The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management Book

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xvii

ABOUT THE AUTHOR xix

PREFACE xxi

DOWNLOADABLE FORMS xxiii

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1—PROJECT MANAGEMENT: THE KEY TO THRIVING IN THE NEW PROJECT-DRIVEN WORLD 2

Introduction 2

The Art and Science of Project Leadership 7

The Practical Foundation for Successful Projects: How This Book Will Help You 9

Project Management Relies on Other Disciplines 11

End Point 12

Stellar Performer: OrthoSpot 13

Stellar Performer: PM4NGOs 14

CHAPTER 2—FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT 16

Introduction 16

Projects Require Project Management 16

The Challenge of Managing Projects 18

The Evolution of a Discipline 19

The Definition of Success 23

Project Management Functions 25

Project Life Cycle 26

Organizing for Projects 30

Project Managers Are Leaders 34

End Point 34

Stellar Performer: Seattle Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center 36

PMP Exam Prep Questions 40

PART 2 DEFINING THE PROJECT

CHAPTER 3—KNOW YOUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND WIN THEIR COOPERATION 42

Introduction 42

Stakeholders Are the Heart of a Successful Project 43

Stakeholder Roles: Project Manager 43

Stakeholder Roles: Project Team 44

Stakeholder Roles: Management 45

Stakeholder Roles: The Customer 49

Stakeholder Roles: Representatives of External Constraints 51

Stakeholder Roles: Advocates, Opponents, and Innocent Bystanders 52

Make Stakeholder Identification a Repeatable Process 52

Lead the Stakeholders 53

End Point 53

Fast Foundation in Project Management 54

PMP Exam Prep Questions 58

CHAPTER 4—WRITE THE RULES: FIVE KEY DOCUMENTS TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS AND DEFINE SUCCESS 60

Introduction 60

Project Rules Are the Foundation 61

Publish a Project Charter 63

Write a Statement of Work 65

Statement of Work: Minimum Content 66

Responsibility Matrix 73

Creating a Communication Plan 76

The Project Proposal Launches the Project 82

End Point 83

Fast Foundation in Project Management 84

PMP Exam Prep Questions 95

PART 3 THE PLANNING PROCESS

CHAPTER 5—RISK MANAGEMENT: MINIMIZE THE THREATS TO YOUR PROJECT 99

Introduction 99

All Project Management Is Risk

Management 100

The Risk Management Framework 103

Step One: Identify the Risks 104

Step Two: Analyze and Prioritize the Risks 108

Step Three: Develop Response Plans 113

Step Four: Establish Contingency and Reserve 118

Step Five: Continuous Risk Management 121

Unexpected Leadership 122

End Point 122

Fast Foundation in Project Management 123

Stellar Performer: Washington State Department of Transportation 124

PMP Exam Prep Questions 130

CHAPTER 6—WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE: BREAK YOUR PROJECT INTO MANAGEABLE UNITS OF WORK 132

Introduction 132

Defining the Work Breakdown Structure 133

Building a Work Breakdown Structure 136

Criteria for a Successful Work Breakdown Structure 140

Work Package Size 143

Planning for Quality 145

Breaking Down Large Programs 147

WBS Guidelines Vary 147

Contractors or Vendors Can Provide a WBS 148

End Point 148

PMP Exam Prep Questions 150

CHAPTER 7—REALISTIC SCHEDULING 152

Introduction 152

Planning Overview 152

Planning Step Two: Identify Task Relationships 154

Planning Step Three: Estimate Work Packages 157

Planning Step Four: Calculate an Initial Schedule 165

Planning Step Five: Assign and Level Resources 175

Small Projects Need Smaller Plans 184

End Point 184

Fast Foundation in Project Management 185

PMP Exam Prep Questions 188

CHAPTER 8—THE ART AND SCIENCE OF ACCURATE ESTIMATING 190

Introduction 190

Estimating Fundamentals 191

Estimating Techniques 197

Building the Detailed Budget Estimate 206

Generating the Cash Flow Schedule 213

End Point 214

Fast Foundation in Project Management 215

Stellar Performer: Tynet, Inc. 216

Stellar Performer: Adobe Systems 219

PMP Exam Prep Questions 226

CHAPTER 9—BALANCING THE TRADE-OFF AMONG COST, SCHEDULE, AND QUALITY 228

Introduction 228

Three Levels of Balancing a Project 229

Balancing at the Project Level 230

Balancing at the Business Case Level 242

Balancing at the Enterprise Level 247

End Point 248

Stellar Performer: Safeco Field 250

Stellar Performer: Boeing 767-400ER Program 254

PMP Exam Prep Questions 256

PART 4 CONTROLLING THE PROJECT

CHAPTER 10—BUILDING A HIGHPERFORMANCE PROJECT TEAM 260

Introduction 260

A Framework for Building High-Performance Teams 264

Leadership Responsibilities 268

Building a Positive Team Environment 272

Ground Rules 273

Team Identity 275

Team Listening Skills 279

Meeting Management 283

Summary of Building a Positive Team Environment 286

Collaborative Problem Solving 287

Problem Analysis 287

Decision Modes 290

Conflict Management 294

Continuous Learning 298

Summary of Collaborative Problem Solving 300

Job Satisfaction 300

End Point 301

Stellar Performer: Habitat for Humanity 303

PMP Exam Prep Questions 304

CHAPTER 11—CLEAR COMMUNICATION AMONG PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS 305

Introduction 305

Embrace Your Role as a Leader 306

Communicating within the Project Team 309

Communicating with Management and Customers 317

Control Documents 318

The Change Management Process 318

Configuration Management 322

Change Management Guidelines Are Essential for Managing Expectations 325

Closeout Reporting 325

End Point 326

Fast Foundation in Project Management 327

PMP Exam Prep Questions 340

CHAPTER 12—MEASURING PROGRESS 342

Introduction 342

Measuring Schedule Performance 342

Measuring Cost Performance 347

Earned Value Reporting 349

Cost and Schedule Baselines 357

End Point 359

PMP Exam Prep Questions 360

CHAPTER 13—SOLVING COMMON PROJECT PROBLEMS 362

Introduction 362

Responsibility beyond Your Authority 362

Disaster Recovery 363

Reducing the Time to Market 364

When the Customer Delays the Project 365

The Impossible Dream 366

Fighting Fires 367

Managing Volunteers 367

Achieving the Five Project Success Factors 368

End Point 368

PART 5 ADVANCING YOUR PRACTICE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER 14—ENTERPRISE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: COORDINATE ALL PROJECTS AND PROJECT RESOURCES IN YOUR ORGANIZATION 373

Introduction 373

Defining Enterprise Project Management 375

Three Tiers of Management within EPM 377

The Four Components of EPM 379

Establish Consistent EPM Processes 380

Technology Enables EPM Processes 383

The People Who Deliver Projects 387

Support Project Management: The Project Office 388

End Point 396

CHAPTER 15—REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING: THE KEY TO BUILDING THE RIGHT PRODUCT 398

Introduction 398

Requirements Engineering and Project

Management Are Intimately Connected 399

Requirement Types Illustrate the Evolving Product Vision 400

Requirements Engineering Scope and Processes 403

Requirements Development Activities 405

Requirements Management Activities 407

Requirements Documentation Techniques 409

Requirements Engineering Demands Discipline 409

End Point 411

CHAPTER 16—PROJECT INITIATION: TURNING A PROBLEM OR OPPORTUNITY INTO A PROJECT 412

Introduction 412

Project Initiation’s Place in the Project Life Cycle 413

Enterprise Requirements Drive Project Initiation 415

Common Principles for Project Initiation 416

Basic Project Proposal Content 419

Designing a Realistic Initiation Process 422

End Point 423

Stellar Performer: The Logical Framework Approach 424

CHAPTER 17—INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECT SUCCESS FACTORS 434

Introduction 434

The Many Kinds of Software Projects 435

Why Are Information Technology Projects So

Challenging? 435

Current Best Practices in IT Project Management 439

Using an Agile Approach 442

End Point 442

Stellar Performer: The Agile Approach to Software Development 443

CHAPTER 18—PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: ALIGN PROJECT RESOURCES WITH BUSINESS STRATEGY 454

Introduction 454

The Scope and Goals of the Portfolio 456

Stakeholders: Roles in Project Portfolio Management 457

PPM Information Supports Decisions 459

Project Selection and Prioritization 460

Ongoing Portfolio Management 463

Monitor the Results of Projects and the Portfolio 464

Culture Change 465

End Point 466

CHAPTER 19—PMP EXAM PREPARATION 467

Introduction 467

Requirements to Earn the PMP 468

Top 10 Study Tips for the PMP Exam 469

End Point 473

CHAPTER 20—MICROSOFT PROJECT: GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE USE 474

Introduction 474

Project Management Software Supports the Discipline 475

Looking under the Hood: The Design of Project 475

Set Up the Project First 477

Follow the Planning Model in This Book 479

Task Types: Fix the Duration, Work, or Resource Level 482

Assigning Resources to a Project 484

Resource Leveling Your Schedule 486

Maintaining the Plan throughout the Project 487

Communicating with Your Team and Management 489

Project Server and Project Web App 491

End Point 492

APPENDIX: THE DETAILED PLANNING MODEL 493

NOTES 503

INDEX 507