The Strategic Project Office: A Guide to Improving Organizational Performance (Center for Business Practices) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I thought I had a pretty complete library on Project Management and the PMO.However, this is the most authoritive volume I have encountered.There are step by step instructions and direction on establishing a PMO and best practices within that organization.There are also many of the pitfalls and minefields associated with starting this type of office.The chapters are easy to read, and concise.The information is well organized and presented best suited to a mid-level professional involved in PMO or Project Management activities.
I wholeheartedly recomend this to those who have never setup a PMO or best practices organization.Those who have much experience in this fields may be looking for other specialized topics.

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Product Description:
Describes the initiation, design, execution, and control of a strategic project office. Emphasizes cost management, cultural change, risk assessment, resource allocation, and skills tracking to increase project value, organizational efficiency, and productivity.

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Creating an Environment for Successful Projects, 2nd Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Most PM books focus on those things the PM is supposed to control: cost, schedule performance, quality. This book posits that there are many factors OUTSIDE of the project manager's control that prevent project success. The PM spends more time dealing with external issues than managing the project team.Managers of PMs must "create an environment for successful projects", by essentially identifying and eliminating environmental barriers to project success, so the PM can focus on managing the project and the project team. Intended for managers of a manager of PMs. Also a good book if you're a PM consultant or a manager of a project-oriented department containing several PMs and project teams. My only real criticism is that there's a fair bit of consultant-speak psychobabble in the book. In spite of that, there's enough solid info in the book to make it a worthwhile read.Recommended.

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management, 3rd Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I've acquired two books on project management this year "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management" and "The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management" by Eric Verzuh (also available through Amazon--atexactly the same price!).
The "Fast Forward MBA in ProjectManagement" was far more comprehensive and far better organized thanthe "Idiot's" book.
I had no difficulty following the"Idiot's" book but I didn't learn anything. The chapters werelogically sequenced but what happened within the chapters often had norhyme or reason whatsoever.I like the Dummies/Idiot's books for softwarebut this time it didn't gel (which surprised me because Kim and Sunny Bakerare well known in project management circles).
I don't feel as negativeabout this book as some of the other reviewers (it's better than nothing ifyou are a complete "newbie" to Project Management) but there aremuch better books out there and the best I've seen in a long time is"The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management".
It turns outthere is an entire series of "Fast Forward MBA" books and theyare published by John Wiley and Sons (which is about the most respectablepublishing house around).

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Product Description:
A revised guide for a growing field.

This fully updated and revised third edition complies with official PMI and PMBOK standards and provides full coverage of the discipline, tools, and processes of modern project management.

New to this edition: updated examples for risk assessment and expanded templates, logs, and forms for tracking and analysis.

€ A fully updated and revised 3rd edition, with new templates, forms, and examples
€ Complies with official PMI and PMBOK standards for project management
€ More colleges and universities are offering courses and degrees in project management

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The Ultimate Project Review

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(More customer reviews)The subtitle of this book is: Using the small wishes of your heart to plan and create the life you really want! How is that possible? How can having the kids follow a chore chart help you to write the great American novel? How can taking a bath help you to become a better parent? How can buying a summer romance novel help you to attain your career goals? Well it is all relevant, according to Melissa Snyder.

The Ultimate Project is a book about you. It is a plan to help you plan how to achieve your ultimate goals, starting with the littlest details. Baby steps in a 7 Step plan. The book begins by explaining what the end of the book will bring you to. Confused? You needn't be. Melissa will help you figure out what it is you want or need in this must have guide. She explains it all, laying out the plan for us so there are no surprises popping up in later chapters.

Step one is finding out what exactly your wishes are. Step two is discovering what stands in your way, from being a perfectionist to not having enough time in the day. The remainder of the steps are absolutely necessary, but not wanting to spoil the book for you, I will address the authorÆs theory on time.

Ms. Snyder tells us that all we have is time. It is all in how you look at it, and what you choose to do with your time that affects you. Part three of the book is dedicated to helping us understand that. Can you complete steps 1 through 7 and achieve your goals without listening to Melissa's advice about time? Probably, but you'll be less stressed and ultimately happier if you heed every section of the book.

So how does that chore chart help you? How does that romance book add to your career? It's all in the planning and task lists (chore chart) and rewarding yourself (the romance book) for completing the tasks. This system can be applied to any goal, from losing 10 pounds to getting a new job. The joy in it is the breaking down of a big problem into easy to manage tasks. This way, a goal does not seem insurmountable or unachievable.

Isn't that what we all want? The ability to achieve our goals through careful consideration, planning and completing easy tasks? I know it has helped me already. I highly recommend The Ultimate Project to anyone looking for a little guidance, in a no nonsensical tone. This book is like having a friend over for cake, coffee and a chat about your life, only you can work with it at any hour of the day or night and not worry about the calories! The Ultimate Project

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Product Description:
Everything you are seeking in life is contained within the small things you wish for, on a daily basis. It is not your big dreams that hold the key to your happiness in life - attaining your small, every day wishes is infinitely more powerful in creating the life you wish to have. Your focus and time, applied to your small wishes, will uncover all the missing pieces of information needed to show you - and deliver you to - your ultimate state of personal fulfillment.
These wishes are best identified and put into motion by approaching them as projects, and like all projects, success comes from anticipating and defining the desired result, followed by attention to detailed planning. The Ultimate Project offers you the lifeline of an easy, step-by-step method to direct and simplify your planning efforts. Beginning with uncovering your small wishes for your life where you are right now all the way through to easy implementation, the 7-STEP Plan will quickly have you creating more of the life you really want, right now, using the resources you already have it your disposal.
If you haven't ever looked at your life and wishes as a series of very small projects to be planned, then let your eyes be opened to the incredible power of approaching your time on earth in this manner!

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Creating the Project Office: A Manager's Guide to Leading Organizational Change (Jossey Bass Business and Management Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this book on recommendation from a previous reviewer and was amazed by the breadth, depth, and more importantly pace of the book. The book moves quickly and does not spend a lot of time on theory, more time on examples (drawn mainly from Englund's work at HP).

The high level process applies as a general change management agenda, but applied through the lense of a PMO or project office. The annecdotes and lessons learnt provide an excellent framework for either internal "change agents" or external consultants to structure a successful organizational change and increase in proejct delivery quality.

The examples and frameworks in the book are easily understood and presented in a way that they can be reused or applied to many different project management challenges. I highly recommend this book to program managers or IT consultants who are intereste in affecting change in any organization.

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Product Description:
Creating the Project Office is written for managers who are searching for ways to transform their organizations into more effective and efficient project-based workplaces. As this important book reveals, there is no more effective way to make that change than to create a project office tailored to the needs of the organization. While a project office model leads to better products from projects, it is also a vehicle for generating overall organizational change- by transforming the organization from function-based to project-based. This model incorporates projects into the very fabric of the organizational strategy and revitalizes organizations, creates competitive advantage, and increases shareholder value.

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