book

The Project Manager's Guide to Making Successful Decisions

December 2008

Intermediate to advanced

334 pages

6h 14m

English

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Good Decision-Making Begins with a Decision ContextThe Three Cornerstones of Decision-MakingWhy Projects FailA Planned Process for Decision-MakingA General Framework for Making Decisions
Managerial Decisions DefinedStrategic, Operational, and Tactical DecisionsGeneric Project Management DecisionsThe Importance of Project Management DecisionsProject Management Decisions Contribute to Project SuccessA Management Perspective on Failed Projects: Two Case StudiesThe Solution—Good-Quality Decisions

The Project Management Life CycleControl Gates within the Project ManagementLife CycleStakeholder Decisions in the Project Management Life CycleOther Life-Cycle Models
The BasicsLiterary Views of Decision-MakingDecision QualityHistory of Decision-MakingApproaches to Decision-MakingDecision-Making Methods and AidsImplementing the Decision
A Project Management Decision StructureDecisions for Project ManagementProduct (Operational) System DecisionsDevelopment (Project Management Organization) System Decisions
The Importance of Decision FramesA Suggested FrameSuggested Decision Frame Format for Project Management
The Problem Definition ProcessSearching for AlternativesUsing All Alternatives to Find Additional AlternativesDetermining the Need for More Information and AnalysisAlternatives and Decision Frames—The Cuban Missile Crisis
Qualitative ApproachesQuantitative ApproachesDealing with Biases and HeuristicsRequirements for Good Decisions
RiskProject Management RisksHow to Address RiskDeveloping a Risk Management PlanContinuing Risk ManagementWhat Is Uncertainty?How Do People Address Uncertainty?
The Elements of Traditional Project Management TrainingThe Pitfalls of Project Management TrainingA Decision Analysis Curriculum

Acknowledgments

We want to thank Robert Dees and Ken Gilliam for contributing the valuable appendix on decision analysis.

We also want to acknowledge the many colleagues who have provided guidance, inspiration, and support over the years. They know who they are.

Michael S. Dobson

Robert K. Wysocki

Jonathan Weinstein, Timothy Jacques

Lev Virine, Michael Trumper

ISBN: 9781567263800