Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme, Sixth Edition

Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme, Sixth Edition

by Robert K. Wysocki
Released October 2011
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781118016190

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Book description

Expert guidance on ensuring project success—the latest edition!

Many projects fail to deliver on time and within budget, and often-poor project management is to blame. If you're a project manager, the newest edition of this expert and top-selling book will help you avoid the pitfalls and manage projects successfully. Covering the major project management techniques including Traditional (Linear and Incremental), Agile (Iterative and Adaptive), and Extreme, this book lays out a comprehensive overview of all of the best-of-breed project management approaches and tools today.

You'll learn how to use these approaches effectively to achieve better outcomes. Fresh topics in this new edition include critical chain project management, using the Requirements Management Lifecycle as a key driver, career and professional development for project managers, and more. This book is packed with step-by-step instruction and practical case studies, and a companion web site offers additional exercises and solutions.

  • Gives new or veteran project managers a comprehensive overview of the best-of-breed project management approaches and tools today

  • Shows readers, through step-by-step instruction and practical case studies, how to use these tools effectively

  • Updated new edition adds new material on career and professional development for project managers, critical chain project management, and more

If you're seeking to improve your professional project management skills, the latest edition of this popular, successful, and in-depth book is the place to start.

Visit http://wysockiepm.com/ for support materials and to connect with the author.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. About the Author
  5. About the Technical Editor
  6. Credits
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Contents at a Glance
  9. Contents
  10. Preface
  11. Introduction
    1. The Contemporary Project Environment
    2. Challenges to Effective Project Management
    3. Why I Wrote This Book
    4. How This Book Is Organized
    5. The Rationale for Using This Book Organization
    6. How to Use This Book
    7. Who Should Use This Book
    8. Introducing the Case Study: Pizza Delivered Quickly (PDQ)
    9. What's on the Website
    10. Putting It All Together
  12. Part I: Defining and Using Project Management Process Groups
    1. CHAPTER 1: What Is a Project?
      1. Defining a Project
      2. Defining a Program
      3. Defining a Portfolio
      4. Understanding the Scope Triangle
      5. Managing the Creeps
      6. The Importance of Classifying Projects
      7. Putting It All Together
      8. Discussion Questions
    2. CHAPTER 2: What Is Project Management?
      1. Understanding the Fundamentals of Project Management
      2. What Are Requirements — Really?
      3. Introducing Project Management Life Cycles
      4. Choosing the Best-Fit PMLC Model
      5. Putting It All Together
      6. Discussion Questions
    3. CHAPTER 3: Understanding the Project Management Process Groups
      1. Defining the Five Process Groups
      2. Defining the Nine Knowledge Areas
      3. Mapping Knowledge Areas to Process Groups
      4. Putting It All Together
      5. Discussion Questions
    4. CHAPTER 4: How to Scope a TPM Project
      1. Using Tools, Templates, and Processes to Scope a Project
      2. Managing Client Expectations
      3. Putting It All Together
      4. Discussion Questions
    5. CHAPTER 5: How to Plan a TPM Project
      1. Using Tools, Templates, and Processes to Plan a Project
      2. The Importance of Planning
      3. Using Application Software Packages to Plan a Project
      4. Planning and Conducting Joint Project Planning Sessions
      5. Building the WBS
      6. Estimating
      7. Constructing the Project Network Diagram
      8. Writing an Effective Project Proposal
      9. Gaining Approval to Launch the Project
      10. Putting It All Together
      11. Discussion Questions
    6. CHAPTER 6: How to Launch a TPM Project
      1. Using Tools, Templates, and Processes to Launch a Project
      2. Recruiting the Project Team
      3. Conducting the Project Kick-Off Meeting
      4. Establishing Team Operating Rules
      5. Managing Scope Changes
      6. Managing Team Communications
      7. Assigning Resources
      8. Resource-Leveling Strategies
      9. Finalizing the Project Schedule
      10. Writing Work Packages
      11. Putting It All Together
      12. Discussion Questions
    7. CHAPTER 7: How to Monitor and Control a TPM Project
      1. Using Tools, Templates, and Processes to Monitor and Control a Project
      2. Establishing Your Progress Reporting System
      3. Applying Graphical Reporting Tools
      4. Managing the Scope Bank
      5. Building and Maintaining the Issues Log
      6. Managing Project Status Meetings
      7. Defining a Problem Escalation Strategy
      8. Gaining Approval to Close the Project
      9. Putting It All Together
      10. Discussion Questions
    8. CHAPTER 8: How to Close a TPM Project
      1. Using Tools, Templates, and Processes to Close a Project
      2. Writing and Maintaining Client Acceptance Procedures
      3. Closing a Project
      4. Getting Client Acceptance
      5. Installing Project Deliverables
      6. Documenting the Project
      7. Conducting the Post-Implementation Audit
      8. Writing the Final Report
      9. Celebrating Success
      10. Putting It All Together
      11. Discussion Questions
  13. Part II: Establishing Project Management Life Cycles and Strategies
    1. CHAPTER 9: Complexity and Uncertainty in the Project Management Landscape
      1. Understanding the Complexity/Uncertainty Domain of Projects
      2. Client Involvement vs. the Complexity/Uncertainty Domain
      3. Change vs. the Complexity/Uncertainty Domain
      4. Putting It All Together
      5. Discussion Questions
    2. CHAPTER 10: Traditional Project Management
      1. What Is Traditional Project Management?
      2. Linear Project Management Life Cycle
      3. Characteristics
      4. Incremental Project Management Life Cycle
      5. Using Critical Chain Project Management
      6. Putting It All Together
      7. Discussion Questions
    3. CHAPTER 11: Agile Project Management
      1. What Is Agile Project Management?
      2. Iterative Project Management Life Cycle
      3. Adaptive Project Management Life Cycle
      4. Adapting and Integrating the APM Toolkit
      5. Putting It All Together
      6. Discussion Questions
    4. CHAPTER 12: Extreme Project Management
      1. What Is Extreme Project Management?
      2. Extreme Project Management Life Cycle
      3. What Is Emertxe Project Management?
      4. Using the Tools, Templates, and Processes for Maximum xPM Effectiveness
      5. Putting It All Together
      6. Discussion Questions
  14. Part III: Building an Effective Project Management Infrastructure
    1. CHAPTER 13: Establishing and Maturing a Project Support Office
      1. Background of the Project Support Office
      2. Defining a Project Support Office
      3. Naming the Project Support Office
      4. Establishing Your PSO's Mission
      5. Framing PSO Objectives
      6. Exploring PSO Support Functions
      7. Selecting PSO Organizational Structures
      8. Understanding the Organizational Placement of the PSO
      9. Determining When You Need a Project Support Office
      10. Establishing a PSO
      11. Facing the Challenges of Implementing a PSO
      12. The PSO of the Future
      13. Putting It All Together
      14. Discussion Questions
    2. CHAPTER 14: Establishing and Managing a Project Portfolio Management Process
      1. Introduction to Project Portfolio Management
      2. The Project Portfolio Management Life Cycle
      3. Roles and Responsibilities of the PSO in Portfolio Management
      4. Preparing Your Project for Submission to the Portfolio Management Process
      5. Agile Project Portfolio Management
      6. Putting It All Together
      7. Discussion Questions
    3. CHAPTER 15: Establishing and Managing a Continuous Process Improvement Program
      1. Understanding Project Management Processes and Practices
      2. Defining Process and Practice Maturity
      3. Measuring Project Management Process and Practice Maturity
      4. Using the Continuous Process Improvement Model
      5. Defining Roles and Responsibilities of the PSO
      6. Realizing the Benefits of Implementing a CPIM
      7. Applying CPIM to Business Processes
      8. Using Process Improvement Tools, Templates, and Processes
      9. Putting It All Together
      10. Discussion Questions
  15. Part IV: Managing the Realities of Projects
    1. CHAPTER 16: Prevention and Intervention Strategies for Distressed Projects
      1. What Is a Distressed Project?
      2. Managing Distressed Projects
      3. Roles and Responsibilities of the PSO with Respect to Distressed Projects
      4. Putting It All Together
      5. Discussion Questions
    2. CHAPTER 17: Organizing Multiple Team Projects
      1. What Is a Multiple Team Project?
      2. Challenges to Managing a Multiple Team Project
      3. Classifying Multiple Team Projects
      4. Project Office Structure
      5. Core Team Structure
      6. Super Team Structure
      7. Putting It All Together
      8. Discussion Questions
    3. CHAPTER 18: Managing the Professional Development of Project Teams
      1. What Career and Professional Development Situation Is Being Addressed?
      2. What Do You Need To Do?
      3. What Will You Do?
      4. How Will You Do It?
      5. How Will You Know You Did It?
      6. How Well Did You Do?
      7. Where Do You Go from Here? – A New Idea to Consider
      8. An Even Newer Idea to Consider
      9. Putting It All Together
      10. Discussion Questions
  16. APPENDIX A: Glossary of Acronyms
  17. APPENDIX B: What's on the Website?
    1. Course Master File
    2. A Note on the Answer File for the Discussion Questions
  18. APPENDIX C: Bibliography
    1. Defining and Using the Project Management Process Groups
    2. Traditional Project Management
    3. Agile and Extreme Project Management
    4. Project Management Infrastructure
    5. Managing the Realities of Projects
  19. Index

Product information

  • Title: Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme, Sixth Edition
  • Author(s): Robert K. Wysocki
  • Release date: October 2011
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781118016190