Project Management For Dummies

Learn to: Organize and schedule projects effectively and efficiently Assess risks, manage changes, and live up to expectations Plan for resources and stay within a budget Embrace social media to drive efficiency and improve connectivity Execute projects on time, on budget, and with maximum efficiency In today's time-crunched, cost-conscious global business environment, tight project deadlines and stringent expectations are the norm. So what does it take to succeed? This hands-on guide introduces you to the principles of project management and shows you how to put them to use so you can successfully manage a project from start to finish. And if you're studying for the Project Management Professional® certification exam, you can rest easy knowing that this book is aligned with the guide that's the basis for the exam. Project Management 101— find out how to identify the people who will play a role in your project, clearly define your project's proposed results, and determine your project's work The when and how — discover how to develop the project schedule, estimate the resources you need, and recognize and manage project risks Be a people person — grasp how to identify, organize, and deal with people who play a part in your project's success From start to finish — get the scoop on how to monitor, track, analyze, and report on your project's activities, and establish and maintain effective communications between you and all your project audiences Take it to the next level — get to know the technology available to help you plan, organize, and control your project Open the book and find: Help for defining your project's goals and expectations How to be a better project manager Guidelines for knowing your project's audience Tips for breaking your project work into manageable pieces The latest methods for determining and managing resources How to get your project back on track if it runs into problems Hints for providing effective leadership

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with Project Management 7 Chapter 1: Project Management: The Key to Achieving Results 9 Chapter 2: Knowing Your Project’s Audience: Involving the Right People 29 Chapter 3: Clarifying What You’re Trying to Accomplish — And Why 51 Chapter 4: Developing Your Game Plan: Getting from Here to There 77 Part II: Planning Time: Determining When and How Much 105 Chapter 5: You Want This Project Done When? 107 Chapter 6: Establishing Whom You Need, How Much, and When 143 Chapter 7: Planning for Other Resources and Developing the Budget 165 Chapter 8: Venturing into the Unknown: Dealing with Risk 177 Part III: Group Work: Putting Your Team Together 197 Chapter 9: Aligning the Key Players for Your Project 199 Chapter 10: Defi ning Team Members’ Roles and Responsibilities 213 Chapter 11: Starting Your Project Team Off on the Right Foot 235 Part IV: Steering the Ship: Managing Your Project to Success 255 Chapter 12: Tracking Progress and Maintaining Control 257 Chapter 13: Keeping Everyone Informed 281 Chapter 14: Encouraging Peak Performance by Providing Effective Leadership 301 Chapter 15: Bringing Your Project to Closure 315 Part V: Taking Your Project Management to the Next Level 327 Chapter 16: Using Technology to Enhance Project Planning and Management 329 Chapter 17: Monitoring Project Performance with Earned Value Management 343 Part VI: The Part of Tens 359 Chapter 18: Ten Questions to Ask Yourself as You Plan Your Project 361 Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Being a Better Project Manager 365 Appendix: Combining the Techniques into Smooth–Flowing Processes 369 Index 373

Stanley E. Portny is a project management consultant and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®). He has provided training and consultation to more than 150 public and private organizations, and he has developed and conducted training programs for more than 50,000 management and staff personnel.