Project Management in Libraries, Archives and Museums: Working with Government and Other External Partners(Chandos Information Professional Series)

Aimed at practitioners and managers, this practical handbook provides a source of guidance on project management techniques for the academic and cultural heritage sectors, focusing on managing projects involving public sector and other external partners. Issues under consideration and illustration include: different approaches to managing projects and how to select appropriate methods; using project management tools and other applications in project development and implementation; ensuring the sustainability of project outcomes and transferability into practice; realistic monitoring methodologies and specification and commissioning evaluation work that has real value.

Table of Contents:
List of figures and tables Acknowledgements List of abbreviations and acronyms About the author Chapter 1: What does project management mean? Introduction What is a project? Kinds of projects Project or programme The project lifecycle approach to project management PRINCE2 Why project management – why projects fail Project management role and responsibilities Projects management in libraries, museums and archives What does this book do? Chapter 2: Project planning and review Introduction Project initiation Revisiting the project plan Project planning activities The business case Monitoring the project plan Monitoring assumptions and risks Chapter 3: Working in project partnerships Introduction Local government and other partnership policies Benefits of working in partnership Building partnerships Partnership roles and tasks Governance and management structures Governance challenges Project partnership governance structures Partnership management challenges Working across different cultures and sectors Chapter 4: Risk management Introduction What does risk management involve? Elements of risk management Management and institutional attitudes to risk Initial risk identification and analysis Techniques for assessing risk Risk categories and factors Legal issues Risk tolerance and risk thresholds The risk log The risk profile Suitable responses to risk Risk responsibilities Chapter 5: Managing human resources within a project Introduction Orchestrating decisions Knowledge, skills and attitudes required by project managers Contextual issues in managing the project’s human resources The project team Team building Internal and external dynamics Interface management Team communication Team motivation Chapter 6: Managing other project resources Introduction Time Monitoring project progress Time management Money Subcontractors and suppliers Chapter 7: Evaluation and review Introduction Planning evaluations General principles for evaluation What type of evaluation? Review or evaluation Who will carry out the evaluation? Designing the evaluation Evaluation approaches Evaluation research methods Managing the evaluation process Chapter 8: Quality management in projects Introduction Quality management systems Challenges associated with project quality management Project quality or deliverable quality? Managing quality and quality assurance Essential components of quality management within projects Quality planning Quality control Acceptance testing, piloting and evaluating Chapter 9: Sustainability of projects Introduction Sustainability aspects Sustainability and quality Sustainability and equity Planning for sustainability Revenue generation Notes Chapter 10: Using information and communication technology in project management Introduction Project management applications The task-oriented approach to choosing ICT tools Challenges for the project manager Useful resources Glossary of project management terms Index

About the Author :
Julie Carpenter is Director and Lead Consultant of Education for Change Ltd (EfC). She is a qualified librarian and joined the British Council, working to improve the Council’s own library and information services. She led the British Council’s policy and strategic inputs on book and information provision in education projects funded by the World Bank. She has been a consultant since 1990 and was successful in developing and managing research projects under the European Union’s early R&D Framework Programmes. She has led and managed research and consulting projects in the UK for the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) of the Higher Education Funding Councils, and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). From 2004 – 2006 she directed the summative evaluation of the UK Big Lottery Fund’s ICT Content for Learning Programmes.

Review :
"This book is concise, to the point, and focused directly on understandable terminology and appropriate charts and figures." --Collection Building "Provides a detailed roadmap for novices of project management in information organizations, especially managers and administrators, with step-by-step instructions and numerous illustrations and figures." --Collection Building