book

Successful Project Management, Third Edition

by Larry Richman

February 2011

Intermediate to advanced

206 pages

5h 35m

English

AMA Self-Study

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What Is Project Management?The History of Project ManagementProject Management TodayFunctional Work vs. Project WorkFunctional WorkProject WorkWhy Project Management Is Necessary in Today’s WorldToday’s Business TrendsA Proactive Management StyleOrganizing for Project Management EfficiencyAdopting a Project Management PhilosophyOrganizational StructuresFunctional OrganizationProject OrganizationMatrix OrganizationsFunctioning EffectivelyProject Life CycleRecapReview Questions
The Role of the Project ManagerProject Manager SkillsProject Management SkillsTeamworkIntegration SkillsTechnical SkillsKnowledge of the OrganizationThe Makeup of a Project ManagerProject Manager Relationships and ToolsResponsibility, Accountability, and AuthorityResponsibilityAccountabilityAuthorityMaintaining the BalanceRoles of Team MembersDefining the Roles of Project Sponsors, Customers, and Other StakeholdersProject Sponsor(s)CustomersOther StakeholdersRecapReview Questions
Project PlanningDefining the Problem or OpportunityCollect Project RequirementsTypes of ProjectsEstablishing Project ObjectivesKeeping the Objectives in BalanceCost ConsiderationsTime ConsiderationsScope ConsiderationsFinal Statement of Project ObjectivesPerforming Project ReviewsConceptual ReviewFeasibility StudyBenefit-Cost AnalysisProfitability MeasuresAlternative Course of Action ReviewOpportunity Cost ReviewPreliminary Risk AssessmentPossible Review OutcomesCreating a Work Breakdown StructureJob Aid: Work Breakdown Structure ChecklistRecapReview Questions

The Importance of EstimatingSteps in Estimating ActivitiesEstimating MethodsExpert JudgmentAnalogous EstimatingParametric ModelingBottom-Up EstimatingSimulation ModelingPrecision of EstimatesUnderestimating ActivitiesInflating EstimatesEstimating Familiar Work vs. New WorkWeighted Estimating FormulaRange EstimatesRolling Wave EstimatesWork Environment and Skill LevelType of ContractFixed-Price ContractUnit-Price ContractCost-Plus ContractIncentivesUsing Project Management SoftwareRecapReview Questions
Sequencing ActivitiesSchedule Network DiagramsCreating a Network DiagramUnderstanding a Network DiagramCalculating the Critical PathUsing the Critical Path Method (CPM)Critical Path CalculationsCritical Chain MethodRecapReview Questions
Preparing SchedulesMilestonesGantt ChartsCrashing the SchedulePreparing Resource PlansIdentifying the Required SkillsRecruiting PersonnelAssigning People to ActivitiesLeveling the ResourcesAdjusting the Project SchedulePreparing Budget PlansManaging RiskIdentifying RiskAssessing RiskResponding to RiskGetting Approvals and Compiling a Formal Project PlanReconciling the Project ObjectivesGetting Approvals and CommitmentsCreating a Project PlanRecapReview Questions
Initiating the ProjectKickoff MeetingCommunicating Project PlansSetting up a Monitoring and Management ProcessPrinciples of Monitoring and ManagementEstablishing a Plan to Monitor and Manage the ProjectStatus InformationVariancesReportsCourse of ActionManaging Project ObjectivesTime ManagementCost ManagementScope and Quality ManagementResource ManagementControl ThresholdsTools for Managing Project ObjectivesManaging Changes in the ProjectActionsChange Request and Approval FormChange Control LogRecapReview Questions
Conducting Project EvaluationsWhen to Perform Project EvaluationsConsiderations in Project EvaluationsReporting on Project ObjectivesReporting ConsiderationsGraphical ReportsReporting Percent CompleteSample ReportsClosing the ProjectLessons Learned DocumentationRecapReview Questions
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Content preview from Successful Project Management, Third Edition

How to Take This Course

This course consists of text material for you to read and three types of activities (the pre- and post-test, in-text exercises, and end-of-chapter review questions) for you to complete. These activities are designed to reinforce the concepts introduced in the text portion of the course and to enable you to evaluate your progress.

PRE- AND POST-TESTS*

Both a pre-test and post-test are included in this course. Take the pre-test before you study any of the course material to determine your existing knowledge of the subject matter. Submit one of the scannable answer forms enclosed with this course for grading. On return of the graded pre-test, complete the course material. Take the post-test after you have completed all the ...