Essential Elements for any Successful Project
In this chapter
- Learn what comprises a "successful" project
- Understand the common characteristics of "troubled" projects
- Review the common characteristics of successful projects
- Learn which tools are indispensable to most project managers
In this chapter, we want to continue the accelerated learning approach we started in the previous chapter. Anytime that you are learning a new field, especially one that is as broad as project management, one of the most effective ways to reduce your learning curve and focus your mental energies is to understand what "successful" people do in the field, and, equally important, understand what "not to do."
With this philosophy in mind, we will take a step up in this chapter and look at "projects" as a whole and not just the project manager position. We will review the leading causes of "troubled" projects, and we'll discuss the common principles, techniques, and tools underlying most successful projects. With this foundation in place, you will better understand the purpose and the value of the fundamentals covered in the rest of this book, and as a result, be much better positioned for success on your initial project management assignment.
Part i. Project Management Jumpstart
Project Management Overview
- Project Management Overview
- What Is Project Management…Exactly?
- What Is the Value of Project Management?
- Why Are Projects Challenging?
- Growing Demand for Effective Project Managers?
- Trends in Project Management
The Project Manager
- The Project Manager
- One Title, Many Roles
- Key Skills of Project Managers
- Qualities of Successful Project Managers
- 15 Common Mistakes of Project Managers
Essential Elements for any Successful Project
- Essential Elements for any Successful Project
- What Exactly Is a "Successful" Project?
- Learning from Troubled Projects
- Learning from Successful Projects
- Essential Project Manager Toolkit
Part ii. Project Planning
Defining a Project
- Defining a Project
- Setting the Stage for Success
- How Does Defining a Project Relate to Project Planning?
- Project Definition Document
- Project Definition Checklist
Planning a Project
- Planning a Project
- Key Project Planning Principles
- Important Questions Project Planning Should Answer
- Building a Project Plan
- Summary of Supplemental Project Plan Components
- Project Plan Checklist
Developing the Work Breakdown Structure
- Developing the Work Breakdown Structure
- What Is a WBS Exactly?
- Why Is the WBS Important?
- The Process of Building a WBS
Estimating the Work
- Estimating the Work
- Next Step in the Schedule Development Process
- Managing the Risk, Managing the Estimates
- Reasons for Estimating Woes
- Powerful Estimating Techniques and Methods
- Best Practices
Developing the Project Schedule
- Developing the Project Schedule
- The Impact of the Project Schedule
- The Goal of the Schedule Development Process
- Key Inputs for Building a Schedule
- Creating a Schedule
Determining the Project Budget
- Determining the Project Budget
- The Impact of the Project Budget
- Principles of an Effective Budget
- Creating a Project Budget
- Common Budget Challenges
Part iii. Project Control
Controlling a Project
- Controlling a Project
- What Is Project Control?
- Management Fundamentals for Project Control
- Powerful Techniques for Project Control
- Performance Reporting
- Variance Responses
- Leveraging Earned Value Management Concepts
- Common Project Control Challenges
- Lessons from Project Recoveries
Managing Project Changes
- Managing Project Changes
- What Exactly Is a Project Change and Whats the Big Deal Anyway?
- Fundamentals for Managing Project Change
- What Causes Unplanned Scope Changes?
- Essential Elements of a Project Change Control System
- Powerful Techniques for Minimizing Project Changes
- Common Project Change Control Challenges
Managing Project Deliverables
- Managing Project Deliverables
- "Managing Project Deliverables" Means What Exactly?
- Why Do This? Its Too Much Work
- Identify, Protect, and Track: The Principles of Managing Work Products
- Best Practices
- Configuration Management Plan
- Common Challenges and Pitfalls
Managing Project Issues
- Managing Project Issues
- The Goals, Objectives, and Principles of Project Issue Management
- Key Features of Issue Management System
- Options for Issue Log
- Best Practices
- Some Special Situations
Managing Project Risks
- Managing Project Risks
- Key Risk Management Principles
- The Essential Process for Managing Project Risks
- The Common Sources of Project Risk
- Typical Problems
- Powerful Risk Control Strategies
- Are You Sure Its a Risk?
Managing Project Quality
- Managing Project Quality
- What Is "Project Quality"?
- Unique Aspects of Managing Project Quality
- Principles of Managing Project Quality
- Powerful Tools and Techniques for Project Quality
- Powerful Quality Strategies
- Typical Quality-Related Challenges
Part iv. Project Execution
Leading a Project
- Leading a Project
- More Than Managing
- Where Is Leadership Needed on a Project?
- Twelve Keys to Better Project Leadership
- Power of Servant Leadership Approach
Managing Project Communications
- Managing Project Communications
- What Are Project Communications?
- The Importance of Project Communications
- Why Communicating Can Be Tough
- Seven Powerful Principles
- Best Practices of Effective Project Communicators
Managing Expectations
- Managing Expectations
- Value of Reviewing Stakeholder Expectation Management
- Critical Aspects of Expectations
- Seven Master Principles of Expectation Management
- Essential Elements of Managing Expectations
Keys to Better Project Team Performance
- Keys to Better Project Team Performance
- High-Performing Teams
- Ten Key Principles
- Proven Techniques
- Special Situations
Managing Differences
- Managing Differences
- Five Key Principles
- Proven Techniques for Leading Cross-Functional Projects
- Proven Techniques for Leading Cross-Cultural Projects
- Proven Techniques for Leading Virtual Projects
Managing Vendors
- Managing Vendors
- First, Lets Clarify a Few Terms
- Ten Proven Principles of Vendor Management
- Twelve Tips for Buyers
- Seven Tips for Sellers
- Twelve Key Project Management Skills for Better Vendor Management
- Stuff You Need to Know About Contracts
Ending a Project
![Absolute Beginner[ap]s Guide to Project Management](/icons/blank_book.jpg "Absolute Beginner[ap]s Guide to Project Management"){kind=icon}
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Pages: 169
