ABSTRACT
Managing Business Projects: The Essentials differs from many other project management textbooks. Foremost, it is about business projects as opposed to construction or engineering projects. Although many techniques, like schedule management, apply to both, they are usually applied differently. As its title conveys, the book explains the essential techniques and perspectives needed for business projects to be successful. The focus is on small- and medium-sized projects, up to $20 million, but often below $1 million. Some literature favors large and mega-projects, but for every mega-project, there are many thousands of smaller projects that are vital to the organization and could involve considerable complexity and risk. Nevertheless, the techniques outlined here also apply to mega-projects and their many subprojects; they even apply to some aspects of construction or engineering projects.
This book does not aim to cover all project management techniques. In real life there is simply no time for sophisticated ‘should-dos.' Rather, it covers the essentials that apply to almost all business projects; these are unlikely to change in the future even as technology and methodologies advance. The driving idea, which is stated repeatedly, is to do the essentials and to do them consistently and well.
Strong emphasis is placed on things that happen before, around, and after the project itself. So, while the basic disciplines like engaging with stakeholders, managing scope, schedules, costs, risks, issues, changes, and communication, are thoroughly explained, other important aspects are covered. These include: governance of a project and of a portfolio of projects, project selection with its financial and non-financial aspects, effective use of the business case through to benefits realization, procurement, outsourcing and partnership, and also the agile mindset that is valuable beyond Agile projects.
Besides project managers and sponsors, this book is intended for people who are working in business or government, at any level, or for MBA students. It offers perspectives that enable them to learn more from their everyday experience. It is not aimed at undergraduate students, although many would benefit from the contents.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part 1|36 pages
Overview of the Book and of Business Project Management
chapter Chapter 1|6 pages
Introduction to the Book
chapter Chapter 2|9 pages
Business Projects and Their Management
chapter Chapter 3|7 pages
Methodology from Unusual Angles
chapter Chapter 4|10 pages
The Business Project Environment
part 2|145 pages
Core Elements of Business Project Management
chapter Chapter 5|5 pages
Engaging with Stakeholders
chapter Chapter 6|9 pages
Project Definition
chapter Chapter 7|6 pages
Scope Definition
chapter Chapter 8|6 pages
Project Estimating
chapter Chapter 9|18 pages
Project Scheduling
chapter Chapter 10|8 pages
Managing Project Quality
chapter Chapter 11|7 pages
Managing Project Risk
chapter Chapter 12|22 pages
Progress and Cost Tracking
chapter Chapter 13|15 pages
Project Teams and Organization
chapter Chapter 14|6 pages
Managing Project Issues
chapter Chapter 15|6 pages
Project Change Control
chapter Chapter 16|14 pages
Project Monitoring, Control, and Communication
chapter Chapter 17|9 pages
Governance of a Project
chapter Chapter 18|7 pages
Closing the Project
part 3|126 pages
Special Topics Related to Business Project Management
chapter Chapter 19|9 pages
Governance for a Portfolio of Projects
chapter Chapter 20|7 pages
The Business Case End-to-End
chapter Chapter 21|12 pages
Project Selection: Financial and Non-Financial Criteria
chapter Chapter 22|12 pages
Project Procurement, Outsourcing, and Partnership
chapter Chapter 23|7 pages
OCM – Organizational Change Management
chapter Chapter 24|10 pages
Contracts for Business Projects
chapter Chapter 25|7 pages
Project Review
chapter Chapter 26|7 pages
Ethical Conduct and Adherence to Legislation
chapter Chapter 27|11 pages
Project Negotiation
chapter Chapter 28|6 pages
Managing International Projects
chapter Chapter 29|8 pages
Dealing with Some Realities in Business Projects
chapter Chapter 30|8 pages
Agile Approaches
chapter Chapter 31|5 pages
Digital Tools for Project Management
chapter Chapter 32|8 pages
Trends: The Future of Business Project Management
part 4|143 pages
Wrap Up of the Book and Study Materials