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Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide, Third Edition

Name: Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide, Third Edition
Author: Gregory M. Horine
ISBN: 9780789750105

by Gregory M. Horine

October 2012

Beginner

432 pages

10h 6m

English

Que

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Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
About the Author
Dedication
Acknowledgments
We Want to Hear from You!
Reader Services
Introduction
About This BookWho Should Read This Book?How This Book Is OrganizedConventions Used in This Book

Part 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 ManagersTrends in Project ManagementAdditional Resources
2. The Project Manager
One Title, Many RolesKey Skills of Project ManagersQualities of Successful Project Managers15 Common Mistakes of Project Managers
3. Essential Elements for Any Successful Project
What Exactly Is a “Successful” Project?Learning from Troubled ProjectsLearning from Successful ProjectsEssential Project Manager Toolkit
Part II. Project Planning
4. Defining a Project
Setting the Stage for SuccessHow Does Defining a Project Relate to Project Planning?Project Definition DocumentProject Definition Checklist
5. Planning a Project
Key Project Planning PrinciplesImportant Questions Project Planning Should AnswerBuilding a Project PlanSummary of Supplemental Project Plan ComponentsProject Plan Checklist
6. Developing the Work Breakdown Structure
What Exactly Is a WBS?Why Is the WBS Important?The Process of Building a WBS
7. Estimating the Work
Next Step in the Schedule Development ProcessManaging the Risk, Managing the EstimatesReasons for Estimating WoesPowerful Estimating Techniques and MethodsBest Practices
8. Developing the Project Schedule
The Impact of the Project ScheduleThe Goal of the Schedule Development ProcessKey Inputs for Building a ScheduleCreating a Schedule
9. Determining the Project Budget
The Impact of the Project BudgetPrinciples of an Effective BudgetCreating a Project BudgetCommon Budget Challenges
Part III. Project Control
10. Controlling a Project
What Is Project Control?Management Fundamentals for Project ControlPowerful Techniques for Project ControlPerformance ReportingVariance ResponsesLeveraging Earned Value Management ConceptsCommon Project Control ChallengesLessons from Project Recoveries
11. Managing Project Changes
What Exactly Is a Project Change and What’s the Big Deal, Anyway?Fundamentals for Managing Project ChangeWhat Causes Unplanned Scope Changes?Essential Elements of a Project Change Control SystemPowerful Techniques for Minimizing Project ChangesCommon Project Change Control Challenges
12. Managing Project Deliverables
“Managing Project Deliverables” Means What Exactly?Why Do This? It’s Too Much WorkIdentify, Protect, and Track: The Principles of Managing Work ProductsBest PracticesConfiguration Management PlanCommon Challenges and Pitfalls
13. Managing Project Issues
The Goals, Objectives, and Principles of Project Issue ManagementKey Features of Issue Management SystemsOptions for Issue LogBest PracticesSome Special Situations
14. Managing Project Risks
Key Risk Management PrinciplesThe Essential Process for Managing Project RisksThe Common Sources of Project RiskTypical ProblemsPowerful Risk Control StrategiesAre You Sure It’s a Risk?
15. Managing Project Quality
What Is “Project Quality”?Unique Aspects of Managing Project QualityPrinciples of Managing Project QualityPowerful Tools and Techniques for Project QualityPowerful Quality StrategiesTypical Quality-Related Challenges
Part IV. Project Execution
16. Leading a Project
More Than ManagingWhere Is Leadership Needed on a Project?Twelve Keys to Better Project LeadershipPower of Servant Leadership Approach
17. Managing Project Communications
What Are Project Communications?The Importance of Project CommunicationsWhy Communicating Can Be ToughSeven Powerful PrinciplesBest Practices of Effective Project Communicators
18. Managing Expectations
Value of Reviewing Stakeholder Expectation ManagementCritical Aspects of ExpectationsSeven Master Principles of Expectation ManagementEssential Elements of Managing Expectations
19. Keys to Better Project Team Performance
High-Performing TeamsTen Key PrinciplesProven TechniquesSpecial Situations
20. Managing Differences
Five Key PrinciplesProven Techniques for Leading Cross-Functional ProjectsProven Techniques for Leading Cross-Cultural ProjectsProven Techniques for Leading Virtual Projects
21. Managing Vendors
First, Let’s Clarify a Few TermsTen Proven Principles of Vendor ManagementTwelve Tips for BuyersSeven Tips for SellersTwelve Key Project Management Skills for Better Vendor ManagementStuff You Need to Know About Contracts
22. Ending a Project
Three Key PrinciplesProject End Checklist—13 Important StepsCommon Project Closing ChallengesMethods for Ending a Contract or a Project
Part V. Accelerating the Learning Curve...Even More
23. Making Better Use of Microsoft Project
Understand This...and It All Becomes EasierNeed-to-Know FeaturesNew Project Best PracticesKeys to Making Resource Leveling WorkPowerful Reporting SecretsMore Insights to a Better Project ScheduleProject 2010—Get Fired Up!
24. When Reality Happens
What If I’m in a Project Management “Lite” Culture?What If I Can’t Develop a Detailed Schedule?What If I Must Manage to a Hard Milestone Date?What If I Have Difficult Resources?What Can I Do About Turnover?Tips for Managing a Selection ProcessTips for Managing a Testing Process
25. Intriguing Project Management Concepts and Topics
Agile ApproachesProject Management OfficesPortfolio Project ManagementGovernance ProcessesCritical Chain Project ManagementWeb-Based Project Management and Collaboration ToolsRequirements Management ToolsMind Mapping ToolsValue of CertificationsProject Management Training
Index
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Content preview from Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide, Third Edition

21. Managing Vendors

In This Chapter

• Understand why managing vendors is important to even first-time project managers

• Understand the key principles that lead to better vendor management

• Learn to avoid the common mistakes made on outsourced projects (they are not all due to the vendor)

• Review tips and techniques for both the client (buyer) and vendor (seller) organization and project manager

• Understand the key skills that have the greatest impact on managing vendor situations

• Learn contract fundamentals and how different contract types impact your approach

As more and more organizations look to focus on their core competencies and reduce their fixed operating costs, while simultaneously attempting to execute more projects, it is ...

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Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide, Third Edition

by Gregory M. Horine

21. Managing Vendors

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.