IT Project Management: On Track from Start to Finish, Third Edition, 3rd Edition

IT Project Management: On Track from Start to Finish, Third Edition, 3rd Edition

by Joseph Phillips
Released March 2010
Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 9780071700429

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Book description

Master IT Project Management

This practical, up-to-date guide explains how to successfully manage an IT project and prepare for CompTIA Project+ certification. IT Project Management: On Track from Start to Finish, Third Edition walks you through each step of the IT project management process, covering critical strategies for on-time and within-budget projects. You'll get proven methods for initiating a project, selecting qualified team members, conferring with management, establishing communication, setting realistic timetables, tracking costs, and closing a project.

Learn how to:

  • Define project requirements and create the project charter
  • Create a feasibility study and establish project priority
  • Determine strategy and obtain management approval
  • Manage project scope and determine project expenses
  • Build the project management plan
  • Organize and lead a project team
  • Track progress and calculate the Cost Performance Index (CPI)
  • Implement changes to the project plan
  • Perform continuous quality management
  • Complete the project and assess deliverables

On the CD:

  • CompTIA Project+ practice exam
  • Project management video training from the author
  • Ready-to-use templates and worksheets
  • Complete e-book

Joseph Phillips, PMP, CompTIA Project+, is the Director of Education for Project Seminars. He is the author of PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide, Second Edition; CAPM/PMP Project Management Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Second Edition; CBAP Certified Business Analysis Professional All-in-One Exam Guide; and PgMP Program Management Professional All-in-One Exam Guide.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. IT Project Management: On Track from Start to Finish, Third Edition
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Introduction
  7. 1 Initiating the Project
    1. Defining the Project Management Life Cycle
      1. Initiating the Project
      2. Planning the Project
      3. Executing the Project
      4. Monitoring and Controlling the Project
      5. Closing the Project
    2. Gathering Project Information
      1. Establishing the Project Requirements
      2. Possessing Multiple Personas
      3. No Other Choices?
      4. Interviewing Management
      5. Interviewing the Stakeholders
    3. Identifying the Project Needs
      1. Creating Reasonable Expectations
      2. Creating the Project Charter
      3. Project Charter Elements
      4. Finding the Completion Date
      5. Initiating Processes and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    4. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  8. 2 Planning the Project
    1. How to Plan
      1. Defining the Business Need
      2. Creating a Feasibility Study
      3. Creating the Business Case
      4. Writing the Project Scope Statement
    2. Establishing Project Priority
      1. Obtaining Budget Dollars
    3. Creating an Approach
      1. Create a Milestone List
      2. Manage the Planning
      3. Contingency Plans
      4. Planning Processes and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    4. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  9. 3 Working with Management
    1. Defining the Organizational Structure
      1. Working in a Functional Organization
      2. Working in a Matrix Organization
      3. Working in a Projectized Organization
    2. Presenting the Project to Management
      1. Start at the End
      2. The WIIFM Principle
      3. Tailor the Presentation
      4. Role of a Salesperson
    3. Defining Management’s Role
      1. How Projects Get Initiated
      2. Management Theories
      3. Delegate Duties
      4. Focusing on the Results
    4. Inventing a Project Kickoff
      1. Set the Stage
      2. How Management Fits In
      3. Defining the Purpose
    5. Creating Management Alliances
      1. Working Together
      2. Following Organizational Governance
      3. Dealing with Challenging Bosses
      4. Working with Good Bosses
      5. Management and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    6. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  10. 4 Managing the Project Scope
    1. Creating the Project Scope
      1. Gathering Requirements Through Communications
      2. Writing the Project Scope Statement
    2. Defining the Work Breakdown Structure
      1. Working with a WBS
      2. Coordinating WBS Components
      3. Defining a WBS Approach
      4. The Mechanics of Creating a WBS
      5. Why You Need a WBS
      6. Creating a WBS Dictionary
    3. Obtaining Stakeholder Approval
      1. Presenting to the Project Sponsor
      2. Presenting to Key Stakeholders
      3. Scope Management and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    4. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  11. 5 Creating the Budget
    1. Budget Basics
      1. Determine the Estimate Type
    2. Implementing Bottom-Up Cost Estimates
      1. Allowance for Change
      2. Creating a PERT Estimate
    3. Using Top-Down Estimating
      1. Using Analogous Estimating
      2. Using Parametric Modeling
    4. Budget at Completion
    5. Zero-Based Budgeting
    6. Determining Project Expenses
      1. The Cost of Goods
      2. Outsourcing
      3. Estimating Work Hours
    7. Tracking Budgetary Expenses
      1. Runaway Projects
      2. Keeping Track of Expenses
      3. Project Budgets and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    8. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  12. 6 Building the Project Plan
    1. Building the Project Plans
      1. Project Plan Documents
      2. Creating the Project Scope Management Plan
      3. Defining the Project Schedule Management Plan
      4. Building the Network Diagram
      5. Analyzing the Project Network Diagram
      6. Creating the Project Cost Management Plan
      7. Planning for Project Quality
      8. Preparing for Managing a Project Team
      9. Writing the Project Communications Management Plan
      10. Planning for Project Risk Management
      11. Building the Project Procurement Management Plan
      12. Planning and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    2. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  13. 7 Organizing a Project Team
    1. Assessing Internal Skills
      1. Identifying Resource Requirements
      2. Experience Is the Best Barometer
      3. Résumés and Skill Assessments
      4. Create a Roles and Responsibilities Matrix
      5. Learning Is Hard Work
    2. Creating a Team
      1. Defining Project Manager Power
      2. Hello! My Name Is
      3. Where Do You Live?
      4. Building Relationships
    3. Interviewing Potential Team Members
      1. Why You Need Interviews
      2. How to Interview
    4. Managing Team Issues
      1. Dealing with Team Disagreements
      2. Phases of Team Development
      3. Project Management Is Not a Democracy
      4. Dealing with Personalities
      5. Use Experience
      6. Disciplining Team Members
    5. Using External Resources
      1. Finding an Excellent IT Vendor
      2. Interviewing the Vendor
      3. Organizing a Project Team and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    6. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  14. 8 Managing Teams
    1. Leading the Team
    2. Establishing the Project Authority
    3. Mechanics of Leading a Team
      1. Decision Making
      2. Working with Team Members
    4. Team Meetings
      1. Meeting Frequency
      2. Meeting Purpose
      3. Using a Meeting Coordinator
      4. Meeting Minutes
    5. Maintaining Team Leadership
      1. Background and Experience
    6. Working Toward the Finish
      1. Commitment from the Project Team’s Managers
      2. Project Completion and Team Members’ Growth
    7. Motivating the Team
      1. Understanding Motivation
      2. What Team Members Need
      3. Theorizing on Management and Leadership
      4. Managing a Project Team and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    8. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  15. 9 Implementing the Project Plan
    1. Reviewing Assignments with the Project Team
    2. Focus on the Work
    3. Hosting a Project Status Meeting
    4. Tracking Progress
      1. Creating a Reporting Process
      2. Status Collecting Tools
    5. Tracking Financial Obligations
      1. Tracking Actual Costs
      2. Determining Earned Value
      3. Controlling Finances
      4. Calculating the Cost Performance Index
      5. Calculating the Scheduled Performance Index
      6. Predicting Project Performance
      7. Calculating the To-Complete Performance Index
      8. Executing the Project and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    6. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  16. 10 Revising the Project Plan
    1. Defining the Need for Revision
    2. Establishing Change Control
      1. Impacts of Change
      2. Project Change Request
      3. Change Impact Statement
      4. Internal Project Trouble
    3. Implementing Project Changes
      1. Changes from Internal Forces
      2. Changes from External Forces
      3. Negotiate for Tiered Structures
      4. Extension of Time for Delivery
    4. Issue Management Meetings
    5. Delaying a Project
      1. Coping with Vendor Delays
      2. Rebuilding Management Support
      3. Focus and Refocus
      4. Renewal of Commitment
      5. Revising the Project and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    6. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  17. 11 Enforcing Quality
    1. Defining Quality
    2. Quality of the Deliverables
      1. Producing a Service
      2. Producing Goods
      3. Quality vs. Grade
    3. Quality of the Process
      1. Managing the Quality
      2. Project Information Center
      3. Web Solutions
      4. Software Solutions
    4. Quality Management as a Process
      1. Quality Phases of Project Management
    5. Ensuring Quality Throughout the Project
      1. Planning for Quality
      2. Traditional Quality Assurance
      3. Traditional Quality Control
      4. Implementing Quality Control
      5. Analyzing Quality
      6. Total Quality Management
    6. Creating a Strategy for Quality
      1. Revisiting the Iron Triangle
      2. Progress Reports
      3. Quality and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    7. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  18. 12 Completing the Project
    1. Completing the Final Tasks
      1. Going the Distance
      2. Examine the Critical Path
      3. 98 Percent Done Is Not Complete
    2. The Project Postmortem
      1. Reviewing for Quality
      2. Assessing the Project Deliverables
      3. Examining the Project’s Worth
      4. Third-Party Review
    3. Obtaining Final Sign-Off
      1. Using a Project Transition Plan
      2. Obtaining Client Approval
    4. Post-Project Audit
    5. Creating the Final Report
      1. Evaluating Team Members’ Performance
    6. Declaring Victory
    7. Declaring Failure
    8. Cheers! Celebrating Victory
      1. Project Closure and the CompTIA Project+ Exam
    9. Q&A Chapter Quiz
      1. Chapter Exercises
      2. Quiz Answers
      3. Exercise Solutions
  19. A IT Project+ Exam Objectives
    1. Response Limits
    2. 1.0 Preproject Setup/Initiating
      1. 1.1 Explain the Requirements to Complete a Preproject Setup
      2. 1.2 Identify the Characteristics of a Project
      3. 1.3 Summarize the Steps Required to Validate a Project
      4. 1.4 Explain the Components of a Project Charter
      5. 1.5 Outline the Process Groups of the Project Life Cycle
      6. 1.6 Explain the Different Types of Organizational Structures
    3. 2.0 Project Planning
      1. 2.1 Prepare a Project Scope Document Based on an Approved Project Charter
      2. 2.2 Use a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and WBS Dictionary to Organize Project Planning
      3. 2.3 Outline a Process for Managing Changes to the Project
      4. 2.4 Develop a Project Schedule Based on WBS, Project Scope, and Resource Requirements
      5. 2.5 Given a Desired Deliverable, Apply the Appropriate Tool and/or Method to Produce the Appropriate Outcome
      6. 2.6 Given a Scenario, Interpret the Results of Using the Following Tools and/or Methods
      7. 2.7 Identify Components of an Internal/External Communication Plan
      8. 2.8 Outline the Components of a Risk Management Plan
      9. 2.9 Identify Roles and Resource Requirements Based on WBS and Resource Availability
      10. 2.10 Identify Components of a Quality Management Plan
      11. 2.11 Identify Components of a Cost Management Plan
      12. 2.12 Explain the Procurement Process in a Given Situation
      13. 2.13 Explain the Purpose and Common Components of a Transition Plan
    4. 3.0 Project Execution and Delivery
      1. 3.1 Coordinate Human Resources to Maximize Performance
      2. 3.2 Explain the Importance of a Project Kick-Off Meeting and Outline the Common Activities Performed During This Meeting
      3. 3.3 Recognize the Purpose and Influence of Organizational Governance on a Project’s Execution
      4. 3.4 Given a Scenario, Select Which Component(s) of a Project Plan Is Affected and Select What Action(s) Should Be Taken
    5. 4.0 Change, Control, and Communication
      1. 4.1 Given a Scenario, Implement Proper Change Management Procedures
      2. 4.2 Evaluate the Impact of Potential Changes to the Triple Constraint
      3. 4.3 Using the Risk Management Plan, Determine an Appropriate Response to Potential Risk / Opportunity Events
      4. 4.4 Given a Scenario, Execute Appropriate Resource Leveling Techniques
      5. 4.5 Explain the Appropriate Steps to Ensure Quality of Project Deliverables
      6. 4.6 Identify Potential Tools to Use When a Project Deliverable Is Out of Specification as Defined in the Quality Baseline
      7. 4.7 Given a Scenario, Calculate and Interpret the Results of Earned Value Measurement (EVM)
      8. 4.8 Given a Scenario, Manage and Implement Information Distribution Based on Communications Plan
      9. 4.9 Recognize the Special Communication Needs of Remote and/or Indirect Project Team Members
    6. 5.0 Project Closure
      1. 5.1 Explain the Importance and Benefits of Formal Project Closure
      2. 5.2 Identify Circumstances in Which Project/Phase Closure Might Occur and Identify Steps to Take When Closure Occurs
      3. 5.3 Identify the Components and Purpose of Closing Documentation
  20. B Working as an Independent Contractor
    1. Getting (and Keeping) the Deal
    2. Making Yourself at Home
    3. Becoming a Leader
    4. Delivering More Than What You Promise
  21. C Critical Exam Information
    1. Test-Passing Tips
      1. Days Before the Exam
      2. Practice the Testing Process
      3. Testing Tips
      4. Answer Every Question—Once
      5. Use the Process of Elimination
    2. Everything You Must Know
    3. The 42 Project Management Processes
      1. Initiating the Project
      2. Planning the Project
      3. Executing the Project
      4. Monitoring and Controlling the Project
      5. Closing the Project
      6. EVM Formulas
      7. Quick Exam Facts
    4. A Letter to You
  22. D About the Download
    1. Steps to Download MasterExam
    2. Additional Materials
    3. Help
    4. Removing Installation
    5. Technical Support
  23. Glossary
  24. Index

Product information

  • Title: IT Project Management: On Track from Start to Finish, Third Edition, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Joseph Phillips
  • Release date: March 2010
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
  • ISBN: 9780071700429