The Structure of the Book

To assist our readers who are under eXtreme project deadlines and working conditions, we have structured the book into three parts for quick access.

Part 1 ”eXtreme Concepts

This covers the background to XPM. We look at the evolution of project management, the emerging project environment, and the forces driving the need for XPM.

Part 2 ”eXtreme Tools

This introduces the XPM tools such as RAP sessions, learning loops , success sliders, and the detailed techniques used in XPM planning and tracking.

Part 3 ”Additional Resources

This includes readings that provide further tips; advanced tools; and related issues such as project sponsorship, negotiation, communication, ethics, and other critical project management concerns. There are additional readings available on our Web site www.thomsett.com.au

Each part is related but they can be read independently if you are in a hurry; though we hope you get to read the entire book eventually. Great project managers will read all of this book.

During our journey as consultants to major organizations, we have seen many strange and wonderful things. In many cases, what we observed put the bizarre events in the series The X Files to shame. At the end of the chapters in Part 2, we have included a section called The P Files (where P represents people or politics). The P Files entries support the points raised in the associated chapter.