ABSTRACT
The field of project management uses a significant number of custom tools and techniques in its planning and control processes. Microsoft Project and Excel are two of the most common computer-based project management support utilities used in practice, so they are presented extensively in various aspects of the text discussions. The one overriding theme followed throughout is that project management practice requires an understanding of a tested project process model. The Project Management Institute model followed here specifies that all projects must deal with scope, schedule, cost, status tracking, change control, quality, risk, procurement, and human interactions. As indicated, the text is focused on tool mechanics that need to be understood by the modern project manager. Various project management scenarios will be used to provide a base platform to practice various techniques. The chapter also provides an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
