What does project authorization involve and how should you seek it? What is earned value and how are the calculations made? How do you select the appropriate method for handing over a project and what are the pitfalls associated with the options you can choose from? "The Project Management A-Z" provides you with the answer to these questions and more in an A-Z coverage of 80 project management techniques. Each one includes an explanation of the technique, how, when and why you would use it. There are sample forms, checklists of key questions to ask yourself and others, cross-references to the other techniques within the manual, in fact everything to ensure that you: understand the technique and the context in which it is used; identify whether or not it will work for you; and are able to apply it appropriately and effectively. If you are just starting a project or deeply engrossed in one, the opportunity to discuss alternative approaches, or explore the problems and opportunities that the project may throw up is particularly valuable. Sometimes you may have access to a project mentor or coach who can advise you. The Project Management A-Z helps fill that role, challenging your perception and helping build your confidence in the quality of the processes you are using and the decisions you are making. Successful projects are built on the skills of the project manager, the quality of the basic foundations that are laid, and sensitive but assertive management of processes and resources. This title should prove a useful reference to the main techniques for all of these key elements.
Author(s): Alan Wren
Edition: illustrated edition
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 436
Contents......Page 6
List of Figures......Page 10
Background......Page 14
Acknowledgements......Page 16
How You Might Use This Manual......Page 18
Introduction......Page 22
B......Page 30
C......Page 31
E......Page 33
I......Page 34
O......Page 35
P......Page 36
Q......Page 38
S......Page 39
T......Page 41
W......Page 42
A–Z......Page 44
Approval......Page 46
Authorization......Page 50
Back-scheduling......Page 54
Baselines and Baselining......Page 60
Benefits......Page 64
Budget Control......Page 68
Budgets for Project Work......Page 72
Business Case......Page 76
Business Case Review......Page 80
Champion......Page 84
Change Control......Page 86
Closing a Project......Page 94
Communications Plan......Page 100
Constraints......Page 102
Contract Management......Page 106
Controlling Against the Schedule......Page 110
Critical Success Factors......Page 116
Decisions in Projects......Page 118
Earned Value Analysis......Page 122
Estimating......Page 128
Exceptions (and Management By)......Page 134
Feasibility Study......Page 138
Filing and Document Management in Projects......Page 144
Handover Options......Page 160
Impact Analysis......Page 164
Investment Appraisal for Projects......Page 168
Issue Management......Page 176
Lessons Learned......Page 182
Matrix Management......Page 184
Milestones and Milestone Plans......Page 188
Network Analysis and the Critical Path......Page 190
Objective(s)......Page 200
Planning Checklist......Page 202
Post-project Review......Page 206
Procurement......Page 210
Programme or Project?......Page 218
Project......Page 224
Project and Stage Plans......Page 226
Project Health Checks......Page 230
Project Life Cycle......Page 236
Project Office......Page 240
Project Opportunities......Page 244
Project Strategy......Page 250
Quality in Project Work......Page 254
Quality Reviews and Product Descriptions......Page 258
Reports in Projects and Programmes......Page 264
Request for Change......Page 272
Responsibility Matrix......Page 274
Risk Management......Page 278
Scheduling......Page 286
Scope......Page 296
Sensitivity Analysis......Page 300
Small Project......Page 304
Sponsor......Page 306
Stage or Phase......Page 308
Stages – Start and End Procedures......Page 310
Stakeholders – Identification and Communication......Page 314
Starting a Project......Page 322
Statement of Work......Page 332
Steering Group......Page 336
Task Checklist......Page 338
Terms of Reference......Page 342
Tolerance......Page 346
Tranche (of a Programme)......Page 350
Tuning or Scaling a Project......Page 354
Two-level Planning......Page 358
Web Projects......Page 362
Work Breakdown Structure......Page 368
Work Distribution Model......Page 376
Work Package......Page 380
Zero Tolerance......Page 384
Appendix: PRINCE®......Page 386
PRINCE®: Introduction......Page 388
PRINCE® and Planning Software Tools......Page 392
PRINCE® ‘Off Specification’......Page 398
PRINCE® Product Breakdown Structure......Page 400
PRINCE® Product Checklist......Page 404
PRINCE® Product Description......Page 408
PRINCE® Product Flow Diagram......Page 410
PRINCE® Products......Page 414
PRINCE® Project Board......Page 418
PRINCE® Project Initiation......Page 420
PRINCE® Tolerance......Page 424
Bibliography......Page 428
B......Page 430
E......Page 431
O......Page 432
P......Page 433
R......Page 434
T......Page 435
Z......Page 436
