Project Management (mcgraw-hill Briefcase Books Series)

1. 
Congratulations ... You're The Project Manager!

 
 
 
* The Accidental Project Manager * What
Can You Expect to Encounter "
Out There"
? * About The Art and Science
of Project Management * About This Book * Project Manager's Checklist for
Chapter 1

2. 
About Project And Project Management

 
 
 
* Project Management: The Process Context
* Project Management: The Interpersonal and Behavioral Context * Project
Management: The Organizational Context * Defining Project Success * Project
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 2

3. 
The Role Of The Project Manager

 
 
 
* Your Responsibilities as Project Manager
* Common Challenges You Can Expect to Face * Skill Requirements of the Project
Manager * Functional Competencies of the Project Manager * The Project Manager's
"
Unofficial"
Job Duties * The Value of Introspection and
Self-Awareness to "
The Soft Side"
* Project Manager's Checklist for
Chapter 3

4. 
Defining Your Project

 
 
 
* How Projects Should Evolve * First,
Fully Understand the Problem or Opportunity * Second, Identify the Optimum
Solution * Third, Fully Develop the Solution and a Preliminary Plan * Fourth,
Formally Launch the Project * The Unspoken Imperative: Evaluate the Political
Environment * Project Manager's Checklist for Chapter 4

5. 
Building And Maintaining And Effective Team

 
 
 
* The Mechanics of Building a Team * Team
Leadership Starts on Day One! * Fostering Teamwork and Synergism * Getting the
Most from Individual Team Members * Project Manager's Checklist for Chapter 5

6. 
An Overview Of Planning And Estimating

 
 
 
* An Introduction to Project Planning * An
Introduction to Estimating * Project Manager's Checklist for Chapter 6

7. 
Preparing A Detailed Project Plan: Step By Step

 
 
 
* Identifying What Needs to Be Done (Scope
Management) * Identifying How Long It Will Take to Do Everything (Time
Management) * Identifying How Much It Costs to Get Things Done (Cost Management)
* What About Project Management Software? * Project Manager's Checklist for
Chapter 7

8. 
Dealing With Risk And Uncertainty

 
 
 
* Understanding Risk and Uncertainty *
Managing Risk: An Overview * Identifying What Can Hurt You * Quantifying How
Badly You Can Get Hurt * Analyzing the Biggest Threats to Your Project *
Responding to High-Threat Problems * Managing Project Risk is a Mindset *
Accommodating Uncertainty * Project Manager's Checklist for Chapter 8

9. 
Maintaining Control During Project Execution

 
 
 
* What Project Control Really Means * How
Do You Establish a Baseline of Measurement? * What Information Do You Need? *
How Do You Gather Information? * How Do You Make Sure You're Getting Good
Information? * How Do You Analyze the Information? * How Should You React to the
Information? * Project Manager's Checklist for Chapter 9

10. Managing The Project Interfaces

 
 
 
* What Are "
Project Interfaces"
?
* Internal Stakeholders and Their Roles * External Stakeholders and Their Roles
* Other Interfaces * Special Considerations in Interface Management * Project
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 10

11. Project Communication And Documentation

 
 
 
* The Project Management Configuration
Plan: A Documentation and Communication "
Road Map"
* Methods of
Communicating * General Guidelines for Effective Communication * Conducting
High-Quality Meetings * Communication Skills and the Project Manager * Key
Project Documentation * Project Manager's Checklist for Chapter 11

12. Bringing Your Project To Successful Conclusion

 
 
 
* Early Termination: Not As Bad As You
Think * Key Elements in Successful Project Closure * A Few More Words About The
Punch List Approach * Developing a Project Completion Checklist * How to
Transfer What You've Learned to Others * And So We've Reached the End * Project
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 12

Index

An useful resource for managers and team leaders, this book reviews the steps in organizing and managing projects, from how to build a realistic schedule to how to measure both success and failure. A concise and accessible, yet authoritative, guide to a topic in which books are more often lengthy and technical, Project Management discusses team building, timing, the planning process, estimating project costs, managing project interfaces, the four stages of risk management, and more.