A Comprehensive Guide to Project Management Schedule and Cost Control: Methods and Models for Managing the Project Lifecycle

A Comprehensive Guide to Project Management Schedule and Cost Control: Methods and Models for Managing the Project Lifecycle

by Randal Wilson
Released April 2014
Publisher(s): Pearson
ISBN: 9780133573138

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Book description

Master all the modern project scheduling and cost control techniques you need, in one focused tutorial! Randal Wilson's Project Schedule & Cost Control  isn't your typical project management guide: it's 100% focused on the specific principles, techniques, and best-practice methodologies of scheduling and cost control.

Wilson illuminates key issues through the extensive use of graphs, charts, case studies, and worked examples; and calls your attention to crucial issues that "generic" PM books ignore. Coverage includes: 

  • Project structures, including differences between projects and programs, and how those differences affect costing and scheduling

  • Initiation: how projects start, how to develop project charters and stakeholder registers, and how to manage stakeholders

  • Planning, in depth: what costs must be addressed, and what schedule constraints must be considered

  • Project schedule analysis: activity definition, WBS, and work packages;  activity sequencing and diagramming; proven methodologies for estimating resources and activity durations; and schedule development

  • Project cost analysis: gathering and estimating all project costs, including labor, materials, vendor bids, subcontractors, contracts, equipment, facilities, and direct/indirect costs.

  • Budgeting via top-down, bottom-up, and activity-based methods

  • Project monitoring and control: earned value, tracking Gantt, S-Curves, performance reviews, milestone analysis, change control systems, estimate at completion, forecasting, and much more

    • For both project management newcomers and working project managers who need to sharpen their skills

    Table of contents

    1. About This eBook
    2. Title Page
    3. Copyright Page
    4. Dedication Page
    5. Contents
    6. About the Author
    7. Introduction
      1. Schedule and Cost of Projects
      2. Project Balance
      3. What Is Control?
      4. Organizational Influences
      5. Solutions to Schedule and Cost Control
    8. Part 1: Project Development
      1. 1. Basic Project Structure
        1. Introduction
        2. Projects, Programs, and Portfolios
        3. Project Management Versus Program and Portfolio Management
        4. Project Life Cycle
        5. Review Questions
      2. 2. Initiating Process
        1. Introduction
        2. Project Origination
        3. Project Stakeholders
        4. Project Selection
        5. Project Charter
        6. Review Questions
      3. 3. Planning Process
        1. Introduction
        2. Develop Project Management Plan
        3. Collect Requirements
        4. Define Scope
        5. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
        6. Review Questions
    9. Part 2: Project Schedule Analysis
      1. Plan Schedule Management
      2. 4. Activity Definition
        1. Introduction
        2. Activity Analysis
        3. Responsibility Assignment
        4. Work Authorization
        5. Review Questions
        6. Applications Exercise for Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
        7. Case Study Exercise for Chapter 4
      3. 5. Activity Sequencing
        1. Introduction
        2. Information for Sequencing
        3. Defining Dependencies
        4. Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)
        5. Review Questions
        6. Applications Exercise
      4. 6. Resource Estimating
        1. Introduction
        2. Types of Resources
        3. Resource Constraints
        4. Resource Requirements
        5. Resource-Estimating Methods
        6. Review Questions
        7. Applications Exercise
      5. 7. Activity Duration Estimating
        1. Introduction
        2. Duration Estimating Methods
        3. Duration Estimating with Constraints
        4. Scheduling Conclusions
        5. Review Questions
        6. Applications Exercise
      6. 8. Schedule Development
        1. Introduction
        2. Schedule Requirements
        3. Schedule Structuring Techniques
        4. Schedule Analysis
        5. Schedule Documentation
        6. Review Questions
        7. Applications Exercise
    10. Part 3: Project Cost Analysis
      1. Plan Cost Management
      2. 9. Cost Estimating
        1. Introduction
        2. Collecting Cost Data
        3. Cost Constraints
        4. Estimating Tools and Techniques
        5. Review Questions
        6. Applications Exercise for Chapters 9 and 10
      3. 10. Budget Development
        1. Introduction
        2. Functions of a Budget
        3. Budget Development Methods
        4. Budget Constraints
        5. Cost of Quality
        6. Review Questions
        7. Applications Exercise
    11. Part 4: Project Monitoring and Control
      1. 11. Schedule and Cost Monitoring
        1. Introduction
        2. Integrated Monitoring
        3. Monitoring and Analysis Tools
        4. Troubleshooting Tools
        5. Monitoring Results
        6. Review Questions
        7. Applications Exercise
        8. Case Study Exercise for Chapter 11
      2. 12. Schedule and Cost Control
        1. Introduction
        2. Change Control
        3. Control Tools and Techniques
        4. Control Results
        5. Review Questions
        6. Applications Exercise
    12. Bibliography
    13. Index

    Product information

    • Title: A Comprehensive Guide to Project Management Schedule and Cost Control: Methods and Models for Managing the Project Lifecycle
    • Author(s): Randal Wilson
    • Release date: April 2014
    • Publisher(s): Pearson
    • ISBN: 9780133573138