Project Management For Dummies (eBook)

Jonathan L. Portny, MBA, PMP¯®, has more than 15 years of experience in the field of project management and is a certified Project Management Professional. His father, Stanley E. Portny, PMP¯®, was an internationally recognized expert in project management and the author of all previous editions of Project Management for Dummies.

INTRODUCTION 1

PART 1: GETTING STARTED WITH PROJECT MANAGEMENT 7

CHAPTER 1: Project Management: The Key to Achieving Results 9

CHAPTER 3: Beginning the Journey: The Genesis of a Project 41

CHAPTER 4: Knowing Your Project's Stakeholders: Involving the Right People 63

CHAPTER 5: Clarifying What You're Trying to Accomplish -- And Why 85

CHAPTER 6: Developing Your Game Plan: Getting from Here to There 113

PART 2: PLANNING TIME: DETERMINING WHEN AND HOW MUCH 143

CHAPTER 7: You Want This Project Done When? 145

CHAPTER 8: Establishing Whom You Need, How Much of Their Time, and When 181

CHAPTER 9: Planning for Other Resources and Developing the Budget 207

CHAPTER 10: Venturing into the Unknown: Dealing with Risk 221

PART 3: GROUP WORK: PUTTING YOUR TEAM TOGETHER 243

CHAPTER 11: Aligning the Key Players for Your Project 245

CHAPTER 12: Defining Team Members' Roles and Responsibilities 263

CHAPTER 13: Starting Your Project Team Off on the Right Foot 287

PART 4: STEERING THE SHIP: MANAGING YOUR PROJECT TO SUCCESS 309

CHAPTER 14: Tracking Progress and Maintaining Control 311

CHAPTER 15: Keeping Everyone Informed 339

CHAPTER 16: Encouraging Peak Performance by Providing Effective Leadership 361

CHAPTER 17: Bringing Your Project to Closure 377

PART 5: TAKING YOUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL 391

CHAPTER 18: Using Newer Methods and Resources to Enhance Your Project Management 393

CHAPTER 19: Monitoring Project Performance with Earned Value Management 413

PART 6: THE PART OF TENS 431

CHAPTER 20: Ten Questions to Ask Yourself as You Plan Your Project 433

CHAPTER 21: Ten Tips for Being a Better Project Manager 439

APPENDIX: COMBINING THE TECHNIQUES INTO SMOOTH-FLOWING PROCESSES 443

INDEX 449