Painless Project Management: A Step-by-Step Guide for Planning, Executing, and Managing Projects

Table of contents

1. Copyright
   1. Dedication
2. Preface
3. I. The Painless Faster, Simpler Method for Smaller Projects and Newer Project Managers
   1. 1. Introduction to Project Management
      1. The 100,000-Foot View
      2. The Project Manager’s Role
      3. Conclusion
   2. 2. The Project Management Life Cycle, the Work Cycle, and the Business Context
      1. Project Management Life Cycle
      2. The Work Cycle
      3. Tools of the PMLC
      4. Stakeholders and the PMLC
      5. Project Drivers
      6. The Project Context
      7. Conclusion
   3. 3. Concept—Building the Business Case
      1. Concept: Beginning the Process
      2. Developing a Business Case
         1. Issue or Problem to Be Addressed/Solved
         2. Goals and Benefits
         3. Objectives
         4. Needs and Wants
         5. Preliminary Project Scope
         6. Risk and Impact
         7. Cost Benefit Analysis
         8. Return on Investment Analysis
      3. The Business Case and Strategic Alignment
      4. A Disclaimer
      5. Conclusion
   4. 4. Planning the Work and Working the Plan
      1. Planning
      2. Validating the Business Case
      3. Forming the Team
      4. Planning the Work
      5. The Project Charter
         1. Project Mission Statement
         2. Project Goal Statement
         3. Statement of Scope
         4. Project Objectives
         5. Critical Success Factors (CSFs)
         6. Critical Success Measures (CSMs)
         7. Relevant Risks
         8. Assumptions
         9. Project Constraints
         10. Primary Project Driver
      6. Project Stakeholders, Sponsor, Clients, and Other Interested Parties
      7. Project Charter Sign-Offs
      8. A Word on the “As Is” World
      9. What’s Next?
      10. Requirements Analysis
      11. The Work Breakdown Structure
          1. Developing a Work Breakdown Structure
          2. Using the WBS as the First Step in Developing Estimates
      12. The Logic Diagram (Network, Precedence, PERT Chart)
          1. Dependency Analysis
          2. Float
      13. The Gantt Chart
          1. The Elephant in the Living Room
          2. Efficiency Ratios
          3. A Short Cut
      14. Developing the Baseline Plan
      15. Execution
      16. Close (Post Mortem)
4. II. The Painless Tried-and-True Method for Larger, More Complex Projects and Experienced Project Managers
   1. 5. Developing the Project Charter for Larger, More Complex Projects
      1. Project Stakeholders
      2. Role of the Project Charter
      3. Elements of the Project Charter
      4. Tools for Developing Lists
      5. Project Charter Sign-Off
      6. Conclusion
   2. 6. Much, Much, More on WBSs, Networks, and Gantt Charts
      1. First Iteration—5,000 Feet
      2. Second Iteration—3,000 Feet
         1. Work Breakdown Structure
         2. Responsibility-Accountability Map
         3. Work Behind the Deliverables—Task Lists
            1. Step 1 and Step 2
            2. Step 3
         4. Ordering the Tasks—The Network Diagram
         5. Costs Revisited
         6. Risk Revisited
      3. Third Iteration—1,000 Feet
         1. Program Evaluation Review Technique
         2. Calculating Time Estimates
         3. Determining Schedule Flexibility
         4. Budget
         5. Change Management Plan and Communication Plan
         6. Strategic Communications Plan
         7. Operating Communications Plan
         8. Risk Analysis and Contingency Plans
         9. Quality Plan
         10. Project Sign-Off
      4. Conclusion
   3. 7. Status Reporting: What to Tell, When, and to Whom
      1. Communications Mechanisms
         1. The Elevator Report
      2. Planned Progress
         1. Time Line and Budget Revisited
         2. Progress as It Relates to the Time Line
         3. Progress as It Relates to Budget
         4. Tracking Tools to Determine What’s Important
      3. Project Changes
      4. Project Disruptions—Risk Happens
      5. Reporting Quality
      6. Reporting Project Completion
      7. New Technologies: Dashboards and Blogs
      8. Conclusion
   4. 8. The Management Part of Project Management
      1. Skills and Qualities Required of a Project Manager
      2. The Stakeholder Analysis Revisited
         1. Who Are You Really Managing?
         2. How Do You Manage
      3. Team Life Cycle
         1. Forming
         2. Storming
         3. Norming
         4. Performing
         5. Adjourning and Transforming
      4. Team Types
      5. Note on Politics
      6. Conclusion
      7. Notes
   5. Afterword
   6. Appendix