About the Book
PROJECT MASTERY: Bridging Processes, People, and Resources is a comprehensive practical guide designed for those new to the field, providing them with a holistic understanding of the key elements necessary for project success. This audience includes frontline supervisors, managers, engineers, technical specialists, team members, and project stakeholders who manage or are involved with managing workplace projects. The twelve-chapter guidebook is segmented into three parts.
PART I: Processes focuses on the technical side of the traditional project management life cycle and covers the tools and techniques most widely used to manage workplace projects.
PART II: People focuses on the leadership, management, and human side of project management.
PART III: Resources focuses on the business management side of project management, including controlling resources such as time, money, and risk.
The book begins by establishing a solid foundation in project management principles, exploring the importance of effective planning, execution, and monitoring. It then goes beyond the traditional focus on processes, emphasizing the critical role of people and resources in achieving project goals. By bridging these three fundamental components-processes, people, and resources-the book presents a balanced and integrated approach to project mastery.
Readers will discover practical techniques for optimizing project workflows, enhancing team collaboration, and managing resources efficiently. The author draws on real-world examples, case scenarios, and learning activities to illustrate the application of various project management methodologies, ensuring that readers can relate and apply the concepts to their own professional situations.
Structured Learning
All our books and workbooks align with the Centrestar research-based Competency Model. The model, which is rooted in work by the U.S. Department of Labor and others, gives you a framework for structured learning by helping you identify and develop specific competencies.
Competencies are sets of skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that are observable and measurable. Our model has 35 competency dimensions associated with successful performance in leadership and professional roles. Competencies are clustered into five domains that may overlap.
This PROJECT MASTERY- Bridging Processes, People, and Resources guidebook focuses primarily on all the competency areas associated with the Resource Management competency cluster or domain. For more information or visit: www.centrestar.com
About the Author :
Wesley E. Donahue, PhD, MBA, PE, PMP(R), 6ϭ Blackbelt (1950 to present). As a business owner, engineer, manager, and now an educator, I have always thought of myself as being in the business of helping other people succeed. But like you, at each step of the way I had to learn, and I had to put that learning into action. My latest books are Building Leadership Competence - A Competency-Based Approach to Building Leadership Ability and Unlocking Lean Six Sigma - A Competency-Based Approach to Applying Continuous Process Improvement Principles and Best Practices speak from the voice of experience. My latest workbooks Professional Ethics and Fostering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace are both practical guidebooks for workshops, inhouse training, or learn at lunch programs. As for my background, I am a professor of Organization Development and Education at Penn State University. In this capacity, I am engaged in top-ranked graduate research and programming in learning and performance systems and lead a successful online graduate program in organization development and change. I am also president of Centrestar, Inc. a firm that offers a unique and straightforward approach for professionals to assess their leadership skills, develop personalized roadmaps for success, and access on-demand micro-learning courses and workbooks. View our courses at: www.centrestar.comPrior to these endeavors, I was Director of Penn State Management Development Programs and Services, which provided education and training services to business and industry clients around the world. I also had years of experience as a manager, leader, and business owner. I was regional sales vice-president for a mid-sized plastics packaging manufacturer; co-founder and executive vice-president of a manufacturing company; corporate and international manager of technology for a Fortune 200 multi-national company; and additionally co-owned and operated a retail business.I am a registered professional engineer, six-sigma black belt, certified project management professional, co-author of Creating In-house Sales Training and Development Programs, and author of a host of short courses and other education and training materials. I would enjoy hearing from you and finding out how my books have helped you achieve your goals. Please contact me at wdonahue@centrestar.com
Review :
I didn't know what a work breakdown structure was before studying these materials. Now I don't know how any project manager can develop a scope statement without preparing one. We can directly apply the tools we learned on our projects.
Doing the work might be 90 percent of the job, but failing to plan can tank even a brilliant project. After completing this book, I was able to complete projects in less time and with less stress.
I'm six years into my career and this is the first time I have been exposed to simple time-management techniques. Some of the areas like SMART goals were a new concept. I wish I had learned these a long time ago. I plan to use the tools immediately.
I thought I knew the fundamentals for identifying risks and reviewing costs and budgets, but I sure learned a lot more. The items covered gave me a new appreciation for our purchasing and accounting folks.
The human resources cases pointed out what a project manager should and shouldn't do when faced with the multitude of everyday situations and stressed that ignorance of law is not an excuse if litigation takes place.
