ABSTRACT
Nothing of any complexity can be done quickly and efficiently without a plan. However, no matter how well we plan it seems that something always goes wrong. The most important thing about a plan is to understand that it is an imperfect device made by imperfect humans. Some flexibility is needed, and it is always good to have contingency plans for the most likely deviations. It is also appropriate to note that the plan does not need to be completed before starting the design. Likewise, the requirements need not be completed before starting the plan or the design. There can be a great deal of overlap in the project stages I’ve outlined in this book. Indeed, this is a book about career management, not about project management. This book describes high-level project concepts and discusses associated social interactions and how they may affect your career. These project concepts are presented as a tool to allow discussion and inspection of the engineering existence. To become expert in planning or managing a project you should take a course or read a book that explores the details of the structure and various stages of managing a technical project. From the perspective of this book, it is assumed that all the thinking and planning and all the strategizing and designing are done at relevant and timely points of the project.
