Book 1 - An Introduction to Project Management, 4th Edition, by Kathy Schwalbe, 2012
Introduction
We reviewed the 2nd edition of this book in more detail back in 2009.[1]
We are now taking a look at the 3rd edition. However, author Kathy Schwalbe
has recently released her 4th edition of this book, which is based on the
new version of the PMBOK®Guide (Fifth edition).
This Fourth Edition is a hefty tome of over 500 pages. It offers a general
yet concise introduction to project management with up-to-date information on
how good project, program, and portfolio management can help you achieve organizational
success. The book generally follows the natural life span of a project and uses
the Project Management Institute's Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide
("PMBOK") as its foundation. The text includes over 50 samples of tools and
techniques applied to one large project and it also includes brief guides to Microsoft
Project and AtTask.
New to the Fourth Edition is also a 60-day trial of MatchWare's MindView Business
software. This allows you to create a work breakdown structure from a mind map
and then easily import it into a Gantt chart. The author has also added a feature
called Video Highlights and links to the videos from the free companion Web site
at www.intropm.com.
Author Kathy Schwalbe's objective is to provide a comprehensive coverage of
project management. This includes references to program management and project
portfolio management. Her intent is to teach the subject, including its associated
tools and techniques, for practical application in a project environment.
Kathy considers her book is suitable for all majors, including business, engineering,
healthcare and more.[2] As an update, Kathy
is working with a co-author, Dan Furlong, to publish a variation of this text
called An Introduction to Healthcare Project Management, available in June
2013. She said that several instructors asked her to write this new book, and
she was happy to find an excellent co-author and practitioner at the Medical University
of South Caroline to help her write it.
About the author
Kathy is a Professor in the Department of Business Administration at Augsburg
College in Minneapolis, where she primarily teaches courses in project management
and problem solving for business. Before entering academia in 1991, Kathy started
out as a project manager in the Air Force and subsequently worked for ten years
in industry. So Kathy has the experience to back up her work. She may be reached
at schwalbe@augsburg.edu. For more
information, visit www.kathyschwalbe.com.
1. Schwalbe,
Kathy, An Introduction to Project Management. For our 2nd Edition review
see two_books/intro.htm.
2. Schwalbe, Kathy, An Introduction to Project Management,
4th Edition, published by Kathy Schwalbe, LLC, 2012, abstracted from back cover.
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