Papers
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Change is Coming
- xxx 08/23
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Use of Barcodes in Project
Management
- Barcodes are a means of representing data in a visual
machine-readable form, originally by sets of lines, but
now displayed in various diagrammatic forms. Their use is
to encode product information for purposes of storage, tracking
and retrieving of large numbers of similar articles. 07/23
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A Minimalist Business Case
Template
- There are plenty of examples on the Internet, but here
is an example of a solid Business Case for a proposal designed
specifically for a project management environment. See also
Issacon
1208a 06/23
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- The Widemans on the Move
Once Again
- This paper, previously published in October 2022, describes
a significant personal family project to move the homes
of its two senior members halfway across Canada. The beginning
was in Toronto, Ontario, and the destination was in Victoria,
British Columbia, some 3,500 km apart. The project
started with cataloging every item in two suites. These
items ranged from large, such as furniture, to electronics,
books and personal records, as well as small personal things
like jewelry. This work also included deciding what should
be shipped and what discarded. All this needed careful handling,
packing, and coordination with all the various parties involved,
especially with those at the destination end. The wait time
was about a year before suitable accommodation became available.
02/23
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First Principles
of Project Management Revisited - Part 3
- This Part 3 was originally published in November 2000,
seeking some structure to support a more systematic discussion
of project management issues. It saw the possibility of
project management practice becoming a serious professional
discipline. That was over 20 years ago. Today, we may ask:
How well have we done since then? 02/23
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- First
Principles of Project Management Revisited - Part 2
- This paper examines a number of important peripheral principles
that are also essential to a well-run project environment.
Rather than being in the hands of the project manager, these
principles are generally the responsibility of the project's
supervising management, typically identified as project
sponsor. 02/23
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- First Principles
of Project Management Revisited - Part 1
- This paper was originally published on this site as revision
17 in April 2009. It sets out a philosophical discussion
of the fundamentals of project management. The information
presented is basic and has not changed since then. It provides
a realistic picture of what project management is really
all about. And hence, for aspiring project managers, the
contents are well worth committing to memory. 02/23
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- Moving to a Different Industry
- How to go about it?
- Kiron Bondale and Max have touched on this topic before
in a Musings: Crossing
to a Different Industry, where we warned that it is
not that simple. In this paper we dig deeper and list some
of the specfic things you have to be prepared for especially
in an environment that is completely different, but is still
"project management"! 09/22
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- Seeking Project Management
Employment
- Last January, I wrote a piece on searching for project
management talent from the perspectie of the corporate staff
recruiter. This time I want to look at the Job-Applicant's
side of the challenge. First how to establish what you should
be looking for and secondly, how and where to find it. 05/22
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- Project Management Institute
in the Past - A Promotional Folder Resurrected
- Max provides a brief dip into the past by displaying the
contents of a flyer created and distributed by the Project
Management Institute around 1985. This flyer provided a
very clear image of what the basics of project management
are really all about. 12/21
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- A Guide to the Project
Management Body of Knowledge (The PMBOK© Guide,
7th Edition) Published by the
Project Management Institute (Book Review)
- This "book" is the second of two in the same
publication by the Project Management Institute as discussed
last month. It is a marked departure from previous editions
of the PMBOK Guide. Compared to the 6th Edition, a lot of
extraneous detail of a behavioral nature has been included,
while a lot of important material identifying specific skill
sets has been omitted. Readers could be very disappointed.
11/21
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- The Standard for Project
Management - ANSI/PMI 99-001-2021
Published by the Project Management Institute
(Book Review)
- This "book" is the first of two in a new publication titled
PMBOK GUIDE, 7th Edition, by the Project Management
Institute. The contents of this "Standard" elaborate
considerable on what was previously Chapter 3 in previous
editions of the PMBOK Guide. Readers seeking a standard
content reflecting the project management profession may
be disappointed. 10/21
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- Lead Successful Projects
By Antonio Nieto‑Rodriguez
(Book Review)
- The target readership for this book is any CEO and their
immediate underlings whose organization is ultimately responsible
for significant projects in their organization. Culled from
Antonio's years of major project experience, this book is
packed with sound advice based on a new set of ten essential
principles. 08/21
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- Introduction to Disciplined Agile
Delivery By Mark Lines and Scott W.
Ambler (Brief Reflection)
- The term "Agile" seems to be a part of almost every promotion
these days, especially relating to software development.
It's time to learn more through Mark and Scott's recently
re-published book. 07/21
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- Program and Program
Management Definitions (New and Improved)
- A constructive exchange between Max Wideman and expert
Darya Dumar in pursuit of better general definitions of
the labels: "Program" and "Program Management". 06/21
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- Program Management Basics
- A Primer on Program Management. This detailed description
describes much more than basic project management because
program management is different. 05/21
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- How the Great Pyramid
Was Built
- A detailed analysis, based on modern understanding of
project management, of the construction of an incredible
stone monument, built to exacting details some 4,500 years
ago. 04/21
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- I Hereby Resign
- For anyone contemplating changing their employment, Steven
provides essential advice. Keep it for when you need it
- you surely will at some time in your career. 03/21
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- Major Construction
Project Scope/Cost Financial Accounting Case Study:
A Project to build a permanent "Olympic
Village" to house athletes for the 2010 Winter Olympics
held in Vancouver BC Canada
- Analyze three news reports at the time and draw your own
conclusions. 12/20
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- Project Management for Education
& Educators By Walter Ginevri
and Bernie Trilling (Book Review)
- This two-sided book recognizes that project management
is a life skill for the modern generation. It should therefore
be a part of every kid's basic education. Project management
is being discussed in some schools, but the abilities are
not practiced widely enough. This book is a call to PM's
and Educators to promote establishing project skills as
a standard part of child education. 11/20
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- UBC PMP Assignment - Interview
Request Rick Mann Asks and Max Wideman
Responds
- A record of an interesting and valuable exchange of emails
in which Rick Mann asks some serious questions about project
management and Max attempts a serious opinion. 10/20
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- Filling Execution Gaps
- How Executives and Project Managers turn Corporate Strategy
into Successful Projects By Todd C. Williams
(Book Review)
- Through Todd's many years of corporate management experience
he has uncovered six areas of typical shortcomings or failure
in communication. He calls these "Execution Gaps" in top
management responsibilities. 09/20
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- The Front-End of Projects:
A Systematic Literature Review and Structuring By Terry Williams,
Hang Vo, Knut Samset & Andrew Edkins (Extractions
and Observations)
- Terry and his team bring us a welcome and thorough dissertation
on the span of work and effort involved in the "front-end"
of the project life span based on a systematic review of
PM publications published between January 2006 and
September 2017. 09/20
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- When Does a Project
Actually Start? - Part 2
- In this Part 2, we discovered a failure to properly understand
the role of the "Project Life Span" (cycle), a
failure to agree on a meaningful definition of the term
"project", and as Peter Morris suggests, a recognition
that the so-called "front end" or "Pre-project
activities" is where things can go badly wrong and,
by implication, where the project starts. 08/20
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- When Does a Project
Actually Start? - Part 1
- First, what do we mean by a "project"? An early
view by experts, now a more up-to-date view. But do we recognise
it in practice? And why does it matter? 07/20
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- Effective Data Visualization,
2nd Edition By Stephanie D.H. Evergreen
(Book Review)
- Here is an opportunity to learn how to handle data and
present it graphicaly according to its data type, and the
need to get its impact across forcibly to your intended
audience. 06/20
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- The Art of Positive
Politics - A Key to Delivering Successful Projects By
Vijay K. Verma (Book Recommendation)
- How to handle negative comments while promoting your own
project. Instead, publicize a positive image. 03/20
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- Climate Change Means
Changing the Climate - Or Can We Realistically Do That?
- For such a project, if possible, means doing "due
diligence" at the front end. This paper includes Bryan
McConachy's pitch, Max's response, a suggested scope and
justification, and a perspective by Helen Cooke. 02/20
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- Earned Benefit Program
Management - Aligning, Realizing, and Sustaining Strategy
By Crispin ("Kik") Piney,
PMP (Book Review)
- A very solid treatise that explores and expands in great
detail on the whole domain of project management from the
project level, to program, to portfolio, including the necessary
close relationship with on-going operations. 01/20
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- Succeeding with
Senior Management - Getting the right support at the right
time for your project By G. Michael Campbell,
PMP (Book Review)
- This book is really all about Information & Communication
Management, that is, with senior management starting
with your project's sponsor. The book provides valuable
advice on how to get what your project needs.05/19
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- Policies, Principles,
Practices, Procedures and Core Concepts
- In past years we have made attempts to establish a set
of "First Principles" for project management (11/03
& 04/09) but
we have run into trouble. Turns out the word "Principles"
has several meanings. Instead, "Core Concepts"
has been suggested as an alternative, and these concepts
have been redefined and elaborated with the objective of
establishing some consensus. 04/19
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- Project Management
Body of Knowledge Revisited - Part 2: The Framework
Rationale
- Like Part 1, this Part 2 is also a virtual repeat of what
I wrote 30 years ago to establish a "framework"
in which managing any sort of project can be successfully
conducted. The highlight of this article is the clear and
full definition of what a project really is, and hence what
has to be done to manage one. Read it in conjunction with
the observations in my Musings: A
Look Back at the Original (PMBOK) Framework - Part 2.
01/19
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- Project
Management Body of Knowledge Revisited, 2018 - Part 1:
- This paper is essentially a repeat of what I wrote over
30 years ago when "inventing" the "PMBOK"
(1986-7). Please read in conjunction with this month's Musings
- A Look
Back - where I have taken the opportunity to make the
comparison with where we are today. 12/18
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- Mastering Organizational
Change By Barbara A. Davis
(Book Review)
- Barbara describes how to overcome the inevitable challenges
involved in organizational change management (OCM), and
includes in-depth descriptions of the available range of
techniques available for doing so. 10/18
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- Implementing Positive
Organizational Change - A Strategic Project Management Approach
By Gina Abudi (Book Review)
- Gina's book provides practical advice for anyone contemplating
or managing a significant re-working and re-staffing within
their organization. 09/18
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- Influence Redefined
By Stacey Hanke (Book Review)
- How influential are you ... really? Maybe you are not
as influential as you think you are. Find out by reading
Stacey's book about her influence model and how to climb
its ladder. 08/18
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- Book Reviews —
Set #6 (Two brief critiques)
- Book 1: What if
Common Sense was Common Practice in Business? Creating a
culture of clear communication in the organization by Rex
Conner, 2014
- Book 2: A Pocket
Guide to Stakeholders'
Management
Engagement. Realistically you cannot "manage"
stakeholders — you need to engage them! By George
Jucan, 2017. 07/18
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- Situational Project Management
- The Dynamics of Success and Failure By Oliver F. Lehmann
(Book Review)
- An excellent treatise on all kinds of tough situations
that project managers may have to face in the real world
of project management. Those with lesser experience may
easily overlook the potential dangers in the situations
described. The reader will not find this type of learning
and solutions in popular methodology expositions. 06/18
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- Global Complex Project
Management - An Integrated Adaptive Agile and PRINCE2 LEAN
Framework for Achieving Success By Robert
K. Wysocki, PhD, and Colin Bentley (Book Review)
- Clearly, in the minds of these authors, managing large
complex projects successfully have to be managed differently.
That is especially true of IT and HT projects. Their book
recommends a judicious mix of both Agile and Traditional,
applied in the right sequence. 05/18
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- Waterfall versus Agile
- Which is the Right Development Methodology for Your Project?
- Sorting out the differences and making the selection simple.
04/18
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- The Five Hour Workday
By Stephan Aarstol (Book Review)
- Is a five-hour work day really likely, or even possible?
Stephan explains why it would be so beneficial to the organization
as well as the individual and confirms that it is possible
- because in his company he just did. 11/17
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- How to Manage Complex Programs
- High-Impact Techniques for Handling Project Workflow,
Deliverables, and Teams By Tom Kendrick
(Book Review)
- Tom writes for Program Managers rather than
Project Managers and large projects at that.
He reveals the fundamental concepts and proven approaches
that will help you master program management from initiation
through execution and successful closure. 10/17
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- The Social Project Manager
- Balancing Collaboration with Centralized Control in a
Project Driven World By Peter Taylor
(Book Review)
- For projects in the office work environment, Peter describes
a non-traditional way of organizing projects, and managing
project performance and progress. The aim is to harnesses
the performance advantages of a collaborative community.
09/17
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- Delivering Successful PMOs -
How to Design and Deliver the Best Project Management Office
for Your Business
- Peter Taylor provides a very thorough and easy-to-follow
approach to designing and succeeding in establishing a PMO
for a very large project or program. 08/17
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- Project Risk Management
in Infrastructure Development: Pushing the Boundaries in
a Major Upheaval
- How to develop a flexible risk management strategy of
priorities for a large project or program based on the project's
risk profile and the organization's "risk appetite". 08/17
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- The Challenge for the Wideman
Glossary 6.1 Update - Can the Glossary be made more user-focused?
- We have divided up the Glossary database into sets that
focus on specific user needs. Thus, by cutting out long
lists of terms and definitions that are not relevant to
a particular focus at hand, we expect the resulting Glossaries
will be more relevant and more easily navigated. 07/17
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- What's New in Glossary
v6.1?
- By increasing our Wideman Comparative Glossary by more
that 1,000 entries, and extending its range beyond the work
of a single project, we have the opportunity to change the
manner of presentation. As you will see from this article,
we now offer sets of terms extracted from our overall list,
but which each focuses on a particular aspect of the project
management domain. 06/17
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- Capital Projects
By Paul Barshop (Book Review)
- After the last two papers, it is appropriate that Paul
Barshop should come along with "What every executive
needs to know to avoid costly mistakes and make major investments
pay off", the sub-title of his book. Paul writes
a clear description of the project management Stage-Gate
process, and why it is so important for executives to understand
it and implement it. 02/17
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- Olympic Village Project Fiasco
(Case Study)
- A second-hand account of what appeared to have happened
in the financing of an actual large scale project. Includes
suggested case study issues for discussion. 12/16
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- Procuring Successful Mega-Projects
- How to Establish Major Government Contracts Without Ending
up in Court By Louise Hart
(Book Review)
- The bigger the project the greater the chance of failure
should come as no surprise. Dollar wasting fiascos seem
to come from poorly conceived procurement that waste billions,
especially in the public sector. Louise's light hearted
review details what mistakes to avoid. 12/16
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- More on the Definition of "Project"
and a Final Conclusion - Part 2
- Last month we concluded that most of the definitions of
the term "project" are inadequate in explaining
the difference from Business-as-Usual. This month we do
a more thorough analysis and conclude with a definition
that draws out the real differences. 11/16
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- Defining the Term
"Project" in the Context of Project Management - Part 1
- The corner stone of a profession in project management
is a definition of the term "project". Here we
review a recent blog by Dr. Lynda Bourne, the history, the
problem, attempts to solve it, and what we think should
be done about it. 10/16
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- Wideman Glossary Update
Progress Report Structure around projects,
programs, portfolios and other definition challenges
- In attempting an update of this Glossary we have encountered
a number of challenges, not least of which is how to make
it more useful. But one thing we have learned is that it
is an excellent source of learning. Pick any definition
and click on the associated links. 9/16
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- Managing Projects
in Research and Development By Ron Basu
(Book Review)
- Ron makes an impassioned plea for project management in
Research and Development and describes what that means to
both the R&D sector and to the style of project management
required. 8/16
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- Program Management
By Michel Thiry (Book Review)
- Michel explains that Program Management is about delivering
value, and the purpose of this book is to present executives
and academics alike with the issues that arise in practice,
in its implementation and performance within an organization.
5/16
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- The Potential for A Project
Management Framework Standard: Are we ready?
- Given the meaning of "project management" in
its broadest sense, can we accept that the design of the
Project Life Span is the dominant feature while a concurrent
Methodology is the sequential means for creating the required
deliverable? 4/16
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- A Practical Guide to Dealing
with Difficult Stakeholders By Jake
Holloway, David Bryde and Roger Joby (Book Review)
- After crossing the Business-Project Divide last month,
it is reasonable to discuss the stakeholders we may find
there, such as Sponsors, other senior managers, internal
or external Customers, and of course your project Team.
Jake, David and Roger do an excellent job of exposing potential
attitudes that will affect your project. 4/16
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- Bridging the Business-Project
Divide Techniques for Reconciling Business-as-Usual and
Project Cultures By John Brinkworth
(Book Review)
- In organizations these days, there are two cultures, two
sets of expectations, two languages: business-as-usual on
the one hand, and the conduct of projects on the other.
As the title indicates, this book explains how to connect
the two. 2/16
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- The Essentials of Project
Management, 4th Edition By Dennis Lock
(Book Review)
- This 4th Edition provides a valuable summary of practical
project management. It is a junior complement to, and keeps
in step with its mother text Project Management tenth
edition. The latter was published in 2013 and we reviewed
it in November 2013. 1/16
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- Project Management of Hotel
Opening Processes By Gert Noordzij
(Book Review)
- In this book, Gert introduces us to a new area of project
management application. He shares some interesting insights
into hotel opennings, in particular the high rates of failure
to open on time. Gert recommends project management as the
solution, but the underlying problem is the culture and
the need for a make over. 12/15
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- Going Beyond the Waterfall
- Managing Scope Effectively Across the Project Life Cycle
By Barbara Davis and Darren Radford
(Book Review)
- Traditionally, "scope" is seen as a fixture
based on a thorough study of the project's "requirements".
Not so, say the authors. They see "managing scope"
as a multi complex construct that accepts the basic idea
that scope is flexible like any of the other major components
of project management. 11/15
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- Projects for Profit - An Insider's
Guide to Delivering Projects and Getting Paid By Robin Hornby
(Book Review)
- Robin's book is about commercial project management where
you not only have to succeed in delivering a product, but
you also have to make a profit in the process. So you must
also be a business person. This is a very practical book
offering advice based on extensive personal experience.
10/15
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- Winning Answers to
500 Interview Questions By Lavie Margolin
(Book Review)
- Your project is finished and so is your employment. Next
is the interview stage in your personal life cycle. There
are plenty of books on how to seek out interviews, but few
tell you what non-technical questions you might expect and
how to answer them. Lavie does just that, observing there
are only so many topics interviewers are likely to touch
on. 9/15
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- Handbook of Project Management
- Fifth Edition By Rodney Turner
(Book Review)
- This 5th Edition has been substantially restructured.
Its first 4 parts describe: Projects - their context; Performance
- managing delivery; Process - from start to close-out;
and Portfolio management. A fifth part provides Perspectives
on a variety of well-known projects. 8/15
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- Looking For Success? First
Know Your Project Type, Because Achieving Success Can Vary
with the Type of Product!
- The classic measure is "on time, budget and specifications",
but "success" is best measured by "customer
satisfaction". Hence know your "stakeholders"
and your "Project type". Both can have a big impact
on how you manage. 8/15
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- Performance Based Project
Management - Increasing the Probability of Project Success
By Glen B. Alleman (Book
Review)
- Glen's latest book describes how the project management
methods originating in the aerospace industry can be adapted
to accommodate any project, of any size, and in any industry.
7/15
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- Proactive Project Management
By Morten Fangel (Book Review)
- A welcome change of perspective on the body of knowledge
of project management, its structure and practical reality
in a world of "How to" rather than "What
is". Morten explains in detail "How to make common
sense common practice". 6/15
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- Achieving Success
on Large Projects through Public Relations
- This paper describes the type of projects in question,
what is meant by "stakeholders", and how to create
a favorable influence through a Project Public Relations
Program. 2/15
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- Reconstructing Project
Management - Part 2
By Peter W. G. Morris
(Book Review)
- Continuing Part 2 of his book, Peter covers the basic
project management functions and how managers should adapt
their style of management to the needs of the project. Then
in his Part 3, Peter attempts total reconstruction, focusing
on the "front end", who is really responsible
for each of the phases involved, and arguing that the unit
of project management analysis is the project and not the
process. 2/15
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- Reconstructing Project
Management - Part 1
By Peter W. G. Morris
(Book Review)
- In this book, Peter has developed a thorough study of
project managagement in history, currently and where it
should go. Academic? Yes. But easy to read for valuable
insights including things that need fixing and why. 1/15
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- A Comparison of Project,
Program & Portfolio Management Responsibilities –
and Who Should Be Responsible For What
- By accepting the broader definition of "Project Management"
commonly implied in practice, we can envision the typical
vertical management structure in at least four levels. By
identifying appropriate responsibilities, boundary conflicts
between the levels, and consequent wasted management energy,
can be avoided. Tables provide recommended responsibilities
in sixteen domains. 12/14
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- Defining Project Success:
Part 4 - In Examining Project Success, What Have We Learned?
- from Project Manager Community - Best
Group for Project Management
- This Part summarizes contributors' thoughts on project
success. Obviously, confusion abounds. This is followed
by our suggestions for resolving the main issues. 11/14
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- Defining Project
Success: Part 3 - Is Program Structuring the Answer to Project
Success?
- from Project Manager Community - Best
Group for Project Management
- Max suggests "success" is different according
to the organizational level of the observer and whether
the focus is on the project or the performance of the product.
Others lend their support and describe their own experiences
in different industries. Emphasis is placed on clearly stating
the success criteria at the beginning of the project. 10/14
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- Defining Project
Success: Part 2 - Can We Bring Clarity to the Question?
- from Project Manager Community - Best
Group for Project Management
- The participants to this discussion search diligently
for real definitions of "Project Success" whether
in the public or private sectors, from whose perspective,
and whether or not it stops at project completion or includes
the success of the resulting product. Scope creep and other
interesting factors also enter the discussion along with
famous examples and an interesting analogy. 09/14
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- Defining Project Success:
Part 1 - Do Current Project Management Standards Make the
Answer Clear?
- from Project Manager Community - Best
Group for Project Management
- Clearly there is no clear answer. Opinions vary widely
as heated exchanges in this conversation illustrate, and
"official" standards are also called to account.
08/14
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- Communicating Projects
An End-to-End Guide to Planning, Implementing and Evaluating
Effective Communication
By Ann Pilkington (Book Review)
- In Ann's book, she describes what you need to know about
communicating effectively in project work, things they don't
tell you on official courses. 07/14
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- How Do You Motivate Your
Project Team?
The Project Manager Network - #1 Group
for Project Managers
- Four outspoken LinkedIn discussion contributors offer
their personal experiences and advice on how to get your
project team going. There was not exact unanimity on the
suggestions. 06/14
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- Handbook of People in Project
Management
Edited by Dennis Lock and Lindsay Scott
(Book Review)
- This book is a major treatise on its subject. Written
by a number of different authors, the contents cover a wide
range of topics relevant to managing the people inevitably
involved in a project or program. It is seriously practical
laced with a little humor rather than dryly theoretical.
05/14
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- Total Construction Project Management,
Second Edition
By George J. Ritz and Sidney M. Levy
(Book Review)
- George Ritz wrote the original of this book in 1994. Much
has changed in construction since then. This update is written
from the perspective of an on-site construction manager
in the typical North American environment. It is very detailed
and very thorough. 03/14
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- The Focused Organization -
How Concentrating on a Few Key Initiatives Can Dramatically
Improve Strategy Execution
By Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez with foreword
by Greg Balestrero (Book Review)
- A book for CEOs and the C-suite describing the challenge
of balancing between "running-the-business" and
"changing-the-business" to achieve corporate strategies.
Antonio offers a new approach to strategy execution based
on his experience and research. 01/14
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- Book Reviews –
Set #5 (Two brief critiques)
- Book 1: Project
Management, Tenth Edition, by Dennis Lock, 2013
-
11/13
- Book 2: Naked Project
Management, The Bare Facts, by Dennis Lock, 2012
-
12/13
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- Book Reviews –
Set #4 (Three brief critiques)
- Book 1: The Pocket
Guide for Those Daring Enough to Take Responsibility for
Large Industrial Projects, by Jean-Pierre Capron, 2012
- Book 2: Project
Soft Power - Learn the Secrets of the Great Project Leaders,
by Jeremie Averous, 2012
- Book 3: A Compendium
of PMO Case Studies: Reflecting Project Business Management
Concepts, by Dennis L. Bolles, PMP & Darrel G. Hubbard,
PE, 2012
-
08/13
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- What is Quality?
- Because quality is subjective it means different things
to different people. Read up on what it should mean to you
as a project manager! 09/13
-
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- Book Reviews –
Set #3 (Three brief critiques)
- Book 1: Enterprise
Project Governance: A Guide to the Successful Management
of Projects Across the Organization, by Paul C. Dinsmore
& Luiz Rocha, 2012
- Book 2: Improving
Your Project Management Skills: Second Edition, by Larry
Richman, 2012
- Book 3: Project
Sustainability: A Comprehensive Guide to Sustaining Projects,
Systems and Organizations in a Competitive Marketplace,
by John N. Morfaw, MBA, 2011
-
08/13
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- Book Reviews –
Set #2 (Three brief critiques)
- Book 1: Project
Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage Second Edition,
by Jeffrey K. Pinto, 2010
- Book 2: 101 Project
Management Problems and How to Solve Them, by Tom Kendrick,
2011
- Book 3: Rescue
the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing,
and Recovering from Project Failure, by Todd C. Williams,
2011
-
07/13
|
|
- Book Reviews
– Set #1 (Three brief critiques)
- Book 1: An Introduction
to Project Management, 3rd and 4th Editions by Kathy Schwalbe, 2012
- Book 2: The Six
Sigma Handbook, 3rd Edition by Pyzdek & Keller,
2009
- Book 3: Facilitating
Project Performance Improvement by Jerry Julian, 2010
-
06/13
|
|
- Managing the
Institutional Context for Projects:
Part 2 - Basic Research Urgently Needed
(Commentary)
- Following the paper referenced in Part 1 of our review
about Analyzing the Institutional Level
[of projects], authors Peter Morris and Joana Geraldi went
on to observe that "there are theories that apply at this
level in ways that are distinctive and useful". We ask —
what theories? 05/13
|
|
- Managing the
Institutional Context for Projects:
Part 1 - An Issue with Organizational "Levels"
(Commentary)
- In the view of professors Morris and Geraldi, "Project
management is widely seen as delivering undertakings on
time, on budget, and on scope [but] this conceptualization
fails to address the "front end" [of a project]
and its management." The authors explain their "three
level" concept of the front-end, with which we take
issue because we see an extra level — the difference
between Project Management and Technology Management. 04/13
|
|
- Fukushima in Retrospect
- Along with shortage of land and water, the need for energy
is also becoming a serious issue. Oil is currently predominant
by virtue of its ease of distribution but undoubtedly polluting.
Gas is clean but limited in supply and much less flexible.
Coal burning is downright dirty. Hence reconsideration of
nuclear power is timely. So what can we make of the Fukushima
experiences? Engineers weigh in. 03/13
|
|
- A Serious Answer
to a Serious Question: What are the Fundamental Differences
between Project Work and Operations Work?
- In terms of managing project and operations work we find
that they are different, and by examining the respective
definitions we set out to prove why. 02/13
|
|
- Governance in the
Project Management World
- What is "governance" and what is its role in
project portfolio management and project management? This
paper recommends appropriate guidelines for Project Portfolio
Management Governance that sets it apart from the governance
of a single project. 01/13
|
|
- Self-Promotion for Introverts®
- The quiet guide to getting ahead By Nancy Ancowitz
(Book Review)
- Are you uncomfortable promoting yourself? If your Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator starts with an "I", the answer is probably
"Yes"! But in project management, self-promotion is a necessary
activity to get work and especially to get ahead. Nancy's
book is full of advice to help. 12/12
|
|
- Financial Accounting
Support for Project Cost Control -
An Interesting Email Exchange
- Anibal Miranda requests best practices for Financial Accounting
to support Project Cost Accounting. Our answer may surprise
you. 11/12
|
|
- Is "Project Manager"
a Profession? - Part 2
A Blog Review
- Here's a sampling of the most enlightened responses on
both sides of the issue and what we have concluded from
the debate. 10/12
|
|
- Is "Project Manager"
a Profession? - Part 1
A Blog Review
- Passionate people weigh in on this question. See what
they have to say and form your own opinion. 09/12
|
|
- Fundamentals of Project
Management, 4th Edition, Simple Solutions for Busy People
By Joseph Heagney (Book Review)
- A heart-warming compendium of the basics of project management
that every project manager should know without resorting
to system inputs and outputs. 07/12
|
|
- A Trilogy of Books on Project Management
Book 4 - Managing Complex Projects
By Harold Kerzner and Frank P. Saladis
(Book Review)
- A heart-warming compendium of the basics of project management
that every project manager should know without resorting
to system inputs and outputs. 08/12
|
|
- A Trilogy of Books on Project Management
Book 3 - Value-Driven Project
Management
By Harold Kerzner and Frank P. Saladis
(Book Review)
- A new perspective on traditional project management that
has evolved into a business process rather than a PM process.
Advice for PMs in companies that are innovative market leaders
rather than followers.. 06/12
|
|
- A Trilogy of Books on Project Management
Book 2 - What Functional Managers
Need to Know
By Harold Kerzner and Frank P. Saladis
(Book Review)
- Fast access for functional managers seeking project management
wisdom on six major topics. 05/12
|
|
- A Trilogy of Books on Project Management
Introduction and Book
1 - What Executives Need to Know
By Harold Kerzner and Frank P. Saladis
(Book Review)
- Fast access for those at the top seeking essential project
management wisdom on eight major topics. 04/12
|
|
- The Lazy Project Manager
By Peter Taylor (Book Review)
- "Productive Laziness" - a new style of managing projects?
Read Peter's book to find out why. 02/12
|
|
- Managing the Cost of
Meetings (Review)
- Are your meetings really efficient or are they attended
by too many, drag out too long and burn up too much budget?
Or do you get too many interruptions when you are doing
serious work? Two gadgets we describe here may just be the
answer. 12/11
|
|
- Project Downsizing - Part 2:
Execution (Case Study)
- So how did the plan work out in practice? You be the judge.
10/11
|
|
- Project Downsizing - Part 1:
The Business Case (Case Study)
- The planning and justification of a very real and personal
family project recorded here as a general project management
class exercise. 09/11
|
|
- How to Save a Failing Project:
Chaos to Control By Ralph R. Young,
Steven M. Brady, & Dennis C. Nagle, Jr.
(Book Review)
- "We often hear about projects that are canceled, go over
budget, are completed late, or deliver less functionality
than promised. Customers are dissatisfied, users are disappointed,
and project staff are frustrated and overworked." So bewails
Ralph and his co-authors. Read their book to save your project.
12/10
|
|
- Strategic DNA: Bringing
Business Strategy to Life By Lawrence Hobbs
(Book Review)
- Of course projects should be aligned with a successful
corporate strategy, but that is not enough. Find out why
in this complete blueprint for successful organizational
life. 11/10
|
|
- The Project Manager's
Guide to Making Successful Decisions By
Robert A. Powell & Dennis M. Bued (Book Review)
- As a project manager, your primary purpose is to lead
by making decisions. Robert and Dennis describe three ways
of doing so and which is appropriate when. They also point
to the importance of implementing the decision once made.
10/10
|
|
- Project Decisions: The
Art and Science By Lev Virine
& Michael Trumper (Book Review)
- A large part of a project manager's time is involved in
decision-making. Poor decisions lead to poor results, the
source of many project failures. Lev and Michael advocate
for structured decision analysis and illustrate their
point with a tale from Christopher Robin's children's story
book. 09/10
|
|
- Risks in Political
Projects - The New Scottish Parliament Building (Case
Study)
- A detailed study of a highly politicized real-life UK
project and all the things that in retrospect they did wrong.
Was the resulting building worth it? 08/10
|
|
- Enterprise Management
Leadership (Case Study)
- Leadership and determination are sometimes seen as opposite
sides of the same coin. If a project is not going well,
whose fault is it? Wyrcan's example of a small company in
disarray serves as an object lesson for a large complex
project. 07/10
|
|
- Brainstorming The PMBOK®
Guide Fourth Edition By Muhamed Abdomerovic
(Book Review)
- As previously, the latest PMBOK® Guide (2008) consists
of nine interconnected "knowledge areas" involving forty-two
nested "processes" involving inputs, tools and techniques,
and outputs. However, this complex system does not explain
what knowledge is being moved nor how the whole might be
applied to running an actual project. Muhamed's latest book
explains what and how. 06/10
|
|
- Three Projects: Calgary's
Saddledome; Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre;
Kananaskis Country Recreation Development (Case
Studies)
- These examples from Canadian Construction focus on scope
and cost control. 05/10
|
|
- Emotional Intelligence
for Project Managers - The People Skills You Need to Achieve
Outstanding Results By Anthony Mersino
(Book Review)
- A new angle for project management? Anthony converts a
personal journey into a model of self conduct to better
manage project teams. But is it for you? 04/10
|
|
- The Handbook of Program Management:
How to Facilitate Project Success with Optimal Program Management
By James T. Brown (Book Review)
- In his book, James discusses the program manager's job
in the real world of salesmanship and relationship building.
Along the way he provides valuable tips on how to extract
order out of typical chaos - hardly the accepted view of
program management. 03/10
|
|
- Project Management Memory
Jogger™ (Regular and Advanced) By
Paula Martin, Karen Tate and Cynthia Stackpole
(Book Review)
- These two books are must-have handy pocket-size how-to
guides to practical project management. Be ready wherever
you go! 02/10
|
|
- Basic Project Management:
Two Learning Books
• An Introduction to Project
Management, 2nd Edition by Kathy Schwalbe
• Successful Project Management, 4th Edition
by Jack Gido & James Clements
(Book Reviews)
- What sort of instruction are new entrants to project management
being fed these days? We review two recent examples of course
books to find out. 11/09
|
|
- Managing Difficult
Projects By André Costin (Book Review)
- Discovery, strategy, definition, managing contracts and
people are all serious challenges in large and complex capital
projects. André shares his experience and advice.
10/09
|
|
- Project Management for
Mere Mortals By Claudia M. Baca
(Book Review)
- Claudia provides a great and detailed walkthrough of the
Project Management Institute's five process groups: Initiation,
Planning, Execution, Controlling, and Closing for complex
projects in the information and corporate administration
project industries. 09/09
|
|
- Maximizing Project Value:
Defining, Managing, and Measuring for Optimal Return
By Jeff Berman (Book Review)
- Jeff suggests a new "Road Map" to project value by shifting
the emphasis to product value, providing valuable insights
along the way. The key is a winning Business Case. 08/09
|
|
- Results without Authority:
Controlling a project when the team doesn't report to you
By Tom Kendrick (Book Review)
- How do you control a project when your team does not report
directly to you? Tom explains how. 07/09
|
|
- Building a Century: A history
of Bechtel and projects galore (Book Review/Case
study)
- The story of a young American who, in dire circumstances,
left farming for construction and founded a company spanning
four family generations and a century of building around
the globe. 06/09
|
|
- Total Quality Management By
John Morfaw (Book Review)
- The health care industry in Africa is plagued by a catalogue
of social, economic, political, cultural, structural and
organizational problems, needing reform. Morfaw describes
how TQM is the answer. 06/09
|
|
- Ten Commandments of Project
Management: A brief guide to the art of righteous project
management By
Robin Hornby, PMP (Book Review)
- The rules engraved on tablets of stone and brought down
from Mount Sinai were adopted by Moses and his followers
to create a stable and manageable society. This book applies
the same principle to project management to keep you out
of trouble. 06/09
|
|
- First Principles
of Project Management - Part 2
- Eight First Principles spelled out and explained together
with the associated issues typically raised. Academia rarely
articulates these axioms. 05/09
|
|
- First Principles
of Project Management - Part 1
- An updated introduction to a paper last published in November
2003. A philosophical discussion of the fundamental elements
of project management and their associated issues. Academia
rarely articulates these axioms. 04/09
|
|
- Managing Successful Programs
(2007) By Office of Government Commerce
(OGC), UK (Book review)
- MSP has been completely rewritten since its 2003 predecessor.
The number of illustrations have been doubled with a corresponding
increase in explanatory text. The focus has shifted considerably
with greater emphasis on realization of benefits. 03/09
|
|
- Stunning New Depictions
of PM Enabled by ConceptDraw Office
- A new systems model of project management, a simplified
mind map of project management knowledge, and a SCOPE-PAK
brainstorming exercise schedule all test the prowess of
new cross-platform graphics software. 02/09
|
|
- Management of Risk:
Guidance for Practitioners By Office
of Government Commerce (OGC), UK (Book review)
- This new OGC publication provides valuable counsel to
corporate management on the handling of risk at all levels
whether project or non-project. 01/09
|
|
- Risk Management for IT Projects:
How to Deal with Over 150 Issues and Risks by Bennet P. Lientz
& Lee Larssen (Book Review)
- Bennet and Lee's book provides a useful catalogue of risks
in IT work together with their suggestions for identifying,
tracking and handling. Choose your particular plight from
the Table of Contents. 12/08
|
|
- Rainbows & Ratholes - Best
Practices for Managing Successful Projects by Dhanu M. Kothari
(Book review)
- With a subtle sense of humor, Dhanu presents a series
of essays on the 'what and how' of successful Project Management,
complete with diagrams and checklists. 11/08
|
|
- PM World Today Interviews
Max Wideman - Part 3: Questions on Project Management
Practice
- PM World Today Managing Editor David Pells, in
his last questions, asks Max his views on project management
practice, its development, its future, the most important
skills, and good advice to new entrants. 09/08
|
|
- PM World Today Interviews
Max Wideman - Part 2: Activities with PMI®
- PM World Today Managing Editor David Pells asks
Max more questions, this time about his contributions to
PMI®. 08/08
|
|
- PM World Today Interviews
Max Wideman - Part 1: Probing Max's Background
- PM World Today Managing Editor David Pells asks
Max some searching questions about his involvement in project
management; construction management; and heavy construction.
07/08
|
|
- The Project Management
Life Cycle by Jason Westland
(Book review)
- A thorough description of the project life span and how
to initiate, plan, execute and close a project successfully.
Complete with templates on a CD ROM. 06/08
|
|
- PMHub.net Interviews Max Wideman
- The Person
- The editor of PMHub, a web site dedicated to assisting
managers study for the Project Management Institute's PMP®
or CAPM® exams, tests Max's credibility with some probing
personal questions. 05/08
|
|
- Power of Enterprise-Wide
Project Management by Dennis L. Bolles
and Darrel G. Hubbard (Book review)
- The groundwork for establishing an enterprise-wide project
management office (EPMO) provides good advice: start at
the top where executive decisions are made. 02/08
|
|
- The Empty Carousel: A Consumer's
Guide to Checked and Carry-on Luggage by
Scott T. Mueller (Book review)
- Good advice for the travelling project manager - or anyone
else for that matter. 12/07
|
|
- Ten Steps to Comprehensive
Project Portfolio Management
- Part 8: More Tips on Step 10
- Benefits of harvesting & reporting, roles, and changing
strategic direction. 04/08
|
|
- Ten Steps to Comprehensive
Project Portfolio Management
- Part 7: Tips on Step 10
- Improving the portfolio: From product launch to project
success by ramping up the use of the product. 03/08
|
|
- Ten Steps to Comprehensive
Project Portfolio Management
- Part 6: Tips on Steps 8 and 9
- Managing the portfolio: Plan & Execute the Work, Reporting
& Review. 02/08
|
|
- Ten Steps to Comprehensive
Project Portfolio Management
- Part 5: Tips on Steps 5 to 7
- Logical progression: Prioritizing, Ranking, Balance and
Optimizing, and Authorization 01/08
|
|
- Ten Steps to Comprehensive
Project Portfolio Management
- Part 4: Tips on Steps 1 to 4
- Logical progression: Setup, Needs/Opportunities, Evaluation
and Selection. 12/07
|
|
- Ten Steps to Comprehensive
Project Portfolio Management
- Part 3: Projects, Programs, Portfolios and Strategic Direction
- A discussion of the PPM environment including the role
of the Project Management Office and the Project Portfolio
Steering Committee. 11/07
|
|
- Ten Steps to Comprehensive
Project Portfolio Management
- Part 2: The Project Portfolio Management Life Cycle
- Ten steps to complete the entire PPM cycle. 10/07
|
|
- Ten Steps to Comprehensive
Project Portfolio Management
- Part 1: An Introduction
- It seems that project portfolio managers, and their responsible
executives, still have a lot to learn to make the process
complete. 09/07
|
|
- Napoleon on Project Management
by Jerry Manas (Book review)
- Jerry describes the sheer brilliance, work ethic, and
tenacity of this French leader and connects it to the best
in project management. 08/07
|
|
- Selling into Project
Success
- You cannot really determine project success unless you
also examine product success. And if the product is a success
who cares if the project was late and over budget? But the
hazards may be beyond the PM's control. 04/07
|
|
- Credible Ethics and
the Environment
- Professional civil engineers are providers of infrastructure
for social good. In this paper we take serious issue over
their apparent denial of the associated "population
problem". 03/07
|
|
- Information Systems Project Management,
2nd ed., How to Deliver Function and Value in Information
Technology Projects by Jolyon Hallows
(Book review)
- Jolyon's advice on managing software projects and what
you need to know about project management in that application
domain. 02/07
|
|
- Your Successful Project
Management Career by Ronald B. Cagle
(Book review)
- Ronald attempts to answer the almost endless questions
around what experience and training do you need and how
do you manage your career - from the perspective of the
IT environment. But the real questions are: What type of
projects, and are you suited? 01/07
|
|
- The Software Development Edge:
Essays on Managing Successful Projects by
Joe Marasco (Book review)
- Joe provides valuable lessons for project managers, especially
those in the world of software development. 12/06
|
|
- The Right Projects Done
Right! (From Business Strategy to Successful Implementation)
by Paul C. Dinsmore and Terence J. Cooke-Davies
(Book review)
- Paul and Terry join hands across the Atlantic to shed
serious light on project portfolio management. 11/06
|
|
- Project Portfolio Management:
A Practical Guide To Selecting Projects, Managing Portfolios
and Maximizing Benefits by Harvey A. Levine
(Book review)
- Is "PPM" just another project management technique or
is it serious business? Harvey obviously thinks the latter.
10/06
|
|
- PRINCE2, 2005 Edition -
Part 2 Published by TSO for the Office
of Government Commerce, UK (Book review)
- In this Part 2 we discuss some of the PRINCE2 concepts,
the downsides we see in the methodology and our conclusions.
09/06
|
|
- PRINCE2, 2005 Edition -
Part 1 Published by TSO for the Office
of Government Commerce, UK (Book review)
- We provide our views of this widely recognized UK project
management standard methodology, emphasizing the things
we like. 08/06
|
|
- The Project Management Tool
Kit (100 tips and techniques for getting the job done right)
by Tom Kendrick (Book review)
- Tom has assembled a compendium of 100 frequently-used
project management "processes". A valuable and handy little
reference book of tools and techniques. 06/06
|
|
- Agile Project Management
by Barry Chin, published by AMACOM,
NY, 2004 (Book review)
- Barry makes a good case for "agile" project
management – under the right circumstances. We review
the advantages and disadvantages. 05/06
|
|
- Managing Successful Programs
Published for Office of Government Commerce,
UK (Book review)
- This book, written for the UK Government, explains what
a "programme" really is and how to manage all
kinds. Much different from its previous 1999 edition, there
is a lot to learn even from this paper. 03/06
|
|
- The Project Management Question
and Answer Book by Michael W. Newell, PMP,
and Marina N. Grashina, PMP, AMACOM, NY,
2003 (Book review)
- Real answers for real people, a valuable library addition.
02/06
|
|
- Project Cost Control:
The Way it Works
- It's not that difficult in theory. It's a lot more difficult
in practice. This paper takes you right through the project
life span. 01/06
|
|
- Financially Focused Project Management
(FFPM) by Thomas M. Cappels,
J. Ross Publishing, FL, 2004 (Book review)
- Based on his view that the goal of project management
is profitability, Thomas describes his brand of project
management. 12/05
|
|
- Project Procurement Management
by Quentin W. Fleming, FMC Press,
CA, 2003 (Book review)
- Quentin provides a sound and much-needed easy-to-read
comprehensive guide to project procurement management. 11/05
|
|
- How Long Should a Software
Project Take?
- A concerned correspondent asks a serious question and
receives a variety of responses from a group of experts
who put him closer to a resolution. 10/05
|
|
- Advanced Project Portfolio
Management and the PMO:
Multiplying ROI at Warp Speed by
Gerald I. Kendall, PMP & Steven C. Rollins,
PMP, J. Ross Publishing, Inc.,
Co-published with International Institute of Learning, Inc.,
2003 (Book review)
- This is one of the first comprehensive books on Project
Portfolio Management. It focuses on the IS/IT industry where
PPM is most needed. 9/05
|
|
- Project Management
Methodologies by Jason Charvat,
John Wiley & Sons, NJ, 2003 (Book review)
- "When all projects in the enterprise follow a standardized
template, then and only then will project management evolve
gradually into an everyday way of life." So says CEO Robert
Simplot in the introduction to Jason's book and Jason explains
why and how. 8/05
|
|
- Lessons in Project Management
by Tom and Jeff Mochal, Apress,
CA, 2003 (Book review)
- "Painless project management learning" might have been
a better title for this book review but we preferred to
stay with the correct title for this paper. Recommended
reading for all those engaged in the IS/IT business environment.
7/05
|
|
- Project Portfolio Governance
Guidelines (But are they complete?)
- A review and commentary of a recent publication Directing
Change, by the Association of Project Management, UK,
2004. This booklet provides practical guidance on elevating
the standard of project portfolio management in most organizations
across all sectors. 6/05
|
|
- PMBOK® Guide, Third Edition
- Is More Really Better? Part 3 Project
Management Institute, PA, 2004 (Book review)
- Third of three articles on the 2004 Guide to
the Project Management Body of Knowledge. In this part
we focus on Section III
of the Guide. 5/05
|
|
- PMBOK® Guide, Third Edition
- Is More Really Better? Part 2 Project
Management Institute, PA, 2004 (Book review)
- Second of three articles on the 2004 Guide to
the Project Management Body of Knowledge. In this part
we focus more closely on Sections I
and II of the Guide. 4/05
|
|
- PMBOK® Guide, Third Edition
- Is More Really Better? Part 1 Project
Management Institute, PA, 2004 (Book review)
- First of three articles taking an in-depth look
at the Project Management Institute's latest Guide to
the Project Management Body of Knowledge, covering What
We Liked, the Downside and some Missed Opportunities. This
Part 1 provides an overview. 3/05
|
|
- Lessons in Risk Management
- Three short real-life case studies demonstrating benefits
of a little risk planning. 2/05
|
|
- Room for Improvement
based on a PwC study (Report review)
- Authors Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez and Daniel Evrard of PricewaterhouseCoopers
(PwC), Belgium, set out to discover any correlation between
organizational maturity and project performance. Their report
Boosting Business Performance through Programme and Project
Management, June 2004, discloses valuable information
on the current state of project management. 1/05
|
|
- Total Project Control:
A Manager's Guide to Integrated Project Planning, Measuring,
and Tracking by Stephen A. Devaux,
John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1999 (Book review)
- This book highlights shortcomings in current project control
tools because scope is typically taken as a "given" and
its outcome value is not quantified. Consequently, a sound
basis for scope change decision-making is absent. Stephen
proposes a number of metrics to overcome this. 8/04
|
|
- Two Case Studies - #1:
The Case of the Never Ending Scope Creep - #2: The Case
of the Unidentified Risks Contributed
by Mauro Maurovic, Australia. Edited for the web by
R. Max Wideman
- These two case studies (together with "The Custom
Woodworking Company" lower on this Page) should prove
invaluable exercises for instructors conducting project
management course work. 7/04
|
|
- Effective Risk Management:
Some Keys to Success, 2nd Edition by
Edmund H. Conrow, AIAA, Reston, VA, 2003 (Book review)
- This book discusses how to implement sound project risk
management on a wide variety of defense, commercial, and
other large programs and projects. 6/04
|
|
- Project Management Practices:
A Compendium on a CD by the Project
Management Institute (Product review)
- A review of this practical learning tool on a CD from
the Project Management Institute shows that it is also well
constructed and an asset for the practicing project manager.
5/04
|
|
- Brainstorming The PMBOK®
Guide by Muhamed Abdomerovic,
Dipl. Eng., PMP (Book review)
- Muhamed has undertaken the tremendous task of analyzing
the complete PMBOK Guide to trace all those inputs and outputs
and present them as logical sets and in chronological sequences
of content. A very valuable resource. 4/04
|
|
- Risk Management: Tricks
of the Trade for Project Managers by Rita
Mulcahy, PMP, RMC Publications, Minnesota (Book review)
- It is nice to come across a book packed full of practical
advice you can use immediately as a handy reference, especially
for project risk management. Light hearted and easy to read.
4/04
|
|
- Knowledge Mapping and the
Price of Knowledge
- A consistent grouping of project management subject matter
would be helpful to practitioners and educators alike for
practice, training, education and research. But is the cost
of knowledge too expensive to structure? A comment on APQC's
Project Management Report and PMI®'s OPM3®. 3/04
|
|
- Practical Project Management:
Tips, Tactics, and Tools by Harvey
A. Levine, Wiley, NY, NY, 2002 (Book review)
- This book covers the whole spectrum of project management,
ranging from new paradigms of portfolio management to project
communications and how to make them work. It integrates
new ideas with true and trusted old ones, and the text abounds
with useful sidebar tips. 2/04
|
|
- The Role of the Project
Life Cycle (Life Span) in Project Management A
review of literature over three decades
- The life span is a fundamental underpinning of project
management, but the issue is one of strategy: "How much
control? Who should have it? And when?" 1/04
|
|
- A Billion Dollar Boondoggle
(Case study)
- If you are going to do something wrong, do it big time.
This way, everyone will be so embarrassed that you will
probably get away with it. 12/03
|
|
- A Quarter Century of Project
Management Evolution - A Review of Managing High-Technology
Programs & Projects Third Edition
by Russell D. Archibald, Wiley, NY, NY, 2003 (Book review)
- An opportunity to compare Russ's latest book with his
original edition to give us insight into how project management
has evolved over the last 25 years. 11/03
|
|
- Modeling Project Management
A review of two decades of literature
- Over the last couple of decades there have been numerous
attempts to explain project management using graphical models.
This paper traces these efforts as a basis for solving this
biggest of unresolved issues. 12/03
|
|
- Progressive Acquisition
and the RUP - Part V Contracting Activities
- In this final installment of the series, we take a look
at contracting activities and how they fit into the Rational
Unified Process® (RUP®) from the acquirer's perspective.
An Appendix provides a helpful glossary for preparing and
administering progressive software acquisition contracts.
10/03
|
|
- Progressive Acquisition
and the RUP - Part IV Choosing a Form
and Type of Contract
- In Part IV we examine the best type of contract for your
project and consider ten interdependent variables that represent
the continuum between the best interests of the acquirer
and the best interests of the supplier. 9/03
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|
- Progressive Acquisition
and the RUP - Part III Contracting
Basics
- In Part III we examine the basic elements of an effective
contract, the hurdles that stand in the way, specific content
suited to the contracting approach we propose, and the reasons
most companies use centralized procurement. 8/03
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- Progressive Acquisition
and the RUP - Part II Contracts that
Work
- In Part II we describe how to modify the traditional contracting
process to fit a progressive acquisition model that meets
the needs of both acquirers and suppliers. 7/03
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|
- Progressive Acquisition
and the RUP - Part I Defining the
Problem and Common Terminology
- An initiative to formulated some basic tenets and recommendations
for a progressive approach to formal acquisition of software
development services using traditional contracting processes.
6/03
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|
- Software Development and
Linearity - Part 2 Why some project
management methodologies don't work
- Part 2 continues with a look at Rapid Prototyping, why
"linearity" doesn't work in software development, some associated
"people" problems - and some possible answers. 5/03
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|
- Software Development and
Linearity - Part 1 Popular methodologies
- The needs of IS departments are to maintain, enhance or
upgrade existing software systems, or respond with entirely
new software to satisfy new corporate business initiatives.
This paper examines the more popular project management
methodologies. 4/03
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- PMP® Project Management
Professional Study Guide by Kim Heldman
PMP, Sybex, Alameda CA 2002 (Book review)
- In her Study Guide for the Project Management Institute's
PMP certification exam, the author takes a life span view
rather than a knowledge view. 3/03
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|
- Software Project Risk
Management, Success and Training
- An interview with Max first published in Projects &
Profits, November 2002. 1/03
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|
- The Custom Woodworking Company
— Woody 2000 Project (Case Study)
- The incidents described are typical of the types of things
that happen in real-life projects and I have seen most of
them. The problems are not difficult to spot, but can you
see why they happened? 12/02
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|
- Comparing PRINCE2 with PMBoK®
(Book review)
- From time to time we are asked to compare project management
systems and methodologies. PRINCE2 and PMBoK take very different
approaches to the presentation of their material. 11/02
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- Building
Practice Guidelines: Typical Linear Responsibility Charts
(continued)
- Fourth of a series of four charts listing typical
tasks for a building project. This presentation continues
with the project commissioning, finishing and post-project
support stages of phase 4 of the typical project. 10/02
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|
- Building Practice Guidelines:
Typical Linear Responsibility Charts (continued)
- Third of a series of four charts listing typical
tasks for a building project. This presentation continues
with the final design and tender award and construction
stages of phase 3 of the typical project. 9/02
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|
- Building Practice Guidelines:
Typical Linear Responsibility Charts (continued)
- Second of a series of four charts listing typical
tasks for a building project. This presentation continues
with the concept development and schematic stages of phase
2 of the typical project. 8/02
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|
- Building Practice Guidelines:
Typical Building Projects Linear Responsibility Charts (BP-LRC)
(with Tasks listed by Project Phase)
- First of a series of four charts listing typical
tasks for a building project. These lists are segregated
according to the project's phase or stage and each entry
recommends who should take the lead and who else should
be providing significant support. This presentation covers
the pre-project and concept phases. 7/02
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- Project Teamwork, Personality
Profiles and the Population at Large: Do
we have enough of the right kind of people?
- Last of six papers examines the
distribution of project management personality types through
the general population and why some people are difficult
to find. 5/02
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|
- Optimizing Success by Matching
Management Style to Project Type
- Fifth of six papers shows how
the findings of the previous papers can be brought together
to better understand the project management process and
higher levels of project success. 4/02
|
|
- Dominant Personality Traits
Suited to Running Projects Successfully (And
What Type are You?)
- Fourth of six papers focuses on
four dominent personality styles in project leadership and
how these relate to project work and the project life span.
3/02
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|
- Toward a Fundamental
Differentiation between Project Types
- Third of six papers proposes a
2x2 matrix for categorizing projects based on the assumption
that different types of work need to be managed differently.
2/02
|
|
- Improving PM: Linking
Success Criteria to Project Type
- Second of six focuses on the dimensions
of project success, a general project classification matrix
and how the two may be correlated. 1/02
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|
- Project Management: From
Genesis to Content to Classification
- First of six papers describing the search for a
best practices linkage from project classification through
management style to project success. 12/01
|
|
- Project Management Appraisal:
Testing the Effectiveness of Your Project's Management
- What if the project status reports clearly indicate that
the project is not going according to plan? 11/01
|
|
- Project Management and Education
for the 21st Century
- If Canada's competitive edge in the global marketplace
is to be maintained, then a proper understanding of project
management must become much more widely spread. 11/01
|
|
- Object Lessons
- Three real-life personal mini case studies. Each provides
an example from which important lessons may be learned.
10/01
|
|
- Applying Resource Loading,
Production & Learning Curves to Construction: A Pragmatic
Approach
- In order to optimize productivity on new facility construction,
the input of resources including men, materials and equipment,
is varied according to the planned timing and availability
of the work. 10/01
|
|
- Construction Claims -
Identification, Communication & Record Keeping
- A claim is a disguised form of blackmail ... the last
chance to bail out a losing job ... an assertion to a contractual
right ... . It is probably not difficult to guess who
expressed which point of view, but at least the common thread
is clear ... extra money. 9/01
|
|
- The Future of Project Management
- I wrote this article in 1992 as a commentary on the past
and future of project management. Now, nearly a decade later
one can marvel at the advances that have been made, but
wonder how much we have really learned about project management
in the intervening period. 9/01
|
|
- Project Management
- Simple Answers to Simple Questions
- Originally I wrote this to develop a brochure to promote
project management in one of my client's departments. Today,
project management is well established in the organization,
but the answers to the questions are just as necessary.
9/01
|
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- Total Project Management
of Complex Projects - Improving Performance with Modern
Techniques
- A discussion of what it takes to run a successful project,
acknowledging the project's external environment, and the
need for project management education and professionalism.
The appendices contain a lot of useful reference information.
8/01
|
|
- Managing the Project
Environment
- More and more, project managers must have concern not
only for the physical environment, long term and short,
but also the social environment. This paper suggests how.
7/01
|
|
- The Spectrum of Project Management
Future Aspects: North American Trends
- Key-note address to A Conference under the Northern
Lights in Reykjavik, Iceland, August 31st, 1987. 6/01
|
|
- Project Management
of Capital Projects - An Overview
- This paper looks at the difficulties of managing modern
capital projects and endeavours to reduce the complexities
to simpler and more understandable terms. 6/01
|
|
- Good Public Relations: An Essential
Part of Successful Project Management
- Three large projects in which the importance of public
relations and promotion was recognized by the sponsors at
the outset. 5/01
|
|
- Scope-Pak Project Planning
- Instructions for Conducting a Project Planning Workshop
- A simple Eight-Step planning technique that you can use
to quickly get your project up and running, organized and
under control. 5/01
|
|
- Project Management Institute:
In the Beginning …
- A brief history of how the Project Management Institute
got started back in 1968/9. 4/01
|
|
- ESA (Ethics, Standards and Accreditation)
and All That
- A serious but somewhat irreverent look at the knowledge
framework in project management. 4/01
|
|
- Executive Control with
Flexibility in Managing Capital Projects
- The need, management philosophy, features, organization
and planning a work breakdown for project managing capital
works. 3/01
|
|
- Project Management Simply
Explained - A Logical Framework to Help Your Understanding
- Why we need project management, what it is about, what
it consists of, and in what sequence. 3/01
|
|
- Managing the Development
of Building Projects for Better Results
- The objective of a building
project is to create the best possible facility for a given
level of expenditure; the objective of management should
be to establish an effective project team, a unity of purpose
and commitment to results. 2/01
|
|
- Negotiating for Project
Benefit Originally adapted from You
Can Negotiate Anything, Audio Cassette, 1990 Audio Renaissance
Tapes Inc., Los Angeles, with permission of the original
author Herb Cohen.
- You're working on a project but you don't feel that you
have enough authority to get things done. You are not alone.
In fact that is the way most projects really are. So, how
do you get things done? 1/01
|
|
- Project Manager to Project
Leader? and the Rocky Road Between... Vijay
K. Verma and R. Max Wideman
- Leadership, management and team building, while all closely
allied, are sufficiently different in the project environment
that they require special study. 12/00
|
|
- Defining Project Management
Knowledge as a Basis for Global Communication, Learning
and Professionalism
- If we are to advance towards a 'Global Profession' as
some suggest, then we need a vehicle for effective communication
and a common understanding of the content and structure
of the field. 11/00
|
|
- A Project Management Knowledge
Structure for the 21st Century
- This paper is a 'discussion' paper rather than a 'solution'
paper and describes the possibilities for a structured arrangement
of the elements of a body of knowledge for project management.
11/00
|
|
- First Principles of Project
Management
- This paper is an update of an earlier version that generated
some vigorous exchanges. It sets out a philosophical discussion
of the fundamentals of project management and tries to address
some of the issues raised. It is not expected to be either
definitive or final. Rev. 11/03
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Books
|
Available at:
|
- A Management Framework
for Project, Program and Portfolio Integration
ISBN-10: 1412027861
ISBN-13: 978-1412027861
- Welcome to the exciting world of project management! Whatever
size or type of project you work on, this handbook provides
fascinating insights into the expectations, processes and
satisfaction of managing projects successfully. You will
also find recommendations for establishing effective project
portfolio and program management, as well as some advanced
theory of project management.
|
Kindle
Edition
|
- Cost Control of Capital Projects:
and the Project Cost Management System Requirements
ISBN 0-921095-35-X
ASIN: B0007B0WB4
- This second edition is a comprehensive how-to guide to
controlling a project from concept to completion, including
contracting strategies, WBS, project accounting, productivity
and more. (Out of Print--Limited Availability)
|
|
- A Framework for Project and Program Management Integration
ISBN-10: 188041001X
ISBN-13: 978-1880410011
- This book, originally published by the Project Management
Institute, is no longer available through them.
|
|
- Project and Program Risk Management
ISBN-10: 1880410060
ISBN-13: 978-1880410066
- Understand your project better by adopting risk management.
This handbook provides a simplified approach leading to
significant risk reduction, better project performance and
ultimate success.
|
-
|
All available in pdf format.
