Project Management in easy steps

Successful project management is not rocket science it is based on two elements: sound common sense and proven methods and processes. This book covers both and deals with successful project management in a way that is easy to follow for novice project managers while still providing a valuable source of inspiration for the more experienced.

It covers a well-proven approach to risk management, together with valuable insights on how to plan, lead, organize and control a project.

The book takes the reader through the typical project stages with helpful lists of applicable tasks and deliverables. This effectively provides a blueprint for planning an entire project.

John Carroll is a project management consultant with many years experience of managing projects both large and small. Based in the UK and Ireland he has also run projects throughout Europe and the United States. His experience covers most types of organisations including government, higher education, manufacturing industries, pharmaceuticals, software development and the emergency services. He has worked on most types of projects and trained project managers in many different organisations.

1. The Basics
   • Introduction
   • What is a Project?
   • Project Management
   • Managing a Project
   • 4 Steps to Success
   • Responsibility & Authority
   • Good Project Managers
   • Project Management Style
   • Summary
2. Getting Started
   • Starting a Project
   • Assembling the Team
   • The Project Organization
   • Why Projects Go Wrong
   • Getting it Right
   • Terms of Reference
   • Creating the Terms of Reference
   • Project Planning
   • Summary
3. The Business Case
   • Feasibility
   • The Business Case
   • Example Business Case
   • Developing the Costs
   • Investment Appraisal
   • Cash Flow Model
   • Reviewing the Business Case
   • Summary
4. Planning
   • Objectives
   • Constraints
   • Starting the Plan
   • Structuring the Plan
   • Work Breakdown Structure
   • Estimating
   • Task Size
   • Summary
5. Scheduling
   • Work Effort & Duration
   • Contingency
   • Applying Contingency
   • Scheduling
   • Project Schedule
   • Network Diagrams
   • Gantt Charts
   • Scheduling Tools
   • Critical Path
   • Developing the Schedule
   • Summary
6. Risk Management
   • Types of Risk
   • Managing Risk
   • Risk Identification
   • Risk Estimation
   • Risk Evaluation
   • Countermeasures
   • Risk Log
   • Risk Management
   • Summary
7. Organizing
   • Getting Organized
   • Resources
   • The Stage Plan
   • Organizing Activities
   • Activity Schedules
   • Documentation
   • Summary
8. Leading
   • Stakeholders
   • The Change Process
   • Teamwork
   • Team Building
   • End Users
   • The Leadership Role
   • Effective Communications
   • Communications Plan
   • Difficult People
   • Summary
9. Controlling
   • Keeping Control
   • Project Meetings
   • Measuring Progress
   • Project Reports
   • Change Control
   • Dealing with Change
   • Stage Boundaries
   • Summary
10. Project Stages
    • Project Life Cycle
    • Project Road Map
    • Why Five Stages?
    • The Early Stages
    • Initiation Stage
    • Project Initiation Document
    • Strategy Stage
    • Analysis Stage
    • Design & Build Stage
    • The Build Process
    • Implementation Stage
    • Summary
11. Project Closure
    • Closing the Project
    • Project Closure
    • and finally
    • Summary