Executive's Guide to Project Management: Organizational Processes and Practices for Supporting Complex Projects

Executive's Guide to Project Management: Organizational Processes and Practices for Supporting Complex Projects

by Robert K. Wysocki
Released July 2011
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781118004074

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Book description

How-to guidance for defining and implementing a complex project performance environment

Sharing his forty-five years of project management experience, best-selling author and industry guru Robert Wysocki presents a straightforward, enlightening, and pragmatic guide to help senior managers make the transition to an organization that profits and thrives on complexity. The first book to discuss practical project management mitigation strategies, Executive's Guide to Project Management presents easy-to-implement infrastructures and processes that will ensure the continued success of your organization and maximize your investment of every project.

  • Collects in one resource all the relevant information for understanding and creating an environment for improved complex project performance
  • A must-read for every member of your senior management team
  • Shows you how to regain responsibility, take action, and skillfully handle complexity to mitigate risk and increase return on project investments

It's time for your senior management team to take back control of your investments in projects and programs. Executive's Guide to Project Management shows you how to cultivate your part of the organization so that it can respond to a changing project environment with the infrastructure to support the project and program investment decisions.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Foreword
  6. Preface
  7. Introduction
    1. The Nature of Project Complexity and Uncertainty
    2. The Risk Mitigation and Business Value Roles of the Senior Management Team
    3. Organizational Culture and Velocity
    4. How to Carefully Manage the Creative Process
    5. About this Book
    6. Who Should Read this Book
  8. Part I: Challenges to Supporting Complex Projects
    1. The Project Landscape (Chapter 1)
    2. Project Management Life Cycle Models (Chapter 2)
    3. The Complex Project Team (Chapter 3)
    4. Chapter 1: The Project Landscape
      1. The Nature of Project Complexity and Uncertainty
      2. Goal and Solution Clarity
      3. Through the Eyes of Senior Management Team Members
      4. Putting It All Together
    5. Chapter 2: Project Management Life Cycle Models
      1. Traditional Project Management
      2. Agile Project Management
      3. Extreme Project Management
      4. Emertxe Project Management
      5. How to Choose the Best Fit Project Management Life Cycle
      6. Putting It All Together
    6. Chapter 3: The Complex Project Team
      1. What Is a Complex Project Team?
      2. Complex Project Team Position Family
      3. Complex Project Manager Use of the Complex Project Team Profile
      4. Senior Management Team Applications of the Complex Project Manager Position Family Profile
      5. Putting It All Together
    7. Part I: Summary
      1. Organizational Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
      2. Executive Bookshelf
  9. Part II: Improving Project Success With Human Resource Strategies and Processes
    1. Project Manager, Business Analyst, Business Process Professional, and Information Technology Professional Integration (Chapter 4)
    2. Professional Development Model (Chapter 5)
    3. Integrating the Project Manager, Business Analyst, Business Process Professional, and Information Technology Professional into the Project Landscape (Chapter 6)
    4. Chapter 4: Project Manager, Business Analyst, Business Process Professional, and Information Technology Professional Integration
      1. Position Families
      2. An Historical Perspective
      3. Complex Project Team and Complex Projects
      4. Putting It All Together
    5. Chapter 5: A Professional Development Model
      1. The Professional Development Plan
      2. Role of the Senior Management Team in the Personal Development Program
      3. Putting It All Together
    6. Chapter 6: Integrating the Project Manager, Business Analyst, Business Process Professional, and Information Technology Professional into the Project Landscape
      1. Project Complexity Assessment
      2. Generalists Versus Specialists
      3. Project Manager, Business Analyst, Business Process, and Information Technology Skill Profile
      4. Mapping the Project Managers and Business Analysts into the Project Landscape
      5. Putting It All Together
    7. Part II: Summary
      1. Organizational Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
      2. Executive Bookshelf
  10. PART III: Improving Project Return on Investment (ROI) Using Agile Project Portfolio Management
    1. The Project Birth and Death Process (Chapter 7)
    2. Agile Project Portfolio Management Process (Chapter 8)
    3. An Agile Portfolio Strategy (Chapter 9)
    4. Chapter 7: The Project Birth and Death Process
      1. Project Birth Process
      2. Project Maturation Process
      3. Project Death Process
      4. Putting It All Together
    5. Chapter 8: Agile Project Portfolio Management Process
      1. What Is a Project Portfolio?
      2. What Is Agile Project Portfolio Management?
      3. Putting It All Together
    6. Chapter 9: An Agile Portfolio Strategy
      1. Adapting the Project Management Life Cycle Models to the Agile Project Portfolio Management Model
      2. Problem/Opportunity Prioritization
      3. Strategic Alignment Model
      4. Alternatives to the Strategic Alignment Model
      5. Putting It All Together
    7. PART III: Summary
      1. Organizational Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
      2. Executive Bookshelf
  11. PART IV: Establishing and Maturing an Enterprise Project Support Office
    1. Organizing and Defining your Project Support Office (Chapter 10)
    2. Growing and Maturing your Project Support Office (Chapter 11)
    3. The Future of the Project Support Office (Chapter 12)
    4. Chapter 10: Organizing and Defining Your Project Support Office
      1. Definition of a Project Support Office
      2. Spotting Symptoms that You Need a Project Support Office
      3. Organization and Placement of a Project Support Office
      4. Steps to Establishing a Project Support Office
      5. Putting It All Together
    5. Chapter 11: Growing and Maturing Your Project Support Office
      1. Project Support Office Stages of Growth
      2. A Step-by-Step Plan
      3. Challenges to Implementing a Project Support Office
      4. Putting It All Together
    6. Chapter 12: The Future of the Project Support Office
      1. Hub and Spoke BP4SO
      2. Putting It All Together
    7. PART IV: Summary
      1. Organizational Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
      2. Executive Bookshelf
  12. Epilogue: Next Steps
    1. Define Your Role in Supporting Complex Projects
    2. How Will You Make It Happen?
    3. Final Thoughts on the Book
  13. About the Author
  14. Index

Product information

  • Title: Executive's Guide to Project Management: Organizational Processes and Practices for Supporting Complex Projects
  • Author(s): Robert K. Wysocki
  • Release date: July 2011
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781118004074