The Definitive Guide to Project Management: The fast track to getting the job done on time and on budget

Successful project management is delivering your projects on time, to brief and within budget. The Definitive Guide to Project Management shows you step by step how to master the techniques of effective project management so that your projects deliver what you want, every time. Suitable for both beginners and more experienced project managers, The Definitive Guide to Project Management is the essential companion for anyone looking to develop their project management skills. Revised and improved to follow the presigious PMI certification scheme, its indispensable advice can be put to work immediately. Inside you will find key exam questions, templates and action checklists to help you at each stage of your well-executed project. Get the job done and on time with The Definitive Guide to Project Management The Definitive Business Series will ensure you get up to speed fast with all the business essentials you need to be a success. With their guided step-by-step approach the latest practical business techniques and concepts and their easy-to-read style, The Definitive Business Series cover every aspect of the topic from the business basics to the essential skills needed to progress in your career.   The Definitive Business Series. Your fast-track to business success.

Table of Contents:
About the authors  Acknowledgements  Preface to the Second Edition    List of figures  An introductory case study    1       Introduction        Aims of this chapter        What’s new about the new edition?         What do project managers really want?         Emerging standards for project management         Project management is founded on common sense         How readers can use this book         What kinds of project is this book aimed at?         Project management’s nine knowledge areas         Projects as a distinct class of activity         Managing projects         The project management lifecycle         Summary         Notes    2    Project organization, people and management         Aims of this chapter         Structure of this chapter         First thoughts         Main kinds of organization and consequences for project management         Project management system         Project organization and project roles         Managing the project team         Project lifecycle         Summary         Further reading         Notes    3    Project management processes         Aims of this chapter         Process groups – rationale and general principles         The initiating process group         The planning process group         The executing process group         The monitoring and controlling process group         The closing process group         Summary         Notes    4    Project integration management         Aims of this chapter         What is project integration management?         The role of integration in project management         A first look at project integration management         Processes and process groups of integration management         Develop project charter         Develop preliminary project scope statement         Develop project management plan         Project initiation         Direct and manage project execution         Other project integration management tools and techniques         Summary         Further reading         Notes    5    Project scope management         Aims of this chapter         What is project scope management?         Principles of project scope management         Scope planning         Scope definition         Create work breakdown structure         Scope verification         Scope creep         Scope control         Scope management process in action         Summary    6    Project time management         Aims of this chapter         What is time management?        Time management in projects         Trading time        Activity definition         Activity sequencing         Activity resource estimating         Activity duration estimating         Schedule development         Schedule control        Meetings and time management   7    Cost management         Aims of this chapter         Costs matter         Key concepts         The importance of costs and financial knowledge         Scope and cost         Five rules of thumb for estimating costs         A specialist task         Cost management process groups         Cost estimating         Cost budgeting         Cost control         Summary         Further reading         Notes    8    Quality management         Aims of this chapter         An introduction to the concept of quality         Quality management – an overview of the knowledge area         Quality and quality management defined         Quality planning         The difference between quality assurance and quality control         Summary         Further reading         Notes    9    People management (human resources)       &nbpter      People matter         HR planning         Acquire the project team         Develop the project team         Manage the project team         Summary         Further reading    10  Project communications management         Aims of this chapter          Why communication is important in projects         Some problems of project communication         Ten principles of project communication         A systematic approach to communications management         Summary         Further reading    11  Project risk management         Aims of this chapter         What is project risk management?         Risk management principles         Risk management planning         Risk identification         Qualitative risk analysis         Quantitative risk analysis         Risk response planning         Risk monitoring and control         Summary    12  Project procurement management         Aims of this chapter         What is project procurement management?         Why bother with procurement management?         How does procurement management fit in the process groups?         Critical factors in procurement         Steps in project procurement management         Contracts         Contract statement of work         Contract administration         Contract change control system         The project manager’s role         The special problems of IT procurement         Centralized/decentralized contracting         Summary         Notes    13       Professional responsibility         Aims of this chapter         What is a profession? What is professional responsibility?         The business case for professional responsibility         The PMI and professional responsibility         Codes of ethics         Summary         Note           Appendix A: The critical chain method         Understanding activity durations         Critical chain and activity durations         Focus on critical activities         The project buffer as a diagnostic         Action summary         Notes           Appendix B: Benefits management         The problem         Benefits management         Business benefits         Conclusion           Appendix C: PMI exam preparation         Aims of this appendix         What are the credentials offered by the PMI?         PMP or CAPM?         Exam structure         Preparing for and sitting the exam         Examples of questions           Afterword: Ten top tips for managing projects            Index   

About the Author :
Sebastian Nokes is a management consultant and has written and edited several management books. He regularly project-manages programmes of a range of sizes, from smaller projects to multi-million pound projects. He is a member of the PMI and has the Institute’s PMP certification.