Project Management Absolute Beginner's Guide

Succeed as a project manager, even if you've never run a project before! This book is the fastest way to master every project management task, from upfront budgeting and scheduling through execution, managing teams through closing projects, and learning from experience. Updated with more insights from the front lines, including agile approaches, dealing with security and privacy priorities, and leading remote/virtual teams, along with the latest on Microsoft Project and PMI standards and certifications and a special bonus chapter on preparing for the new PMP certification. This book will show you exactly how to get the job done, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. Project management has never, ever been this simple! This is today's best beginner's guide to modern project management--simple, practical instructions for succeeding with every task you'll need to perform! * Master the key skills and qualities every project manager needs * Learn how to lead projects, not just "manage" them * Avoid 15 most common mistakes new project managers make * Learn from troubled, successful, and "recovered" projects * Apply agile, hybrid, and traditional project management approaches * Learn the differences between a project manager, Scrum master, and product owner * Learn how DevOps and DevSecOps impact the project manager * Set the stage for success by effectively defining your project * Build a usable project plan and an accurate work breakdown structure (WBS) * Create budgets and schedules that help you manage risk * Use powerful control and reporting techniques, including earned value management * Smoothly manage project changes, issues, risks, deliverables, and quality * Manage project communications and stakeholder expectations * Organize and lead high-performance project teams * Manage cross-functional, cross-cultural, and virtual projects * Get started with agile and "critical chain" project management * Gain key insights that will accelerate your learning curve * Learn how to respond to real-life situations, not just what they teach you in school

Table of Contents:
Introduction Part I Project Management Jumpstart Chapter 1 Project Management Overview What Is Project Management...Exactly? What Is the Value of Project Management? Why Are Projects Challenging? Growing Demand for Effective Project Managers Trends in Project Management Additional Resources Chapter 2 The Project Manager One Title, Many Roles Key Skills of Project Managers Qualities of Successful Project Managers 15 Common Mistakes of Project Managers Project Manager Versus Scrum Master Versus Product Owner Chapter 3 Essential Elements for Any Successful Project What Exactly Is a Successful Project? Learning from Troubled Projects Learning from Successful Projects Essential Project Manager Toolkit Part II Project Planning Chapter 4 Defining a Project Setting the Stage for Success How Does Defining a Project Relate to Project Planning? Project Definition Document Project Definition Checklist Chapter 5 Planning a Project Key Project Planning Principles Important Questions Project Planning Should Answer Building a Project Plan Summary of Supplemental Project Plan Components Project Plan Checklist Chapter 6 Developing the Work Breakdown Structure What Exactly Is a WBS? Why Is the WBS Important? The Process of Building a WBS Chapter 7 Estimating the Work Next Step in the Schedule Development Process Managing the Risk, Managing the Estimates Reasons for Estimating Woes Powerful Estimating Techniques and Methods Best Practices Chapter 8 Developing the Project Schedule The Impact of the Project Schedule The Goal of the Schedule Development Process Key Inputs for Building a Schedule Creating a Schedule Chapter 9 Determining the Project Budget The Impact of the Project Budget Principles of an Effective Budget Creating a Project Budget Common Budget Challenges Part III Project Control Chapter 10 Controlling a Project What Is Project Control? Management Fundamentals for Project Control Powerful Techniques for Project Control Performance Reporting Variance Responses Leveraging Earned Value Management Concepts Common Project Control Challenges Lessons from Project Recoveries Chapter 11 Managing Project Changes What Exactly Is a Project Change and What's the Big Deal, Anyway? Fundamentals for Managing Project Change What Causes Unplanned Scope Changes? Essential Elements of a Project Change Control System Powerful Techniques for Minimizing Project Changes Common Project Change Control Challenges Chapter 12 Managing Project Deliverables "Managing Project Deliverables" Means What, Exactly? "Why Do This? It's Too Much Work!" Identify, Protect, and Track: The Principles of Managing Work Products Best Practices Configuration Management Plan Common Challenges and Pitfalls Chapter 13 Managing Project Issues The Goals, Objectives, and Principles of Project Issue Management Key Features of Issue Management Systems Options for an Issue Log Best Practices Some Special Situations Chapter 14 Managing Project Risks Key Risk Management Principles The Essential Process for Managing Project Risks The Common Sources of Project Risk Typical Problems Powerful Risk Control Strategies Are You Sure It's a Risk? Chapter 15 Managing Project Quality What Is "Project Quality"? Unique Aspects of Managing Project Quality Principles of Managing Project Quality Powerful Tools and Techniques for Project Quality Powerful Quality Strategies Typical Quality-Related Challenges Part IV Project Execution Chapter 16 Leading a Project More Than Managing Where Is Leadership Needed on a Project? 12 Keys to Better Project Leadership Power of Servant Leadership Approach Chapter 17 Managing Project Communications What Are Project Communications? The Importance of Project Communications Why Communicating Can Be Tough Seven Powerful Principles Best Practices of Effective Project Communicators Chapter 18 Managing Expectations Value of Reviewing Stakeholder Expectations Management Critical Aspects of Expectations Seven Master Principles of Expectations Management Essential Elements of Managing Expectations Chapter 19 Keys to Better Project Team Performance High-Performing Teams Ten Key Management Principles Proven Techniques for Better Team Performance Special Situations Chapter 20 Managing Differences Five Key Principles Proven Techniques for Leading Cross-Functional Projects Proven Techniques for Leading Cross-Cultural Projects Proven Techniques for Leading Virtual Projects Chapter 21 Managing Vendors First, Let's Clarify a Few Terms Ten Proven Principles of Vendor Management 12 Tips for Buyers Seven Tips for Sellers 12 Key Project Management Skills for Better Vendor Management Stuff You Need to Know About Contracts Chapter 22 Ending a Project Three Key Principles Project End Checklist: 13 Important Steps Common Project Closing Challenges Methods for Ending a Contract or a Project Part V Accelerating the Learning Curve...Even More Chapter 23 Making Better Use of Microsoft Project Understand This...and It All Becomes Easier Need-to-Know Features Best Practices for Setting Up a New Project Keys to Making Resource Leveling Work Powerful Reporting Secrets More Insights to a Better Project Schedule Ten Key Helpful Features What You Need to Know About the Different Versions of Microsoft Project Chapter 24 When Reality Happens What If I'm in a Project Management "Lite" Culture? What If I Can't Develop a Detailed Schedule? What If I Must Manage to a Hard Milestone Date? What If I Have Difficult Resources? What Can I Do About Turnover? Tips for Managing a Selection Process Tips for Managing a Testing Process Chapter 25 The Fun Never Stops Agile Approaches DevOps and DevSecOps HIPAA, Privacy, and Security Project Management Offices Portfolio Project Management Governance Processes Critical Chain Project Management Web-Based Project Management and Collaboration Tools Requirements Management Tools Mind Mapping Tools Value of Certifications Project Management Training Chapter 26 Powerful PMP Exam Tips What Is Different About the 2021 PMP Exam? What Is the PMP Exam Like? Common "Context" Differences Common "Experience" Differences Common Terminology Differences What's Important to PMI? Key PMI Assumptions and Themes Exam Topics Not Covered by PMBOK Exam Preparation Strategies Exam-Taking Tips 9780137646951    TOC    1/26/2022