Practical Project Management. Tips, Tactics, and Tools

"This book is of the kind you always wanted but didn't think would or could ever exist: the universal field theory of problem solving." Tom Sommerlatte Typically today's tasks in management and consulting include project management, running workshops and strategic work – all complex activities, which require a multitude of skills and competencies. This standard work, which is also well accepted amongst consultants, gives you a reference or cookbook-style access to the most important tools, including a rating of each tool in terms of applicability, ease of use and effectiveness. In this considerably enlarged third edition, Nicolai Andler presents 152 of such tools, grouped into task-specific categories: Definition of a Situation/Problem – Information Gathering – Creativity – Information Consolidation – Goal Setting – Strategic, Technical and Organisational Analysis – Evaluation and Decision Making – Project Management. Checklists and Application Scenarios further enhance the use of this toolbox. Information provided by this book is: – comprehensive and sufficiently wide in scope, combined with a practical level of detail without being too academic – reliable and proven in numerous real implemented cases – easy to apply due to many different search options, checklists, application scenarios and guiding instructions. Written by a professional consultant, business analyst and business coach, this book is a unique reference work and guide for those wanting to learn about or who are active in the fields of consulting, project management and problem solving in general, both in business and engineering: business coaches and management trainers, workshop moderators, consultants and managers, project managers, lecturers and students.

Typically today's management tasks include project management, running workshops and working with consultancies – all complex activities, which require a multitude of skills and competencies. This book gives you a reference or cookbook-style access to the most important skills in a user-friendly format. Nicolai Andler presents in his book about 100 of such tools arranged according to task complexes. To make personal use of the tools as easy as possible, they are grouped into task-specific categories entitled Define Situation, Gather Information, Creativity, Goal Setting, Organisational Analysis, Technical Analysis, Strategic Analysis, Decision Making, Project Management, Checklists and Questions as well as Scenarios. Elements of information this books covers: – Relevant and appropriate for your needs – Up to date and as timely as possible – Comprehensive and sufficiently wide in scope, combined with a practical level of detail without being too academic – Reliable information from numerous tested sources and real implemented cases – Accessible and easy-to-use due to many different search options and self-help guides This book is a unique reference work and guide for those wanting to learn about or who are active in the fields of consulting, project management and problem solving in general. It presents cookbook-style access to most important skills, including a rating of each tool in terms of applicability, ease of use and effectiveness.

Dispels the confusion between project management success and project success, showing how project sponsors can govern their projects to succeed in delivering the strategic benefits originally envisaged  Project management success does not automatically lead to project success. Many large projects fail to live up to expectations, with between half and two-thirds of large projects either failing to deliver or delivering few strategic benefits. Traditional project management resources focus on delivering a project on time and on budget, yet they fail to supply top managers, many of whom find themselves in the role of accidental project sponsors, with guidance on how to govern their projects to succeed.  Project Benefit Realisation and Project Management: The 6Q Governance Approach  bridges the strategy to performance gap by providing boards, senior managers and project sponsors with the six critical questions necessary to diagnose the health of any project. Presenting a systematic framework developed from research cases of successful and unsuccessful projects in various types of organisations, this practical guide enables those in top management to determine if their strategy or policy is on track and to assess whether a project is likely to deliver the expected benefits. The text features real-world examples illustrating how concepts can be applied to different types of projects in engineering, construction, information technology, business transformation and many others. This must-have guide is designed to help top managers and other stakeholders:  Clarify the link between business outcomes, benefits, and strategy to evaluate where effort should be directed Assess how much behavioural change is required to effectively implement strategy and realise desired benefits Select a project sponsor committed to influencing key stakeholders to make necessary changes and intercede to resolve issues as they arise Establish how success will be measured before a project begins, to gauge sponsor commitment and ensure project goals are not changed to match whatever is achieved Ask if the right culture is in place to ensure all relevant information is being reported Determine teams’ ability to adapt and change plans in response to issues arising in the project Monitor if the project is on track to realising the benefits and have a process in place to cancel failing projects  Project Benefit Realisation and Project Management: The 6Q Governance Approach  is an indispensable volume for board members, project sponsors, project advisors and those in senior positions who find themselves in the role of accidental project sponsors.

Kitchen & Bath Business Project Management, Second Edition is a comprehensive guide to professional practice for the kitchen and bath professional. This one-stop reference is based on the real-world experiences of kitchen and bath experts to ensure success in business and professional life. Kitchen & Bath Business Project Management, Second Edition is illustrated in full color throughout with improved graphic design so that visual learners can easily absorb both technical and professional practice information. This book also includes access to a companion website with easily customizable forms for increased efficiency, and an Instructor's Manual.

Harold Kerzner’s essential strategies on measuring project management performance With the growth of complex projects, stakeholder involvement, and advancements in visual-based technology, metrics and KPIs (key performance indicators) are key factors in evaluating project performance. Dashboard reporting systems provide accessible project performance data, and sharing this vital data in a concise and consistent manner is a key communication responsibility of all project managers. This third edition of Kerzner's groundbreaking work, Project Management Metrics, KPIs, and Dashboards: A Guide to Measuring and Monitoring Project Performance, helps functional managers gain a thorough grasp of what metrics and KPIs are and how to use them. Plus, this edition includes new sections on processing dashboard information, portfolio management PMO and metrics, and BI tool flexibility. • Offers comprehensive coverage of the different dashboard types, design issues, and applications Provides full-color dashboards from some of the most successful project management companies, including IBM, Microsoft, and others Aligns with PMI’s PMBOK® Guide and stresses value-driven project management PPT decks are available by chapter and a test bank will be available for use in seminar presentations and courses Get ready to bolster your awareness of what good metrics management really entails today—and be armed with the knowledge to measure performance more effectively.

Practical Weight Management in Dogs and Cats is a comprehensive, clinical reference for the veterinary health team, providing the necessary tools to successfully manage pet obesity. Bringing together specialists in nutrition, internal medicine, critical care, and surgery and rehabilitation, the book provides an overview of prevention techniques, clinical management, and practical tips for implementing successful programs and educating owners. Covering topics ranging from taking a nutritional history and body condition scoring to calculating food dosage and client communication tips, this book is a resource for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians to address the growing problem of pet obesity. The book begins by explaining the clinical importance of obesity, then moves on to diagnosing and preventing obesity. The heart of the book is devoted to managing body weight, with chapters on nutritional, pharmacotherapeutic, and exercise strategies, and two unique chapters cover owner compliance and wellness programs. Practical Weight Management in Dogs and Cats offers a collaborative approach to managing weight in pet dogs and cats.

Boost your performance with improved project management tactics Project Management ToolBox: Tools and Techniques for the Practicing Project Manager, Second Edition offers a succinct explanation of when, where, and how to use project management resources to enhance your work. With updated content that reflects key advances in the project management field, including planning, implementation, control, cost, and scheduling, this revised text offers added material that covers relevant topics, such as agility, change management, governance, reporting, and risk management. This comprehensive resource provides a contemporary set of tools, explaining each tool's purpose and intention, development, customization and variations, and benefits and disadvantages. Additionally, examples, tips, and milestone checks guide you through the application of these tools, helping you practically apply the information you learn. Effective project management can support a company in increasing market share, improving the quality of products, and enhancing customer service. With so many aspects of project management changing as the business world continues to evolve, it is critical that you stay up to date on the latest topics in this field. Explore emerging topics within the world of project management, keeping up to date on the latest, most relevant subject areas Leverage templates, exercises, and PowerPoint presentations to enhance your project management skills Discuss tips, reporting, implementation, documentation, and other essentials of the project management field Consider how project management fits into various industries, including technology, construction, healthcare, and product development Project Management ToolBox: Tools and Techniques for the Practicing Project Manager, Second Edition is an essential resource for experienced project managers and project management students alike.

First published in 1988 by RS Means, the new edition of Project Scheduling and Management for Construction has been substantially revised for students enrolled in construction management and civil engineering programs. While retaining its emphasis on developing practical, professional-level scheduling skills, the new edition is a relatable, real-world case study that can be used over the course of a semester. The book also includes classroom elements like exercises, quizzes, skill-building exercises, as well as an instructor's manual including two additional new cases.

The landmark project management reference, now in a new edition Now in a Tenth Edition, this industry-leading project management «bible» aligns its streamlined approach to the latest release of the Project Management Institute's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMI®'s PMBOK® Guide), the new mandatory source of training for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certificat-ion Exam. This outstanding edition gives students and professionals a profound understanding of project management with insights from one of the best-known and respected authorities on the subject. From the intricate framework of organizational behavior and structure that can determine project success to the planning, scheduling, and controlling processes vital to effective project management, the new edition thoroughly covers every key component of the subject. This Tenth Edition features: New sections on scope changes, exiting a project, collective belief, and managing virtual teams More than twenty-five case studies, including a new case on the Iridium Project covering all aspects of project management 400 discussion questions More than 125 multiple-choice questions (PMI, PMBOK, PMP, and Project Management Professional are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.)