The Project Manager's Partner : A step-by-Step Guide to Project Management, Second Edition

Table of Contents......Page 6
Acknowledgments......Page 10
Is This Handbook for You?......Page 12
Some Important Distinctions......Page 13
Organizational Structures and How They Influence Projects......Page 15
Part II: Your Essential Project Actions......Page 17
Where to Begin......Page 18
Project Deliverables......Page 20
Project Phases......Page 21
The Project Life Cycle......Page 22
Phase II: Create Project Plan......Page 24
Phase IV: Create Deliverables......Page 25
Assignment: Your Unique Project Life Cycle......Page 26
Worksheet: My Unique Project Life Cycle......Page 27
Project Management Processes......Page 30
Planning......Page 31
Controlling......Page 33
Project Phases and the Project Management Processes......Page 34
Assignment: Your Essential Project Actions......Page 35
Summary of Key Project Manager Actions and Results......Page 36
Phases, Processes, and Action Items: Pulling It All Together......Page 40
Overview......Page 42
Closing......Page 43
Action Item: Demonstrate Project Need and Feasibility......Page 45
Worksheet: Demonstrating Project Need and Feasibility......Page 46
Action Item: Obtain Project Authorization......Page 49
Worksheet: Is This Project Authorized?......Page 50
Worksheet: The Project Charter......Page 51
Action Item: Obtain Authorization for the Phase......Page 53
Worksheet: Is This Phase Really Authorized?......Page 54
Action Item: Describe Project Scope......Page 57
Example: Phased WBS Chart......Page 58
Checklist: Evaluating Project Scope......Page 60
Worksheet: Project Scope Statement......Page 61
Action Item: Define and Sequence Project Activities......Page 63
Example: Project Network Diagram......Page 64
Guidelines for Defining and Sequencing Project Activities......Page 66
Action Item: Estimate Durations for Activities and Resources Required......Page 68
Guidelines for Estimating Durations for Activities and Resources Required......Page 72
Worksheet: Estimating Durations, Resources, and Effort......Page 73
Examples: Project Schedules......Page 75
Guidelines for Developing the Project Schedule......Page 79
Action Item: Estimate Costs......Page 83
Example: A “Bottom Up” Cost Estimate......Page 85
Guidelines for Making a “Bottom Up” Cost Estimate......Page 86
Action Item: Build a Budget and Spending Plan......Page 88
Guidelines for Building a Budget and Spending Plan......Page 89
Optional Action Item: Create a Formal Quality Plan......Page 92
Guidelines for Creating a Formal Quality Plan......Page 94
Optional Action Item: Create a Formal Project Communications Plan......Page 96
Guidelines for Developing the Project Communications Plan......Page 97
Worksheet: Project Communications Planner......Page 98
Action Item: Organize and Acquire Staff......Page 100
Guidelines for Developing the Organizational Plan and Strategy for Acquiring Staff......Page 102
Worksheet: Project Responsibility/Accountability Matrix......Page 105
Optional Action Item: Identify Risks and Plan to Respond......Page 108
Guidelines for Identifying Risks and Planning to Respond......Page 110
Worksheet: Risk Assessment and Response Analyzer......Page 112
Optional Action Item: Plan for and Acquire Outside Resources......Page 114
Guidelines for Planning to Procure Outside Goods or Services......Page 116
Guidelines for Soliciting Bids for Outside Goods or Services......Page 118
Guidelines for Selecting the Best Contractor for the Job......Page 119
Action Item: Organize the Project Plan......Page 122
Guidelines for Building the Project Plan......Page 123
Action Item: Close Out the Project Planning Phase......Page 126
Guidelines for Closing Out the Project Planning Phase......Page 127
Action Item: Revisit the Project Plan and Replan If Needed......Page 129
Guidelines for Revisiting the Plan and Replanning If Needed......Page 130
Action Item: Execute Project Activities......Page 133
Guidelines for Executing a Project Phase......Page 134
Guidelines: Ways to Recognize Project Team Members......Page 136
Action Item: Control Project Activities......Page 140
Guidelines for Controlling a Project Phase......Page 141
Guidelines: Keeping Things Moving—A “To Do” List and Items to Help You Execute, Control, and Close Out Your Project......Page 143
Worksheet: Project Deliverables Status Analyzer......Page 145
Worksheet: Variance Analyzer......Page 146
Guidelines: Handling Scope Change......Page 147
Worksheet: Project Scope Change Order......Page 148
Worksheet: Project Issue Tracker......Page 149
Worksheet: The Project Status Report......Page 150
Action Item: Close Out Project Activities......Page 154
Guidelines for Closing Out a Project Phase......Page 155
Sample Project “Post Mortem” Review Questions......Page 157
Worksheet: Sample Project Sign-Off Form......Page 160
Appendix A: Tips for Managing Experts Outside Your Expertise......Page 162
Appendix B: Glossary of Project Management Terms......Page 166
Appendix C: Summary of Key Project Manager Actions and Results......Page 176
Appendix D: Potential Shortcuts for Low-Risk Projects......Page 180
Appendix E: Guidelines—When to Kill the Project......Page 182
Appendix F: Taking Charge of Your Project Management Software......Page 184
Appendix G: Selected Project Manager Resources......Page 188
References......Page 200