Improving Your Project Management Skills Book

Contents

Introduction to the Second Edition 1

PART 1: PROJECT MANAGEMENT

FOUNDATIONS 3

Chapter 1. The Core Concepts 5

Project Management Vocabulary 6

Why Project Management? 7

Classic Functions of Project Management 9

Processes in the Life of a Project 11

Knowledge Areas 12

PART 2: INITIATING 15

Chapter 2. Defining and Authorizing the Project 17

The Role of Stakeholders in the Authorization Process 18

The Business Case for Undertaking the Project 18

The Goal Breakdown Structure 21

Project Charter 24

PART 3: PLANNING 25

Chapter 3. Collecting Requirements and Defining Scope 27

The Five Processes of Project Scope Management 28

Collecting Requirements 30

Creating a Scope Statement 34

Example Scope Document 43

Chapter 4. Creating a Work Breakdown Structure 48

The Work Breakdown Structure Is an Outline 49

Considerations in Creating Work Breakdown Structures 50

The Work Breakdown Structure Is a Validation Tool 53

Work Breakdown Structures Are Flexible 55

Techniques in Creating Work Breakdown Structures 59

Verifying Scope 60

Controlling Scope 62

Chapter 5. Defining and Sequencing Activities 63

Defining Activities 63

Sequencing Activities Using Network Diagrams 64

Identifying Dependencies Between Activities 66

Defining Activity Relationships 67

Sample Network Diagram 70

Chapter 6. Estimating Activities 72

Using the Work Breakdown Structure 73

Steps in Estimating Activities 74

Estimating Methods 75

Guidelines for Estimating 77

Considering Risk in Estimating: Using Three-Point

Estimates 82

Precision of Estimates 85

Duration-Based vs. Resource-Based Estimates 86

Building Contingency in Estimates 86

Improving Estimates over Time 87

Chapter 7. Scheduling Activities 89

Scheduling Activity Dates 90

Project Float 93

Accelerating Project Schedules 93

Chapter 8. Identifying Resources and Budgets 97

Identifying Resources 97

Balancing Resources 103

Creating a Project Budget 105

Chapter 9. Compiling the Major Components of a

Project Plan 107

Project Charter 108

Project Scope Statement 108

Schedule Plan 109

Resource Utilization Plan 110

Budget Plan 110

Milestone Plan 110

Organization Plan 113

Risk Management Plan 114

Communication Plan 115

PART 4: EXECUTING, MONITORING, AND

CONTROLLING 117

Chapter 10. Executing Projects 119

Project Kick-Off Meeting 120

Project Control 121

Project Meetings 121

Project Control Process 121

Monitoring Project Work 123

Collecting Project Information 124

Schedule Importance 125

Labor Hours 132

Data Analysis 132

Change Control 135

Sources of Change 137

Chapter 11. Monitoring and Controlling Projects 139

Establishing a Project Baseline as a Control Point 140

Measuring Performance: Earned Value Analysis 140

Chapter 12. Leading and Directing Project Teams 146

Leading Others 146

Directing Others 154

Managing Others 155

Conducting Meetings 155

Interviewing Others 159

Chapter 13. Managing Risk 164

Identifying Risk 165

Assessing and Prioritizing Risk 167

Responding to Risk 170

Acting on the Response Plan 172

PART 5: CLOSING 175

Chapter 14. Closing a Project 177

Project Closure: The Final Process 177

Ensuring Project Requirements Are Met 179

How Projects Can End 180

Administrative Closure 183

Contractual Closure 184

Initiating Project Closure 185

Lessons Learned 186

Finance and Administration Records 188

Performance Reporting 188

Staff Release 189

Appendix A: Learning Resources 191

Appendix B: Glossary 195

Index 208