Prentice Hall
Business
ISBN-10: 0789731975
ISBN-13: 9780789731975
Publisher: Que Publishing
Copyright: 2005
Format: Paper; 336 pp
Published: 04/22/2005
Suggested retail price: $29.99
Buy from myPearsonStore
Appropriate for all introductory courses on project management, and as a supplement in courses on Microsoft Project or courses that prepare students for PMP certification.
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Project Management gives students all the information and guidance they need to effectively manage and lead a successful project from start to finish. This easy-to-use resource uses the Absolute Beginners Guide “teacher” style to guide students through every essential technique and skill, one step at a time. Long-time project manager and consultant Greg Horine emphasizes the common elements of successfully managed projects, and shares lessons learned from both successful and failed projects. Horine focuses on the skills and qualities needed by effective project managers in todays environment, including the increasingly popular “servant leadership” approach. He covers emerging and accelerating project trends ignored by many books, including IT project management issues, multi-vendor projects, outsourcing, virtual teams, multi-cultural teams, quality management, and risk management. Along the way, Horine covers the entire project lifecycle, showing how to build project budgets and schedules, make project presentations, manage vendors, address project changes while protecting quality, and more. The book also contains a full chapter on using Microsoft Project to support project management.
- Proven Absolute Beginners Guide “teaching” style—Friendly, highly accessible, step-by-step coverage focused on the topics students need most.
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Helps students master the essence of real-world project management without ever getting lost in complexity.
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- Coverage of the entire project lifecycle—Walks students through planning, scheduling, budgeting, building teams, gaining buy-in and commitment; reporting progress, managing change, project delivery, and successfully ending a project.
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Helps students understand how all stages of a project fit together, and how to handle every step from planning through post mortems.
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- Coverage of cross-functional, cross-department, and inter-organizational projects—Discusses virtual teams, multi-vendor projects, outsourced projects, and other complex project arrangements.
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Reflects the increasingly diverse project structures that students will actually encounter in the real world.
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- Lessons learned from real-world projects—Shows what successful projects have in common, and teaches lessons from actual successful and failed projects.
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Gives students practical insights that can help them anticipate and avoid problems, and position themselves for success in their very first projects.
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- Strong coverage of project control and risk management—Contains a full chapter on risk management as well as detailed coverage of using Earned Value to control projects.
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Prepares students to address the risk control and financial issues at the heart of contemporary project management.
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- Insight into managing multi-cultural and geographically diverse teams—Prepares students for the realities of project management in todays global enterprise, where projects often bring together team members from around the world.
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Helps students manage teams with diverse backgrounds and experiences, including teams spread across diverse locations.
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- Practical tips and techniques—Includes tips and techniques throughout, as well as a full chapter on dealing with common project challenges.
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Gives students the expert insights they would otherwise have to learn through lengthy trial and error.
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- Introduction to Microsoft Project—Presents the basics of using Microsoft Project, the worlds de facto standard project management tool.
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Gives students a head-start in using the worlds leading project management software to support their projects.
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Introduction.
About This Book.
Who Should Read This Book?
How This Book Is Organized.
Conventions Used in This Book.
I. PROJECT MANAGEMENT JUMPSTART.
1. Project Management Overview.
What Is Project Management...Exactly?
What Is the Value of Project Management?
Why Are Projects Challenging?
Growing Demand for Effective Project Managers?
Trends in Project Management.
2. The Project Manager.
One Title, Many Roles.
Key Skills of Project Managers.
Qualities of Successful Project Managers.
15 Common Mistakes of Project Managers.
3. Essential Elements for Any Successful Project.
What Exactly Is a "Successful" Project?
Learning from Troubled Projects.
Learning from Successful Projects.
Essential Project Manager Toolkit.
II. PROJECT PLANNING.
4. Defining a Project.
Setting the Stage for Success.
How Does Defining a Project Relate to Project Planning?
Project Definition Document.
Project Definition Checklist.
5. Planning a Project.
Key Project Planning Principles.
Important Questions Project Planning Should Answer.
Building a Project Plan.
Summary of Supplemental Project Plan Components.
Project Plan Checklist.
6. Developing the Work Breakdown Structure.
What Is a WBS Exactly?
Why Is the WBS Important?
The Process of Building a WBS.
7. Estimating the Work.
Next Step in the Schedule Development Process.
Managing the Risk, Managing the Estimates.
Reasons for Estimating Woes.
Powerful Estimating Techniques and Methods.
Best Practices.
8. Developing the Project Schedule.
The Impact of the Project Schedule.
The Goal of the Schedule Development Process.
Key Inputs for Building a Schedule.
Creating a Schedule.
9. Determining the Project Budget.
The Impact of the Project Budget.
Principles of an Effective Budget.
Creating a Project Budget.
Common Budget Challenges.
III. PROJECT CONTROL.
10. Controlling a Project.
What Is Project Control?
Management Fundamentals for Project Control.
Powerful Techniques for Project Control.
Performance Reporting.
Variance Responses.
Leveraging Earned Value Management Concepts.
Common Project Control Challenges.
Lessons from Project Recoveries.
11. Managing Project Changes.
What Exactly Is a Project Change and What's the Big Deal Anyway?
Fundamentals for Managing Project Change.
What Causes Unplanned Scope Changes?
Essential Elements of a Project Change Control System.
Powerful Techniques for Minimizing Project Changes.
Common Project Change Control Challenges.
12. Managing Project Deliverables.
"Managing Project Deliverables" Means What Exactly?
Why Do This? It's Too Much Work.
Identify, Protect, and Track: The Principles of Managing Work Products.
Best Practices.
Configuration Management Plan.
Common Challenges and Pitfalls.
13. Managing Project Issues.
The Goals, Objectives, and Principles of Project Issue Management.
Key Features of Issue Management System.
Options for Issue Log.
Best Practices.
Some Special Situations.
14. Managing Project Risks.
Key Risk Management Principles.
The Essential Process for Managing Project Risks.
The Common Sources of Project Risk.
Typical Problems.
Powerful Risk Control Strategies.
Are You Sure It's a Risk?
15. Managing Project Quality.
What Is "Project Quality"?
Unique Aspects of Managing Project Quality.
Principles of Managing Project Quality.
Powerful Tools and Techniques for Project Quality.
Powerful Quality Strategies.
Typical Quality-Related Challenges.
IV. PROJECT EXECUTION.
16. Leading a Project.
More Than Managing.
Where Is Leadership Needed on a Project?
Twelve Keys to Better Project Leadership.
Power of Servant Leadership Approach.
17. Managing Project Communications.
What Are Project Communications?
The Importance of Project Communications.
Why Communicating Can Be Tough.
Seven Powerful Principles.
Best Practices of Effective Project Communicators.
18. Managing Expectations.
Value of Reviewing Stakeholder Expectation Management.
Critical Aspects of Expectations.
Seven Master Principles of Expectation Management.
Essential Elements of Managing Expectations.
19. Keys to Better Project Team Performance.
High-Performing Teams.
Ten Key Principles.
Proven Techniques.
Special Situations.
20. Managing Differences.
Five Key Principles.
Proven Techniques for Leading Cross-Functional Projects.
Proven Techniques for Leading Cross-Cultural Projects.
Proven Techniques for Leading Virtual Projects.
21. Managing Vendors.
First, Let's Clarify a Few Terms.
Ten Proven Principles of Vendor Management.
Twelve Tips for Buyers.
Seven Tips for Sellers.
Twelve Key Project Management Skills for Better Vendor Management.
Stuff You Need to Know About Contracts.
22. Ending a Project.
Three Key Principles.
Project End Checklist-13 Important Steps.
Common Project Closing Challenges.
Methods for Ending a Contract or a Project.
Index.
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Project ManagementAbout the Author
Gregory M. Horine is a published author (PMP Exam Cram 2) and certified project management and business technology professional (PMP, CCP) with more than 16 years of consulting experience across multiple industries. His primary areas of professional expertise include
Project management and leadership
Complex application development
Enterprise solution development
Business process analysis and improvement
Data analysis and transformation
Package implementation and integration
Vendor and procurement management
Regulatory and process compliance
Project management tools
Computer systems validation
Testing processes
Quality and risk management
In addition, Mr. Horine holds a master's degree in computer science from Ball State University and a bachelor's degree in both marketing and computer science from Anderson College (Anderson, IN).
Through his "servant leadership" approach, Mr. Horine has established a track record of empowering his teammates, improving project communications, overcoming technical and political obstacles, and successfully completing projects that meet the targeted objectives.
Mr. Horine is grateful for the guidance and the opportunities that he has received from many mentors throughout his career. Their patience and influence has resulted in a rewarding career that has been marked by continuous learning and improvement.
You can access a recent interview of Mr. Horine by the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) and the Networking Professionals Association (NPA) at these respective websites:
When not engaged in professional endeavors, Mr. Horine hones his project management skills at home with his lovely wife, Mayme, and his five incredible children: Michael, Victoria, Alex, Luke, and Elayna.
© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.
You've just been handed your department's biggest project and you probably aren't sure where to even begin. Whether you have 6 months or 6 weeks to complete it, being an effective project manager can make all the difference to the end result. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Project Management can help you quickly become an effective and efficient project manager when time matters most. Through topics such as "building a project budget and schedule" to "managing vendors," this book will guide you through what works and what doesn't based on tried and true practices. Your learning will be focused on the skills and qualities of effective project managers, leadership styles and project trends, including information technology, outsourcing and virtual teams. Let Absolute Beginner's Guide to Project Management help you take your project from start to finish.
View a Sample Chapter PDF: /samplechapter/0789731975.pdf
Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students, contact your Pearson Higher Education representative for pricing and ordering information.
This title is a member of the Absolute Beginner's Guide, which also contains the titles below . You can also visit the Absolute Beginner's Guide page.
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics, 2/E
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Absolute Beginner's Guide to Networking, 4/E
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Absolute Beginner's Guide to PC Upgrades
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© 2005 | Que Publishing | Paper; 336 pages | Instock
ISBN-10: 0789731975 | ISBN-13: 9780789731975
Brief Description | Buy from myPearsonStore
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Upgrading and Fixing Your PC
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ISBN-10: 0789730456 | ISBN-13: 9780789730459
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Absolute Beginner's Guide to WordPerfect 12
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ISBN-10: 0789732424 | ISBN-13: 9780789732422
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Appropriate for all introductory-level courses in computing.
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics, Second Edition gives students all the information and guidance they need to effectively use any personal computer system, as well as common peripherals ranging from CD burners and digital cameras to PDAs. Author Michael Miller is a long-time expert on teaching introductory computing topics. This easy-to-use resource uses the Absolute Beginners Guide “teacher” style to guide students through every essential technique and skill, one step at a time. Miller shows students how to set up their computer hardware, navigate and use the Windows XP desktop, work with essential software programs, and more. Miller also provides a complete introduction to using the Internet, from connectivity to Web browsing, searching to e-commerce, email, instant messaging, chat, weblogs, downloading, and more. The book contains equally thorough coverage of digital media, one of todays hottest topics for beginning users—including burning CDs, using MP3 players, editing photos, and more. Users will also learn how to keep their computer systems up and running, and how to troubleshoot common computer problems. Miller explains each concept in easy-to-understand language, with step-by-step instructions, helpful illustrations, practical guidance, and real-world advice.
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Even if you've never opened the case on your PC, the Absolute Beginner's Guide to PC Upgrades will show you how you can add hardware components, upgrade peripherals, and keep current on new version of your operating system and applications.
Appropriate for all introductory courses on project management, and as a supplement in courses on Microsoft Project or courses that prepare students for PMP certification.
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Project Management gives students all the information and guidance they need to effectively manage and lead a successful project from start to finish. This easy-to-use resource uses the Absolute Beginners Guide “teacher” style to guide students through every essential technique and skill, one step at a time. Long-time project manager and consultant Greg Horine emphasizes the common elements of successfully managed projects, and shares lessons learned from both successful and failed projects. Horine focuses on the skills and qualities needed by effective project managers in todays environment, including the increasingly popular “servant leadership” approach. He covers emerging and accelerating project trends ignored by many books, including IT project management issues, multi-vendor projects, outsourcing, virtual teams, multi-cultural teams, quality management, and risk management. Along the way, Horine covers the entire project lifecycle, showing how to build project budgets and schedules, make project presentations, manage vendors, address project changes while protecting quality, and more. The book also contains a full chapter on using Microsoft Project to support project management.
Appropriate for all introductory courses in wireless networking.
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi Wireless Networking gives students all the information and guidance they need to effectively set up and use any Wi-Fi wireless network. This easy-to-use resource uses the Absolute Beginners Guide “teacher” style to guide students through every essential technique and skill, one step at a time. Students will learn how to choose and set up wireless networking equipment; set up computers and PDAs to connect with wireless networks; find hotspots and access points; and much more. Coverage also includes: Wi-Fi standards and protocols, Internet connectivity, and detailed, step-by-step coverage of wireless security. Davis explains each concept in easy-to-understand language, with step-by-step instructions, helpful illustrations, practical guidance, and real-world advice.
Appropriate for all introductory- to intermediate-level courses in word processing with WordPerfect 12.
Absolute Beginner's Guide to WordPerfect 12 gives students all the information and guidance they need to master WordPerfect 12 and use it for virtually any common word processing task. Laura Acklen—host of the Webs #1 WordPerfect tips site—explains each WordPerfect concept and technique in easy-to-understand language, with step-by-step instructions, helpful illustrations, practical guidance, and real-world advice. Students who are upgrading from older versions of WordPerfect will master its powerful new features quickly and efficiently. Coverage includes: getting started; creating and working with documents; basic editing and formatting; using WordPerfects Writing Tools; working with paragraphs, pages, and styles; using tables, lists, and outlines; adding graphics, sharing data, creating mail merges, using WordPerfects Legal Tools, and more.
Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students, browse our available packages below, or contact your Pearson Higher Education representative to create your own package.
- Package ISBN-10: 0132213125 | ISBN-13: 9780132213127
©2005 | Instock | Suggested retail price: $36.13 | Buy from myPearsonStore
This package contains: - Absolute Beginner's Guide to Project Management, 1/E
Horine | ©2005 | Que Publishing | Paper; 336 pages - Special Edition Using Microsoft Office Project 2003, 1/E
Pyron | ©2004 | Que Publishing | Paper; 1248 pages