1st Edition

Project Management Simplified A Step-by-Step Process

By Barbara Karten Copyright 2016
    279 Pages 51 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    279 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Are projects a problem for you? Do your projects cost too much, take too long, or are just not quite right? If so, Project Management Simplified: A Step-by-Step Process is the book for you. It applies well-defined processes for managing projects to managing change in our lives. It describes an approach modeled on a process used successfully in businesses, not-for-profit organizations, schools, and other organizations. The skills and techniques are not unique to businesses and organizations; they are life skills available to everyone.

    There are a number of structured approaches that guide the successful completion of projects in business environments. This book translates these processes and techniques such that nonproject managers can easily use these proven approaches in a nonbusiness context for their own projects. It removes technical jargon, the need for computer software and hardware, and complicated organizational environments, describing the essential project management processes in a simple, straightforward manner.

    As you progress through the book, you connect the dots necessary to complete your personal projects. A sample project in the text and a case study in the appendices further illustrate the concepts explained in the text. The author challenges you to select a project and, working along with the book, be the project manager and develop a project plan. By working with customers and funders of the project, defining the project, identifying how long it will take, and determining its cost, you will develop the expertise to define project goals and create a plan to reach them.

    Projects: The Big Picture
    The Project Core
    Scope Component
    Schedule Component
    Budget Component
    Quality Component
    Risk Component
    Toolkit
    Project Context
    Stakeholders, Communication, and Teaming
    Connect the Dots (Integration)
    After the Plan: The Team Must Execute
    We Learn Best by Doing
    Checkpoint

    Project Charter

    Deck Project
    Project Charter Contents
    Checkpoint

    Project Scope
    Scope: Telescope to Microscope
    Project Scope Statement
    Work Breakdown Structure
    Decomposition of the Deck Project into WBS Categories
    Next Steps

    Project Schedule

    Checkpoint
    Schedule Network Diagram
    Project Duration
    How Much versus How Long
    What about Resources?
    Building the Project Schedule
    Determine Schedule

    Project Budget

    Accounting for Apparently Free Labor Resources
    Project Funding
    Budget for the Deck Project

    Project Quality

    Quality Project versus Quality Product
    Subjective versus Measureable
    Quality Plan

    Project Risks

    Naming the Risks
    Risk Categories
    List of Risks for the Deck Project
    Checkpoint
    Probability and Impact
    Risk Score
    Checkpoint
    Risk Response Plans
    Risk Response Strategies
    Checkpoint
    Next Steps

    Project Toolkit

    Documents
    Standards
    Tactics
    Cross-Project Processes
    Project Toolkit Summary

    Project Context


    Project Stakeholders

    What’s in It for Me?
    Identify Project Stakeholders
    Organizing the Stakeholders
    Stakeholder Engagement

    Project Communication

    Communication Plan
    What to Communicate
    Push or Pull
    Marketing and Branding
    Next Steps

    Project Teaming

    Teaming
    Stages of Team Development
    Team Building
    Coordination of Work: Sorting Out Team Roles and Responsibilities
    Next Steps

    Connect the Dots: Integrating the Project Components

    How Much Planning Does a Project Need?
    Project Plan Document Approvals
    Project Plan
    Next Steps

    After the Plan, We Execute

    The Product of the Project
    Execution of the Deck Project
    Next Steps

    Steps to Execute Your Project

    Step 1: Create a Project Charter
    Step 2: Create the Project Scope Statement
    Step 3: Create Stakeholder Matrix
    Step 4: Create Stakeholder Engagement Matrix
    Step 5: Create the Communication Plan
    Step 6: Teaming, Create RAM for Documents, Create Organization Chart
    Step 7: Create the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), RAM for WBS Work Packages
    Step 8: Create the Project Schedule
    Step 9: Create the Project Budget
    Step 10: Create the Quality Plan
    Step 11: Identify Risks
    Step 12: Publish the Project Plan
    Step 13: Execution
    Step 14: Congratulations

    Glossary


    Appendices:
    A: Community Gardens Project
    B: Project Charter
    C: Project Scope Statement
    D: Work Breakdown Structure
    E: Work Breakdown Structure with Tasks
    F: Schedule Network Diagram
    G: Project Schedule
    H: Project Budget
    I: Project Quality Plan
    J: Risks and Risk Categories
    K: Risk Scores, Probability and Impact Scales
    L: Risk Response Plans
    M: Stakeholder Matrix
    N: Stakeholder Engagement Matrix
    O: Project Communication Plan
    P: Responsibility Assignment Matrices
    Q: Organization Chart
    R: Project Execution

    Biography

    Barbara Karten, PMP, has over 20 years of management, project/ product/program management, and consulting/training experience. Since 2003, she has been an independent consultant and trainer delivering project management and business systems analysis training, PMP (project management professional) exam preparation training, general project management courses for continuing education credits, PMI (Project Management Institute) Chapter-sponsored study groups, and project management courses both online and on ground for graduate and undergraduate programs at local universities. Barbara began her career with a focus on the application of systems methodology to human service systems development and operations. Over time, her interest in organizational effectiveness developed into a focus on requirements and business processes, and into positions as a business systems analyst for technology companies. Building on this experience, Barbara assumed responsibility for the management of projects and programs, for software and hardware in high technology companies. In addition to her work with nonprofit human service agencies and for profit technology companies, Barbara taught project management at local universities, including University of Phoenix, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Northeastern University. She developed and updated PMP curricula and course materials for academia and local project management training providers. She has presented at industry conferences as a panelist and a speaker. Barbara is a past president of the Central Mass PMI Chapter and is the Central Mass PMI Chapter liaison to the PMIEF (Project Management Institute Education Foundation), which addresses the project management needs of not-for-profit organizations, educational organizations, and NGOs. She has the Project Management Institute PMP certification, Six Sigma Green Belt certification, and Microsoft Technology Specialist certification for MS Project 2010 (MCTS). From Boston University, she has certificates in Project Management and Business Systems Analysis, a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems (MCIS), a master’s degree in Urban Affairs (MUA), and a BA in psychology. Barbara advocates project management skills as core competencies for life, education, career, and personal projects. She believes that people with project management capabilities are competitively positioned to succeed.

    "This book takes the complex techniques and terms of the corporate project management world and puts them into a language and context that is simple and easily accessible by anyone, even those with no experience in formal project management. The author has done both the formal project management discipline and the mundane world of everyday occurrences a great service. This book can bring about a melding that benefits both."
    —Stephen A. Devaux, PMP, MSPM; President, Analytic Project Management

    "Project Management Simplified: A Step by Step Process is a great roadmap scripted in non-technical language that is easily understood by non-project managers. The straightforward writing, everyday examples, fundamental diagrams, and checklists break down the mystique of project management. For the reader, the material encompasses the core fundamentals for a successful project. The flow of the material is logical and straight forward. It is also a great refresher reference book for expert project managers!"
    —Mary M. Piecewicz, MBA, MSPC, PMP; Clark University College of Professional and Continuing Education