YOUR GUIDE TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
There may be no simple formula for success in public-sector projects, but Public-Sector Project Management delivers the next best thing: a complete set of skill-building strategies that puts success well within your reach.
Building on industry standards and best practices as well as almost thirty years of public-sector experience, this definitive sourcebook clearly explains how to manage projects in the public sector and navigate their many challenges. Here is where you'll find all the tools to accomplish your goals for any public-sector project, whether you are overseeing military and security operations, the construction of public infrastructure, improving agency processes, deploying new systems or public programs, or any other public initiative.
The book describes both the obstacles and basic processes of public-sector project management and examines the differences between public-sector and private-sector projects, including the management of the wide array of public-sector stakeholders. Public-Sector Project Management is your comprehensive professional template for making a positive contribution to your agency or organization. Inside, you'll find:
- Expert guidance consistent with project management best practices
- In-depth coverage of public-sector constraints, including purchasing systems, legal mandates, political and media oversight, and complex rules and processes
- Specific strategies to enhance the management capability of public-sector managers and private-sector project managers working under government contracts
- Emphasis on the role of planning in managing customer, manager, and project team expectations, and coping with the overlapping systems of constraints that impede public-sector projects
- Techniques for managing contractors and vendors
- Tools for managing the complexity inherent in most public-sector projects
- Insightful case studies of notable and historic public-sector projects; chapter-ending discussion questions and exercises; numerous tables and figures; and key terms in the glossary
Table of Contents:
Preface xi
Objectives xii
Outline of the Book xiv
The Great Pyramid of Giza xvii
1 The Challenges of Public-Sector Project Management and the Coming Storm 1
The Distinguishing Characteristics of the Public Sector 1
The Challenges of Public-Sector Project Management 8
The Coming Storm 9
New Tools for Public-Sector Managers in the New Economy 12
Discussion Questions 13
Exercise 14
Project Apollo 14
2 The Foundations of Public-Sector Project Management 17
The Problem with Projects 17
Why Do Public-Sector Projects Fail? 18
The Good News about Projects and Project Management Standards 19
The Value of Project Management to a Public-Sector Organization 21
The Downside of Project Management 23
The Critical Success Factors for Public-Sector Projects 24
Project Management Maturity Models in the Public Sector 25
Scaling Project Management Methods 26
The Use of Software for Project Management 28
Discussion Questions 29
Exercises 29
The Creation of The Peace Corps 29
3 The Framework for Managing Public-Sector Projects 31
The Project Management Framework for Public Projects 31
Grouping Projects for Better Management 32
Breaking Projects into Components 33
Project Process Groups 36
Project Management Knowledge Areas 42
The Triple-Constraint Model 42
Project Processes 43
Applying Project Functions and Processes for Public-Sector Projects 47
The Necessary Skills for Public-Sector Project Managers 52
Discussion Questions 53
Exercises 53
The Marshall Plan 54
4 Project Integration 57
Public-Sector Project Integration: Wrestling with the Octopus 57
Overview of the Necessary Functions for Public-Sector Project Integration 59
Best Practices for Public-Sector Project Integration 70
Discussion Questions 70
Exercises 71
Electing a Candidate 71
5 Managing Project Scope 73
Project Scope Management 73
The Challenges of Scope Management for Public-Sector Projects 74
The Two Roles of Project Scope 77
The Required Functions for Public-Sector Project Scope Management 78
Best Practices for Managing Public-Sector Project Scope 85
Discussion Questions 86
Exercises 86
Projects for Improving Public-Sector Processes 87
6 Managing Project Time 89
The Challenges of Project Time Management in the Public Sector 89
The Required Functions for Public-Sector Project Time Management 90
Best Practices in Public-Sector Project Time Management 103
Discussion Questions 104
Exercises 104
The FBI’s VCF Project 105
7 Managing Project Cost 107
The Challenges of Public-Sector Cost Management 107
Project Selection and Prioritization 109
Required Functions for Managing Public-Sector Project Costs 111
Earned-Value Management of Public-Sector Projects 121
Best Practices in Public-Sector Project Cost Management 123
Discussion Questions 123
Exercises 124
Turning on the Lights in the Country 125
8 Managing Project Quality 127
The Basics of Project Quality Management 127
The Challenges of Public-Sector Project Quality Management 128
The Functions Required for Public-Sector Project Quality Management 129
Lean Government as a Tool for Quality Improvement 132
Managing Project Requirements 134
Best Practices in the Management of Quality in Public-Sector Projects 139
Discussion Questions 139
Exercises 140
The Allied D-Day Invasion of June 1944 140
9 Managing Project Human Resources 143
The Challenges of Human Resource Management in Public-Sector Projects 143
The Required Functions for Public-Sector Human Resource Project Management 144
Strategies for Managing Human Resources in Public-Sector Projects 152
Public-Sector Leadership 153
Best Practices for Human Resource Management in Public-Sector Projects 154
Discussion Questions 155
Exercises 156
Rebuilding Greensburg ‘‘Green’’ 157
10 Managing Project Communications 159
The Challenges of Project Communications in Public-Sector Projects 160
The Functions Required for Public-Sector Project Communications Management 162
Best Practices in Public-Sector Project Communications Management 172
Discussion Questions 172
Exercises 173
The Manhattan Project 173
11 Managing Project Risk 175
The Challenges of Managing Risks in Public-Sector Projects 175
The Required Functions for Public-Sector Project Risk Management 178
Best Practices for Public-Sector Project Risk Management 193
Discussion Questions 194
Exercises 195
Closing Willowbrook 195
12 Managing Project Procurement and Vendors 197
The Necessary Functions of Public-Sector Project Procurement Management 198
The New Demands on Managers and New Tools for Managers 211
The Differences Among Activities, Outputs, and Outcomes 212
The Challenges of Outcome Management for Contractors and Vendors 215
Performance Management 216
Managing the Cultural Changes Necessary for Successfully Managing Vendors 217
The Legal Framework for Outsourcing Project Products and Services to Vendors 218
Managing Changes and Expectations in the Vendor Relationship 224
Best Practices for Public-Sector Project Procurement Management 225
Discussion Questions 226
Exercises 227
The Construction and Reconstruction of the Panama Canal 228
13 Managing Complexity and Chaos in Public-Sector Projects 231
The Role of Complexity and Chaos in Public-Sector Projects 231
Modern Insights into Chaos, Complexity, and Turbulence 232
The Challenges of Chaos and Complexity for Projects and the Recognition of the Limits of Certainty 234
Factors Creating Complexity in the Project Environment 239
Three Supplementary Methods for Managing Chaos and Complexity in Projects 240
Concluding Comments on Chaos and Complexity in Projects 248
Discussion Questions 249
Exercises 250
Glossary 251
Index 267
About the Author :
DAVID W. WIRICK, PMP, CMA, is a Visiting Scholar, John Glenn School of Public Affairs, Ohio State University, and is Principal at Kreider-Wirick, LLC.
