Who Should Read This Book?

The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Project Management is recommended for any person who fits into one or more of the following categories:

• Individuals unsatisfied with other introductory project management books

• Individuals new to project management, such as

  Technologists

  Knowledge workers

  Students

  Functional managers

• Professionals taking first project management assignment, such as

  Team leaders

  Project coordinators

  Project administrators

  Project support

  Functional managers

• Experienced project managers needing a refresher course

• Experienced project managers with limited formal project management education

How This Book Is Organized

This book has been divided into four parts :

• Part I, "Project Management Jumpstart," sets up the general framework for our project management discussion and accelerates your project management learning curve, including an insightful review of successful projects and project managers.

• Part II, "Project Planning," reviews the processes that establish the foundation for your project.

• Part III, "Project Control," reviews the processes that allow you to effectively monitor, track, correct, and protect your project's performance.

• Part IV, "Project Execution," reviews the key leadership and people-focused skills that you need to meet today's business demands.

Conventions Used in This Book

• At the beginning of each chapter, you'll find a quick view of the major topics that will be expounded upon as you read through the material that follows .

• The end of each chapter provides a list of key points along with a visual summary map.

• You will also find several special sidebars used throughout this book:

These boxes highlight specific learning points or provide supporting information to the current topic.

tip

These boxes highlight specific techniques or recommendations that could be helpful to most project managers.

caution

These boxes highlight specific warnings that the project manager should be aware of.

Part i: Project Management Jumpstart

Chapter 1. Project Management Overview

In this chapter

• Clarify what project management is and "is not" (it's likely more than you think)

• Learn why projects are challenging to manage

• Understand why project management is the key to the future growth of any organization

• Learn why the future of project management is bright and why becoming a certified project manager may be a wise career move

• Review the latest trends in project management that may impact your first opportunity

Since your perceptions surrounding project management will vary depending upon work experiences, education, industry, and roles, it's important to establish some "common ground" before we venture down the road of learning what a project manager must do to be successful in his/her first opportunity.

This chapter provides the "common ground" by clarifying what constitutes project management and why project management is important to both your future and the future of your organization.