Real-World Project Management: Beyond Conventional Wisdom, Best Practices, and Project Methodologies

Introduction

The concept for this book originally grew out of feedback received over several years while I served as a director of development, a senior program/project manager, and corporate trainer teaching Project Management and PMP (Project Management Professional) preparation. Many aspiring and experienced project managers have noticed that there can be a substantial disconnect between how A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), published by the Project Management Institute, describes the framework of project management (PM) and how projects actually unfold in the real world. Given that project management is not for the faint of heart, one imagines that over the years some science of project management has evolved to help keep projects on track, on time, and on budget, and with a minimum of confusion. True, the theory is neat and tidy, but real life is very messy.

In addition to the mess most PMs must address, the story being spin-doctored by the senior executive suite of most businesses paints a picture of project discipline and process that bears little resemblance to the daily realities PMs face in managing projects. The PM is left with the somewhat schizophrenic task of attempting to reconcile what the business tells the world it is doing versus what it is actually doing. Most of the examples and cases are delivered from the point of view of the PM practitioner looking up from the trenches at what executive management claims is happening but dealing ...