The Non-Project Manager's Guide to Project Management

Sam Buah is a seasoned project manager with well over 15 years of project management experience. This spans across the rail, transport and aviation industries, involving different kinds of projects such as design and build, construction, and refurbishment and security, among others. In recent months, Sam has dedicated his time to focusing on leading programmes of small- to medium-sized projects, areas of project management which are unique in their delivery. These have opened doors to opportunities for him to have a much deeper knowledge and understanding of managing minor projects. Sam has been working with and supporting many non-project managers and tailoring project management techniques and processes to suit each individual minor project, while at the same time not overlooking health and safety requirements. Besides delivering projects, Sam is also a passionate trainer, an ability and skill that comes naturally to him. For the passion of sharing his knowledge, Sam always finds the time and opportunity to be involved in helping non-project managers to fully embrace and understand the need for and benefits of project management. This is high on Sam's list of priorities and it has become his vision to embark on a series of training sessions and workshops to promote the use of project management among non-project managers and project managers.

Table of Contents
Foreword ......................................................................................................................v
List of figures .............................................................................................................. xi
List of tables ............................................................................................................. xiii
Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................xv
About the author ...................................................................................................... xvii
Introduction .............................................................................................................. xix
Who should read this book? ...................................................................................... xxi
Learning objectives ................................................................................................. xxiii
Humanitarian support for displaced families ......................................................... xxix
CHAPTER 1 .................................................................................................... 1
OVERVIEW OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT ............................................................. 1
CHAPTER 2 .................................................................................................. 20
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE PROJECTS (PROJECT CONTEXT) ....................... 20
CHAPTER 3 .................................................................................................. 26
PROJECT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES .......................................................... 26
CHAPTER 4 .................................................................................................. 36
UNDERSTANDING THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLES ................................................ 36
CHAPTER 5 .................................................................................................. 51
ESTABLISHING THE PROJECT NEED (THE WHY) .............................................. 51
CHAPTER 6 .................................................................................................. 57
ENGAGING THE PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS ...................................................... 57
CHAPTER 7 .................................................................................................. 65
JUSTIFYING THE PROJECT INVESTMENT (BUSINESS CASE) ............................ 65
CHAPTER 8 .................................................................................................. 71
THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................... 71
viii TabIe of Contents
CHAPTER 9 .................................................................................................. 78
QUALITY (FITNESS FOR PURPOSE) ...................................................................... 78
CHAPTER 10 ................................................................................................ 86
THE PROJECT REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................... 86
CHAPTER 11 ................................................................................................ 92
UNDERSTANDING THE PROJECT SCOPE ........................................................... 92
CHAPTER 12 .............................................................................................. 104
SCHEDULING THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES ......................................................... 104
CHAPTER 13 .............................................................................................. 118
HOW TO PROMOTE PROJECT SUCCESS ........................................................... 118
CHAPTER 14 .............................................................................................. 124
UNDERSTANDING ESTIMATING ........................................................................ 124
CHAPTER 15 .............................................................................................. 131
UNDERSTANDING CONFIGURATION ................................................................ 131
CHAPTER 16 .............................................................................................. 136
DEALING WITH CHANGES .................................................................................. 136
CHAPTER 17 .............................................................................................. 143
MANAGING RESOURCES ..................................................................................... 143
CHAPTER 18 .............................................................................................. 149
PROCUREMENT .................................................................................................... 149
CHAPTER 19 .............................................................................................. 154
DEALING WITH RISKS .......................................................................................... 154
CHAPTER 20 .............................................................................................. 165
DEALING WITH ISSUES ........................................................................................ 165
CHAPTER 21 .............................................................................................. 169
UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION .............................................................. 169
CHAPTER 22 .............................................................................................. 179
UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP ......................................................................... 179
CHAPTER 23 .............................................................................................. 185
UNDERSTANDING TEAMWORK ......................................................................... 185
The Non-Project Manager's Guide to Project Management ix
CHAPTER 24 .............................................................................................. 196
PROJECTS AND THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK .......................................... 196
CHAPTER 25 .............................................................................................. 202
PROJECT REVIEWS ............................................................................................... 202
CHAPTER 26 .............................................................................................. 207
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING .......................................... 207
USEFUL CHECKLISTS ................................................................................... 214
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO MANAGING A SIMPLE PROJECT ............................ 219
PROJECT EXAMPLES FOR GROUP DISCUSSIONS ......................................... 223
Answer Key .............................................................................................................. 229
Glossary ................................................................................................................... 230
References ................................................................................................................ 239
Index ........................................................................................................................ 241