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Project Management JumpStart, Third Edition

Book Description

The much-anticipated new edition of the popular project management introductory book

The role of the project manager continues to become more diverse and demanding, placing strong project management skills in high demand. This in-depth introductory guide offers aspiring project managers the essential fundamentals of project management. Fully revised since the previous version, this new edition includes updated project management methods and practices as well as new examples and study questions. Project management guru Kim Heldman presents you with a clear, concise, and enjoyable writing style so that you can approach project management from a practical rather than theoretical standpoint.

  • Serves as an introduction to the fundamentals of project management

  • Provides completely updated and revised material on project management methods and practices

  • Features new examples and study questions

  • Addresses how to create project schedules and budgets and define project goals

  • Covers project management principles, Project Management Institute's project management standards, and practical application of project management for the workplace

Whether you're considering a career in project management or simply wish to expand your understanding of general project management principles, Project Management JumpStart, Third Edition is ideal reading.

Table of Contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dear Reader,
  5. Dedication
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. About the Author
  8. Contents
  9. Introduction
    1. Who Should Read This Book
    2. What This Book Covers
    3. Making the Most of This Book
  10. Chapter 1: Building the Foundation
    1. The Project Management Journey
    2. Benefiting from Project Management Practices
    3. Twenty-first Century Project Management
    4. Where Do You Go from Here?
    5. Terms to Know
    6. Review Questions
  11. Chapter 2: Developing Project Management Skills
    1. A Little Bit of Everything
    2. Communicating Your Style
    3. Terms to Know
    4. Review Questions
  12. Chapter 3: Initiating the Project
    1. Selecting Projects for Success
    2. Creating the Project Charter
    3. Holding the Project Kickoff Meeting
    4. Terms to Know
    5. Review Questions
  13. Chapter 4: Defining the Project Goals
    1. Agreeing on the Deliverables
    2. Discovering Requirements
    3. Identifying Assumptions and Constraints
    4. Creating the Project Scope Statement
    5. Creating the Communications Plan
    6. Terms to Know
    7. Review Questions
  14. Chapter 5: Breaking Down the Project Activities
    1. Constructing the Work Breakdown Structure
    2. Defining Tasks and Activities
    3. Determining Milestones
    4. Constructing the Responsibility Assignment Matrix
    5. Estimating Activity Durations
    6. Establishing Dependencies
    7. Constructing a Network Diagram
    8. Terms to Know
    9. Review Questions
  15. Chapter 6: Planning and Acquiring Resources
    1. Planning the Project Team
    2. Acquiring Materials, Supplies, and Equipment
    3. Contracting for Resources
    4. Terms to Know
    5. Review Questions
  16. Chapter 7: Assessing Risk
    1. Identifying Risks
    2. Risk Analysis Techniques
    3. Planning for Risks
    4. Responding to Risks
    5. Contingency Planning
    6. Risk Management Plan
    7. Terms to Know
    8. Review Questions
  17. Chapter 8: Developing the Project Plan
    1. Creating the Project Schedule
    2. Quality Management Plan
    3. Terms to Know
    4. Review Questions
  18. Chapter 9: Budgeting 101
    1. What Makes Up a Budget?
    2. Estimating Techniques
    3. Estimating Costs and Finalizing the Budget
    4. Establishing a Cost Baseline
    5. Call It a Plan
    6. Terms to Know
    7. Review Questions
  19. Chapter 10: Executing the Project
    1. Assembling the Team
    2. Negotiation and Problem-Solving Techniques
    3. Project Manager's Role in Team Development
    4. Progress Reporting
    5. Taking Corrective Action
    6. Terms to Know
    7. Review Questions
  20. Chapter 11: Controlling the Project Outcome
    1. Change Happens
    2. Establishing Change Management Control Procedures
    3. Assessing the Impacts of Change
    4. Monitoring and Controlling Project Processes
    5. Is the Project in Trouble?
    6. Terms to Know
    7. Review Questions
  21. Chapter 12: Closing the Books
    1. Happy Endings
    2. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
    3. Documenting Lessons Learned
    4. Obtaining Project Sign-off
    5. Is the Customer Happy?
    6. Archiving Project Documents
    7. It's Party Time!
    8. Terms to Know
    9. Review Questions
  22. Appendix A: Answers to Review Questions
    1. Chapter 1
    2. Chapter 2
    3. Chapter 3
    4. Chapter 4
    5. Chapter 5
    6. Chapter 6
    7. Chapter 7
    8. Chapter 8
    9. Chapter 9
    10. Chapter 10
    11. Chapter 11
    12. Chapter 12
  23. Appendix B: Sample Project Management Forms
  24. Appendix C: Sample Project Management Checklists
  25. Glossary
  26. Index