Critical Chain Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Eli Goldratt continues his application of Theory of Constraints (TOC) to various business processes by focusing on project management with this latest business novella. TOC is a method of creating ongoing improvement in operational processes, as well as a general management philosophy.Goldratt introduced this theory to world in his best-selling book THE GOAL, where he applied the principles to a manufacturing setting.
In CRITICAL CHAIN, Goldratt builds upon the teachings found in THE GOAL.He quickly describes of constructs of TOC, while spending more time addressing some specific phenomenon of project management versus process management.This is where the "Aha"s come into play.
Goldratt's characters debate and learn why projects often run overdue and over budget, or finish with less completed than originally specified.The characters debate critical path vs. non-critical path tasks, early vs. late start, resource conflicts, safety buffers in each task, negotiating with subcontractors and suppliers, as well as the erroneous progress accounting/measurement techniques that give everyone a false sense of progress toward completion.
Each of these topics were useful in challenging the conventional wisdom of project management.Each presented some new techniques for managing projects more aggressively.In my job, I indirectly manage a large number of construction project managers, and this was useful in understanding some of the reasons we struggle to deliver on time and on budget.
For those of you looking for the same enlightenment that you probably derived from THE GOAL, you will be mildly disappointed.For those of you who have not yet read THE GOAL, I highly recommend reading it, because it will provide the foundation material (TOC) in much more depth and clarity.
For me, TOC completes the loop of operational concepts that I have pondered over my career, namely how to improve processes and improve overall organizational productivity, while eliminating "fire fighting" and bottlenecks in production. CRITICAL CHAIN furthers the progress of this thinking relative to a project vs. a process environment.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Critical Chain

Product Description:
Powerful yet simple techniques to solve project management's toughest problems.This book teaches companies to drastically cut project development times resulting in early completion within budget and without compromising quality or specifications.

Get 32% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Critical Chain now ?

Critical Chain Project Management, Second Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If your organization finds itself mired in delays, budget overruns, andexhausted staff 'running around in circles,' critical chain projectmanagement (CCPM) deserves your serious consideration.
An excellent starton the road to dramatic improvements for managing your projects, this bookby Mr. Leach includes his practical experiences and numerous tips forsuccessful project management using the renowned Critical Chain approachcreated by Dr. Eli Goldratt.A key component of this work is theimplementation plan, which will jump start your planning for thebreakthrough solution to projects mired by bottlenecks and will set you ontrack for a process of ongoing improvement for your portfolio ofprojects.
This book does a superb job of walking you through the theory,the psychology, and the practical aspects of critical chain projectmanagement.Another key thread is how Larry integrates the PMI Body ofKnowledge principles with CCPM - a real plus for those who need the 'wholepicture.'
I highly recommend this work for those who are serious aboutmaking the dramatic improvements required to excel in the digitalrevolution - projects often are delivered 20% or more earlier usingcritical chain properly.Mr. Leach's book will get you started on theright track.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Critical Chain Project Management, Second Edition

Product Description:
The Artech House bestseller, Critical Chain Project Management, now builds on its success in a second edition packed with fresh, field-tested insights on how to plan, lead, and complete projects in "half the time, all the time." It provides you with expanded coverage on critical chain planning, multiple project selection and management, critical change project networks, OPM3, new Agile and Lean techniques related to critical chain project management (CCPM), and effective strategies for bringing about the organizational change required to succeed with this breakthrough method.
This cutting-edge work gives you full understanding of the CCPM techniques, tools, and theory you need to develop critical chain solutions and apply them to all types of projects. You get clear instructions on how to build single-project critical chain plans and how to stagger projects in a multiple-project environment. You also learn buffer management techniques for avoiding the pitfalls of committing too much or too little to any specific project, and for meeting project time and cost commitments every time. Moreover, the book integrates key features of PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) with critical chain to help you master key project management skills not covered in other critical chain books, such as scope control and risk management.
This easy-to-follow guide offers you the power to shorten project delivery time, eliminate cost and scheduling over-runs, manage project resources more efficiently, reduce stress on your project team, and finish projects that meet or exceed expectations. Over 100 illustrations help clarify this innovative method that has produced well-documented results in a growing variety of project environments.

Get 22% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Critical Chain Project Management, Second Edition now ?

Advanced Project Portfolio Management and the PMO: Multiplying ROI at Warp Speed Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There is enough good content in this book to fill several books. However, the authors make some foundational assumptions that one must keep in mind when interpreting or applying the practices the author's propose in this book:
Assertion #1: The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is applicable to project management. This is a questionable and unsupported assertion. Projects may have several constraints at different times and across different projects. The TOC model is from manufacturing, implies a single bottleneck, and may not apply to dynamic projects.
Assertion #2: Critical Chain Project Management theory is applicable and valuable in project management. CCPM is unproven, is based on questionable assumptions, is supported by only a few PM tools, and is not known by PMI-trained PM's. For more on this, see "A Critical Look at Critical Chain Project Management", authors Raz, Barnes and Dvir: Project Management Journal, December 2003.
Still, this is a useful book for a person marketing, proposing or implementing a project management office. The book is good at pointing out that the PMO must deliver value to executives by aligning projects with enterprise strategy and by increasing the number of completed projects in a given time period.
The book is stronger in application of the practices (and especially metrics) to business than not-for-profit enterprises, but is still useful to people in not-for-profit organizations.
Recommendation: Employ the author's suggestions to select and prioritize projects based on strategic impact, but, in the main, use proven project management practices (not CCPM or TOC) to ensure project completion.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Advanced Project Portfolio Management and the PMO: Multiplying ROI at Warp Speed

Product Description:
This comprehensive book covers the strategy, tactics, and processes needed for successfulproject portfolio management. It outlines a road map to unprecedented project managementimprovement and includes a detailed implementation plan for both strategic planning and aPMO that gives you measurable results in weeks. The authors delineate four processes that get a PMO off the ground much faster, driving bottom-line value almost immediately. It includes real PMO case studies, provides a way to evaluate your PMO, illustrates how Six Sigma and the PMO can support each other and be used to drive bottom-line value and presents the new Theory of Constraints 4x4 method of strategic planning and the CriticalChain Multi-Project Management approach. . This book shows you how to turn a PMO into a value machine.

Get 12% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Advanced Project Portfolio Management and the PMO: Multiplying ROI at Warp Speed now ?

Project Management (2nd Edition) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I used this book for the Spring Semester in teaching Undergraduate and Graduate Project Management classes and feel it improved the student experience. Combined with the PMBOK, the students grew significantly.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Project Management (2nd Edition)

Product Description:
Project Management employs a managerial, business-oriented approach to the management of projects, which is reinforced throughout the text with current examples of project management in action.
Introduction: Why Project Management?; The Organizational Context: Strategy, Structure, and Culture; Project Selection and Portfolio Management; Leadership and the Project Manager; Scope Management; Project Team Building, Conflict, and Negotiation; Risk Management; Cost Estimation and Budgeting; Project Scheduling: Networks, Duration Estimation, and Critical Path; Project Scheduling: Lagging, Crashing, and Activity Networks; Critical Chain Project Scheduling; Resource Management; Project Evaluation and Control; Project Closeout and Termination
For readers or future mangers interested in understanding the fundamentals of project management from a variety of business applications and examples.

Get 24% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Project Management (2nd Edition) now ?