflicts that challenge the best leaders today, from small to large enterprises. Like all projects and business ventures, the expeditions met their goal, either partially or entirely, and in some cases even exceeded it or failed it completely. Management Lessons from the Great Explorers selects the most famous, and in some cases infamous, explorers to discuss and analyze the good and bad management practices-even though these explorers may have never called them management practices-they used before, during, and even after their expeditions. Each chapter provides historical background about one explorer and the details about their explorations. The chapters then discuss the challenges the explorers faced when planning and executing their expeditions and examine their successes and failures from a management perspective. The book will help managers to Manage unexpected and potentially catastrophic risks Set goals that open up new horizons Communicate effectively with team members Lead teams through hardships and difficulties The final chapter gives lessons learned that managers may take from the book and apply to their own business undertakings. These lessons include Learning from experience Having a strong sponsor and team Relying on data and information Applying risk management and adapting to changing circumstances Implementing unity of command and defining roles and responsibilities Identifying and understanding stakeholders Being decisive Being willing to say no

What are my chances of completing this project successfully? What could prevent me? How can I anticipate potential threats? These are the kinds of questions you are likely to ask yourself when you become responsible for an important project. And these are the kinds of question Reducing Project Risk will help you answer. Drawing on examples from a variety of business activities as well as on their own extensive experience, the authors propose a systematic approach to dealing with risk. They provide both a conceptual framework and the practical techniques for identifying, analysing and controlling risks of any type. Among other things you will learn: c how to carry out an objective review of the factors involved c how to recognize the warning signs so that you can head off trouble before it strikes c how to take care of the 'people side' of project management. Here is a book that will be welcomed not just by professional project managers but by anyone using human and material resources to accomplish a complex task.

If a major event such as a terrorist attack, 7.2 earthquake, tsunami, or hacker attack were to disrupt business operations, would your organization be prepared to respond to the financial, political, and social impacts? In order for your company to be resilient, it must be ready to respond and recover quickly from the impact of such events. Business continuity is the discipline that can help your organization become truly resilient. Business Continuity Planning: A Project Management Approach explains how to deploy project management, risk management, business continuity, and business preparedness methods in a manner that will ensure organizational resiliency. With an emphasis on building business preparedness plans, it covers the fundamental principles of project management, risk management, business continuity, and business preparedness. Upon reading this book, you will learn how to apply project management to institute business continuity governance and to build and maintain business preparedness plans. You will also learn what's required to conduct an effective business impact analysis. Detailing a proven plan for achieving business continuity and business preparedness, the book includes numerous diagrams, checklists, and tools to help you determine exactly what you must do to prepare for a serious event. It also explains how to test your continuity plans and evaluate preparedness processes to ensure your organization will be truly prepared to withstand or recover from the next emergency, disaster, or catastrophic event to affect your organization.

Ethics plays a critical role in project management, but all too often, its importance is overlooked. This benign neglect can result in serious consequences to individuals and organizations, ranging from tarnished reputations to civil and criminal liability. Ethics and Project Management demonstrates the importance of making ethics a key consideration in managing projects and describes the impacts that occur when ethical transgressions arise.

Providing the tools necessary for project managers to avoid an ethical lapse that can put themselves and their organization at risk, this volume:

• Defines ethics and places it within the project management context
• Discusses the contents of the Project Management Institute's code of ethics
• Enables project managers to recognize the trends that precipitate ethical dilemmas on a project
• Demonstrates how ethical concerns permeate the entire project life cycle
• Provides tips on establishing a governance protocol to ensure ethical compliance
• Explores legal issues that arise from unethical behavior
• Examines how ethical concerns on a project can have global implications, and how to operate in international settings with cultural differences

Each chapter ends with a Getting Started Checklist, facilitating immediate application of the concepts discussed and making it easy for project managers to determine whether they are in compliance with ethical standards. Providing a solid roadmap for the ethical health of a project, this volume is essential reading for all those concerned with avoiding the disastrous consequences of a cavalier approach to ethics.

Praise for the book:

... a great desktop reference for any project manager. It is a must-have title to complete any project management library and I recommend it to both new and highly experienced project managers.
-Gregg D. Richie, PMP, MCTS, CNP, Managing Principal, P8, LLC

Project success requires a solid understanding and proper implementation of the tools, techniques, and principles of project management. A reference for both the novice and expert project manager, The Project Manager's Emergency Kit provides you with everything you will need to get your project off to a solid start and overcome any emergencies that may arise during the project life cycle. It supplies you with over 200 project management tools, techniques, and principles arranged in alphabetical order. The text provides guidance on how to complete projects on time and within budget while meeting the needs of your customers. It presents easy-to-follow project planning steps covering the responsibilities, work breakdown structures, time and cost estimating, scheduling, resource allocation, and budgeting. The Project Manager's Emergency Kit provides you with straightforward guidelines that will help you overcome any challenges that may arise and deliver a product or service that will satisfy everyone who has a stake in the outcome of your project.

What are my chances of completing this project successfully? What could prevent me? How can I anticipate potential threats? These are the kinds of questions you are likely to ask yourself when you become responsible for an important project. And these are the kinds of question Reducing Project Risk will help you answer. Drawing on examples from a variety of business activities as well as on their own extensive experience, the authors propose a systematic approach to dealing with risk. They provide both a conceptual framework and the practical techniques for identifying, analysing and controlling risks of any type. Among other things you will learn: c how to carry out an objective review of the factors involved c how to recognize the warning signs so that you can head off trouble before it strikes c how to take care of the 'people side' of project management. Here is a book that will be welcomed not just by professional project managers but by anyone using human and material resources to accomplish a complex task.

Lean is a set of disciplines that can result in tremendous savings and profitability for companies. It can significantly reduce cycle times and increase customer satisfaction. Lean, however, must be applied efficiently and effectively to achieve optimum results. This book discusses project management concepts, tools, and techniques as they apply to managing Lean projects. It explains how you can apply the discipline of project management to fully harness the energy and power that Lean offers. Managing Lean Projects begins by discussing the major concepts and techniques that make Lean so powerful. It details the many benefits of Lean, along with the key challenges that must be overcome to fully reap its benefits. The book then goes on to describe the project management tools and techniques you can use to get the most out of Lean. It explains how the structure of each key project management process helps to keep the Lean project on course. The book devotes separate chapters to the project management processes for PDCA (plan, do, check, act) and DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) Lean lifecycles. In both chapters, detailed case studies help to demonstrate the concepts presented in a real-world situation. The author includes numerous diagrams, examples, and checklists throughout the book to get you started quickly managing Lean projects. As Lean continues to pick up momentum across many industries, it becomes imperative that project managers learn how to use it to achieve the desired results. With this book, project managers will be well-equipped to lead, not just manage, their Lean projects to success and to the benefit of their organization and the people who work in it.

Effective communication on projects is a challenging, ongoing process for project managers and stakeholders at all levels within an organization. Project managers experience the greatest challenge due to the nature of their position. They set up and regulate communications that support a project overall.

Effective Communications for Project Management examines elements of effective communications and describes the role that a Project Management Information System (PMIS) has in helping project managers become better communicators. Based on the author's practical experience and insight as a project and program manager, the book describes the role of personaltiy and its effect on the communications process. It also details the seven elements of effective communications:

Applying active and effective listening

Preparing the communications and establishing an issues management process

Drafting and publishing documentation

Conducting meetings

Giving effective presentations

Developing and deploying a project website

Building a project war room

Containing examples and checklists that are adaptable to almost any project environment, this book is an invaluable resource that not only demonstrates how to attain effective communications, but also how communications can effect a project's bottom line.

Creative companies are distinguished by their ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic, changing economy. Their products and services stand out in the market, and these companies' ability to be agile and innovative is key to their success. Creative, Efficient, and Effective Project Management supplies an in-depth discussion of creativity and its relationship to project management. Specifically, it explains how the tools and techniques of creativity can be used to enhance the five processes executed during a project: defining, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Establishing the groundwork for encouraging and sustaining creativity in your projects, the book details the benefits of integrating creativity in projects. It discusses common, and not so common, tools and techniques for developing project management deliverables and identifies the challenges that can arise when using creativity in a project. It also details ten little-known facts that can help you overcome the obstacles that often prevent organizations from tapping into the power of creativity in their projects. Each chapter includes a checklist and a case study on the application of the concepts presented. The book also indicates, where applicable, how the topics of discussion relate to the Project Management Institute's (PMI (R)) Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK (R)). Creativity resides in everyone, but for the most part remains untapped. In this book, you will find thoughts, tools, and techniques that will enable you to tap into your team's creative energy and direct it towards achieving your project goals and objectives.

Creative companies are distinguished by their ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic, changing economy. Their products and services stand out in the market, and these companies' ability to be agile and innovative is key to their success. Creative, Efficient, and Effective Project Management supplies an in-depth discussion of creativity and its relationship to project management. Specifically, it explains how the tools and techniques of creativity can be used to enhance the five processes executed during a project: defining, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Establishing the groundwork for encouraging and sustaining creativity in your projects, the book details the benefits of integrating creativity in projects. It discusses common, and not so common, tools and techniques for developing project management deliverables and identifies the challenges that can arise when using creativity in a project. It also details ten little-known facts that can help you overcome the obstacles that often prevent organizations from tapping into the power of creativity in their projects. Each chapter includes a checklist and a case study on the application of the concepts presented. The book also indicates, where applicable, how the topics of discussion relate to the Project Management Institute's (PMI (R)) Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK (R)). Creativity resides in everyone, but for the most part remains untapped. In this book, you will find thoughts, tools, and techniques that will enable you to tap into your team's creative energy and direct it towards achieving your project goals and objectives.

If a major event such as a terrorist attack, 7.2 earthquake, tsunami, or hacker attack were to disrupt business operations, would your organization be prepared to respond to the financial, political, and social impacts? In order for your company to be resilient, it must be ready to respond and recover quickly from the impact of such events. Business continuity is the discipline that can help your organization become truly resilient. Business Continuity Planning: A Project Management Approach explains how to deploy project management, risk management, business continuity, and business preparedness methods in a manner that will ensure organizational resiliency. With an emphasis on building business preparedness plans, it covers the fundamental principles of project management, risk management, business continuity, and business preparedness. Upon reading this book, you will learn how to apply project management to institute business continuity governance and to build and maintain business preparedness plans. You will also learn what's required to conduct an effective business impact analysis. Detailing a proven plan for achieving business continuity and business preparedness, the book includes numerous diagrams, checklists, and tools to help you determine exactly what you must do to prepare for a serious event. It also explains how to test your continuity plans and evaluate preparedness processes to ensure your organization will be truly prepared to withstand or recover from the next emergency, disaster, or catastrophic event to affect your organization.

Whether you use budget, schedule, quality, or other criteria, the statistics by think tanks, institutes, associations, and other trade organizations all point to one inescapable conclusion: your project has a greater chance of getting into trouble than staying out of it. Based on the lessons learned by the author during a quarter of a century of leading projects to successful conclusions, Managing Projects in Trouble: Achieving Turnaround and Success unveils the five secrets to ensuring success-even for projects seemingly doomed to fail. Using numerous flow diagrams and checklists, it explains how to take action in ways that will increase the likelihood of success and minimize the possibility of failure. Specifically, it shows you how to: Recognize the symptoms of troubled projects Revisit your project's vision and execute an improved vision Examine all options for turning your project into a reality Choose the options most appropriate to your situation Supplying step-by-step guidance through each phase, the book explains how to spot the symptoms of troubled projects early on and arms you with time-tested techniques to address the problems that will inevitably emerge. Each chapter includes a case study that illustrates real-world implementation of the actions and steps discussed as well as a checklist to help ease the transition from project failure to surefire success. Learn the five secrets for turning troubled projects around detailed in this book-or continue what you're doing at your own peril.

Project success requires a solid understanding and proper implementation of the tools, techniques, and principles of project management. A reference for both the novice and expert project manager, The Project Manager's Emergency Kit provides you with everything you will need to get your project off to a solid start and overcome any emergencies that may arise during the project life cycle. It supplies you with over 200 project management tools, techniques, and principles arranged in alphabetical order.

The text provides guidance on how to complete projects on time and within budget while meeting the needs of your customers. It presents easy-to-follow project planning steps covering the responsibilities, work breakdown structures, time and cost estimating, scheduling, resource allocation, and budgeting. The Project Manager's Emergency Kit provides you with straightforward guidelines that will help you overcome any challenges that may arise and deliver a product or service that will satisfy everyone who has a stake in the outcome of your project.