Project Management ToolBox: Tools and Techniques for the Practicing Project Manager

Easy and Practical Tools for Today′s Projects!

The second edition of Project Management ToolBox offers a comprehensive and accessible volume for understanding when, where, and how to use the most effective project management resources. Revised and updated, the second edition reflects recent advances in tools that support project planning, execution, and closure. This must–have resource provides a dynamic set of tools and techniques and explains each tool′s purpose and intention, development, customization, and variations, as well as benefits and common usage.

Leverage customizable documentation and checklists to enhance your project management skills on the job Maximize problem solving and decision making processes by implementing tools and templates customized to project size or type Enable stronger alignment between business strategy and project execution, between strategic goals and project deliverables, and between the work of senior leaders and project managers Explore emerging topics including change management, governance, risk management, and agile project management Access updated case examples from high growth industries like IT, Construction, High–technology, and Healthcare Implement handy tips, tricks, and cross references to PM Standards (PMBOK® and PRINCE2) and terminology

Project Management ToolBox helps professionals and students alike stay abreast of the latest changes in this ever–evolving field.

Part I

1 Introduction to the PM Toolbox

Enabling Business and Project Strategy

PM Methodologies and Processes

Constructing and Adapting a Project Management Toolbox

Secure Strategic Alignment

Customize the PM Toolbox

Continuously Improve the PM Toolbox

References

Part II

2 Project Selection

The Benefits Map

Enabling Benefits Management

Developing a Benefits Map

Using a Benefits Map

Variations

Benefits

Economic Methods

Payback Time

Net Present Value

Internal Rate of Return

Using Economic Methods

Benefits of Economic Methods

Scoring Models

Developing a Scoring Model

Using a Scoring Model

Benefits

Voting Models

Developing a Voting Model

Using the Voting Model

Benefits

Pairwise Ranking

Developing a Pairwise Ranking Tool

Using the Pairwise Ranking Matrix

Benefits

The Alignment Matrix

Developing the Alignment Matrix

Variations

Benefits

References

3 Project Initiation

Checklist Questions for Project Initiation

Developing a Checklist Questions for Project Initiation

Using the Checklist Questions

The Goals Grid

Developing a Goals Grid

Using the Goals Grid

Benefits

Responsibility Matrix

Developing a Reponsibility Matrix

Using the Responsibility Matrix

Benefits

Complexity Assessment

Developing the Complexity Assessment

Using the Complexity Assessment

Benefits

The Project Business Case

Developing the Project Business Case

Using the Project Business Caase

Benefits

The Project Charter

Developing a Project Charter

Using a Project Charter

Variations

Benefits

References

Part III

4 Project Requirements

The Elicitation Plan

Developing an Elicitation Plan

Using the Elicitation Plan

Benefits

Requirements Specification

Specifying a Requirement Using Planguage

Using the Requirements Specificiation

Benefits

Product Requirements Document

Developing a Product Requirements Document

Using the PRD

Benefits

Requirements Ambiguity Checklist

Using the Requirements Ambiguity Checklist

Benefits

Requirements Baseline

Establishing a Requirements Baseline

Establish a Requirements Change Board

Benefits

References

5 Scope Planning

Project SWOT Analysis

Performing a Project SWOT Analysis

Using a Project SWOT Analysis

Benefits

Scope Statement

Developing a Scope Statement

Using a Scope Statement

Variations

Benefits

Work Breakdown Structure

Constructing a Project WBS: A Top–Down Approach

Establish the WBS Level of Detail

Constructing a Project WBS: A Bottom–up Approach

Using the WBS

Benefits

The Product Breakdown Structure

Constructing a Product Breakdown Structure

Using the PBS

Benefits

References

6 Schedule Development

Gantt Chart

Developing a Gantt Chart

Using the Gantt Chart

Benefits

The Milestone Chart

Developing a Milestone Chart

Using the Milestone Chart

Benefits

Critical Path Method Diagram

Constructing a CPM Diagram

Using the CPM Diagram

Benefits

Variations

Time–Scaled Arrow Diagram

Developing a TAD

Using a TAD

Benefits

Critical Chain Schedule

Developing a Critical Chain Schedule

Using the Critical Chain Schedule

Benefits

The Hierarchical Schedule

Constructing a Hierarchical Schedule

Using a Hierarchical Schedule

Benefits

Line of Balance

Developing a Line of Balance Schedule

Using the LOB

Benefits

Choosing Your Scheduling Tools

References

7 Cost Planning

Cost Planning Map

Analogous Estimate

Parametric Estimate

Developing Parametric Estimates

Using Parametric Estimates

Benefits

Bottom–up Estimate

Developing Bottom–up Estimates

Using Bottom–up Estimates

Benefits

The Cost Baseline

Developing a Cost Baseline

Using the Cost Baseline

Benefits

Choosing a Cost Planning Tool

References

Part IV

8 Scope Management

Project Scope Control System

Establishing a Project Scope Control System

Using the Project Scope Control System

Benefits

Project Change Request

Developing a Project Change Request

Using the Project Change Request

Benefits

Project Change Log

Developing a Project Change Log

Using the Project Change Log

Benefits

Scope Control Decision Checklist

References

9 Schedule Management

The Burn Down Chart

Developing the Burn Down Chart

Using the Burn Down Chart

Benefits

Slip Chart

Developing the Slip Chart

Using the Slip Chart

Benefits

Buffer Chart

Developing the Buffer Chart

Using the Buffer Chart

Benefits

The Jogging Line

Constructing a Jogging Line

Using the Jogging Line

Variations

Benefits

Milestone Prediction Chart

Constructing the Milestone Prediction Chart

Using the Milestone Prediction Chart

Benefits

B–C–F Analysis

Performing the B–C–F Analysis

Using the B–C–F Analysis

Benefits

Schedule Crashing

Performing Schedule Crashing

Using Schedule Crashing

Benefits

Choosing Your Schedule Management Tools

References

10 Cost Management

Cost Management Plan

Developing the Cost Management Plan

Using the Cost Management Plan

Budget Consumption Chart

Developing the Budget Consumption Chart

Using the Budget Consumption Chart

Variations

Benefits

Earned Value Analysis

Performing Earned Value Analysis

Using Earned Value Analysis

Variations

Benefits

Milestone Analysis

Performing a Milestone Analysis

Using the Milestone Analysis

Benefits

Choosing Your Cost Management Tools

References

11 Agile Project Execution

Contributed by

Peerasit Patanakul

James Henry

Jeffrey A. Leach

Scrum Basics

Product Backlog and Sprint Backlog

Information on the Backlogs

Populating Backlogs

Release Planning

The Release Planning Event

Initial Draft Release Plan

Final Release Plans

HIP Sprint

Release Planning versus Sprint Planning

The Daily Scrum Meeting

Organizing a Daily Scrum Meeting

Sprint Task Board

Using the Sprint Task Board

Benefits

Sprint Burn Down Chart

Developing a Sprint Burn Down Chart

Using a Sprint Burn Down Chart

Benefits

Sprint Retrospective Meeting

Organizing a Sprint Retrospective Meeting

Using a Sprint Retrospective Meeting

Benefits

Concluding Remarks

References

Part V

12 Performance Reporting

Project Reporting Checklist

Developing the Project Reporting Checklist

Using the Project Reporting Checklist

Benefits

Project Strike Zone

Developing the Project Strike Zone

Using the Project Strike Zone

Benefits

Project Dashboard

Designing a Project Dashboard

Using the Project Dashboard

Benefits

Summary Status Report

Developing a Summary Status Report

Using the Summary Status Report

Benefits

The Project Indicator

Developing the Project Indicator

Using the Project Indicator

Variations

Benefits

Choosing Your Reporting Tools

References

13 Project Closure
Contributed by Tim Rahschulte, PhD

Understanding Project Closure

Project Closing Activities

Project Closure Plan and Checklist

Developing the plan and checklist

Using the Closure Plan and Checklist

Benefits

Project Closure Report

Developing the Project Closure Report

Using the Project Closure Report

Benefits

Postmortem Review

Conducting the Postmortem Review

Using the Postmortem Review

Variations

Benefits

Concluding Remarks

References

Part VI

14 Managing Project Risk

Risk Management Plan

Developing a Risk Management Plan

Using the Risk Management Plan

Benefits

The Risk Identification Checklist

Developing a Risk Identification Checklist

Using a Risk Identification Checklist

Benefits

The Risk Register

Creating a Risk Register

Using the Risk Register

Benefits

Risk Assessment Matrix

Developing a Risk Assessment Matrix

Using the Risk Assessment Matrix

Variations

Benefits

Monte Carlo Analysis

Performing a Monte Carlo Analysis

Using the Monte Carlo Analysis

Benefits

Decision Tree

Analyzing the Decision Tree

Using Decision Trees

Benefits

The Risk Dashboard

Developing the Risk Dashboard

Using the Risk Dashboard

Benefits

Choosing Your Risk Management Tools

References

15 Influencing Project Stakeholders

Stakeholder Management Plan

Developing a Stakeholder Management Plan

Using the Stakeholder Management Plan

Benefits

Stakeholder Map

Developing a Stakeholder Map

Using the Stakeholder Map

Benefits

Stakeholder Analysis Table

Developing a Stakeholder Analysis Table

Using the Stakeholder Analysis Table

Benefits

Stakeholder Evaluation Matrix

Developing a Stakeholder Evaluation Matrix

Using the Stakeholder Evaluation Matrix

Variations

Benefits

Stakeholder Strategy Matrix

Developing a Stakeholder Strategy Matrix

Using the Stakeholder Strategy Matrix

Benefits

Choosing Your Stakeholder Management Tools

References

RUSS J. MARTINELLI has served as a program manager at Intel, Loral, and Lockheed Martin, and is a founder of the Program Management Academy. He also provides training and consulting services to companies in both the for–profit and non–profit sectors.

DRAGAN Z. MILOSEVIC, PHD, PMP, has been an Associate Professor of Engineering and Technology Management at Portland State University (Oregon), a consultant and trainer, and has conducted seminars in many parts of the world. He is the author of multiple books and dozens of papers on the subject of project management.