The Essentials of Project Management

In recent years organizations of all kinds have learned that project working, once considered significant only for engineering and construction companies, can help to ensure that the intended benefits of business change will be realized in full and on time. This development means that more people than ever before need to understand the basic process, language and purpose of project working. That awareness is important not only for those actually engaged in project work, in all sectors of industry and commerce, but also for senior managers, project sponsors and the other stakeholders. The fourth edition of Essentials of Project Management is the junior complement to Dennis Lock's comprehensive, successful and encyclopaedic textbook, Project Management (now in its Tenth Edition). Essentials provides a concise, straightforward account of the principles and techniques of project management, designed to meet the needs of the business manager or student. Using examples and illustrations, the author introduces the key project management procedures and explains clearly how and when to use them. The Essentials of Project Management remains the ideal first text for anyone new to project working or students studying project management as part of a wider business qualification or degree.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface; Introduction to projects and their management; Defining the project task; Estimating the project costs; Managing risk; Organizing the project; Work breakdown structures; Planning the timescale; Scheduling project resources; Implementing the project plan; Managing purchasing; Managing changes; Managing costs; Corporate managers’ support for the project manager; Select bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
Dennis Lock is a freelance writer who specializes in project management. His exceptionally wide industrial experience has included sub miniature electronics, defence systems, heavy engineering and international mining, with a progression of successful management positions in all of those industries. He has fulfilled consultancy assignments in Britain and overseas and in recent years has taught project management to masters degree students as an external lecturer at two British universities. Of over 50 books that he has written or edited, almost all have been published by Gower.

Review :
'Everyone who is involved in project management will benefit from reading this book. Dennis Lock has maintained the standard that we have come to expect of him in his writings and there is little doubt that this latest book will join his others as a "must-have" for all experienced and aspiring project managers. Companies whose business is project management should ensure that all its "coal face" employees have read this book and have the full support of the company so that they can implement the suggestions that Lock has been kind enough to make. Unlike several other books in the marketplace on project management, this book covers both project planning and project execution - the combination of which is necessary to achieve a wholly successful project. Inadequate project planning will make successful project execution a difficult, if not impossible, target to attain.' Project Magazine, March 2015 Reviews of previous editions: 'Lock has moved even more closely to the life cycle concept that many of us use as the basis of developments in educational technology (and that all in information technology development have had to use for decades). ...This book is for business students and for serving managers with just an occasional project to steer. Steering any project will be much less trouble with this book to hand.' British Journal of Educational Technology 'Concise, straightforward and easy to read ... There is a logical progression about the text, which lends itself to frequent visits without heavy study ... There are many references in the book with examples, a good index, a comprehensive list of figures and a bibliography. There are also many illustrations, which are well laid out and easy-to-follow flow charts. This text would add value to any manager's bookcase and would support the learning of many students.' Training Journal 'The author argues that most managers will need, at some stage, to manage projects. Information specialists are no exception and this book is an ideal starter for them ... This is, in my view, good value and recommended to Journal readers, particularly to those looking to broaden their careers as well as enhance their curriculum vitae.' The British Journal of Healthcare Computing