The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- About the Author -- Preface -- Downloadable Forms -- Part 1: Introduction -- Chapter 1-Project Management: The Key to Thriving in the New Project-Driven World -- Introduction -- The Art and Science of Project Leadership -- The Practical Foundation for Successful Projects: How This Book Will Help You -- Project Management Relies on Other Disciplines -- End Point -- Stellar Performer: OrthoSpot -- Stellar Performer: PM4NGOs -- Chapter 2-Foundation Principles of Project Management -- Introduction -- Projects Require Project Management -- The Challenge of Managing Projects -- The Evolution of a Discipline -- The Definition of Success -- Project Management Functions -- Project Life Cycle -- Organizing for Projects -- Project Managers Are Leaders -- End Point -- Stellar Performer: Seattle Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Part 2: Defining the Project -- Chapter 3-Know Your Key Stakeholders and Win their Cooperation -- Introduction -- Stakeholders Are the Heart of a Successful Project -- Stakeholder Roles: Project Manager -- Stakeholder Roles: Project Team -- Stakeholder Roles: Management -- Stakeholder Roles: The Customer -- Stakeholder Roles: Representatives of External Constraints -- Stakeholder Roles: Advocates, Opponents, and Innocent Bystanders -- Make Stakeholder Identification a Repeatable Process -- Lead the Stakeholders -- End Point -- Fast Foundation in Project Management -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Chapter 4-Write the Rules: Five Key Documents to Manage Expectations and Define Success -- Introduction -- Project Rules Are the Foundation -- Publish a Project Charter -- Write a Statement of Work -- Statement of Work: Minimum Content -- Responsibility Matrix -- Creating a Communication Plan.

The Project Proposal Launches the Project -- End Point -- Fast Foundation in Project Management -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Part 3: The Planning Process -- Chapter 5-Risk Management: Minimize the Threats to Your Project -- Introduction -- All Project Management Is Risk Management -- The Risk Management Framework -- Step One: Identify the Risks -- Step Two: Analyze and Prioritize the Risks -- Step Three: Develop Response Plans -- Step Four: Establish Contingency and Reserve -- Step Five: Continuous Risk Management -- Unexpected Leadership -- End Point -- Fast Foundation in Project Management -- Stellar Performer: Washington State Department of Transportation -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Chapter 6-Work Breakdown Structure: Break Your Project into Manageable Units of Work -- Introduction -- Defining the Work Breakdown Structure -- Building a Work Breakdown Structure -- Criteria for a Successful Work Breakdown Structure -- Work Package Size -- Planning for Quality -- Breaking Down Large Programs -- WBS Guidelines Vary -- Contractors or Vendors Can Provide a WBS -- End Point -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Chapter 7-Realistic Scheduling -- Introduction -- Planning Overview -- Planning Step Two: Identify Task Relationships -- Planning Step Three: Estimate Work Packages -- Planning Step Four: Calculate an Initial Schedule -- Planning Step Five: Assign and Level Resources -- Small Projects Need Smaller Plans -- End Point -- Fast Foundation in Project Management -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Chapter 8-The Art and Science of Accurate Estimating -- Introduction -- Estimating Fundamentals -- Estimating Techniques -- Building the Detailed Budget Estimate -- Generating the Cash Flow Schedule -- End Point -- Fast Foundation in Project Management -- Stellar Performer: Tynet, Inc. -- Stellar Performer: Adobe Systems -- PMP Exam Prep Questions.

Chapter 9-Balancing the Trade-Off Among Cost, Schedule, and Quality -- Introduction -- Three Levels of Balancing a Project -- Balancing at the Project Level -- Balancing at the Business Case Level -- Balancing at the Enterprise Level -- End Point -- Stellar Performer: Safeco Field -- Stellar Performer: Boeing 767-400ER Program -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Part 4: Controlling The Project -- Chapter 10-Building A High-Performance Project Team -- Introduction -- A Framework for Building High-Performance Teams -- Leadership Responsibilities -- Building a Positive Team Environment -- Ground Rules -- Team Identity -- Team Listening Skills -- Meeting Management -- Summary of Building a Positive Team Environment -- Collaborative Problem Solving -- Problem Analysis -- Decision Modes -- Conflict Management -- Continuous Learning -- Summary of Collaborative Problem Solving -- Job Satisfaction -- End Point -- Stellar Performer: Habitat for Humanity -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Chapter 11-Clear Communication Among Project Stakeholders -- Introduction -- Embrace Your Role as a Leader -- Communicating within the Project Team -- Communicating with Management and Customers -- Control Documents -- The Change Management Process -- Configuration Management -- Change Management Guidelines Are Essential for Managing Expectations -- Closeout Reporting -- End Point -- Fast Foundation in Project Management -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Chapter 12-Measuring Progress -- Introduction -- Measuring Schedule Performance -- Measuring Cost Performance -- Earned Value Reporting -- Cost and Schedule Baselines -- End Point -- PMP Exam Prep Questions -- Chapter 13-Solving Common Project Problems -- Introduction -- Responsibility beyond Your Authority -- Disaster Recovery -- Reducing the Time to Market -- When the Customer Delays the Project -- The Impossible Dream -- Fighting Fires.

Managing Volunteers -- Achieving the Five Project Success Factors -- End Point -- Part 5: Advancing Your Practice of Project Management -- Chapter 14-Enterprise Project Management: Coordinate All Projects And Project Resources In Your Organization -- Introduction -- Defining Enterprise Project Management -- Three Tiers of Management within EPM -- The Four Components of EPM -- Establish Consistent EPM Processes -- Technology Enables EPM Processes -- The People Who Deliver Projects -- Support Project Management: The Project Office -- End Point -- Chapter 15-Requirements Engineering: The Key to Building the Right Product -- Introduction -- Requirements Engineering and Project Management Are Intimately Connected -- Requirement Types Illustrate the Evolving Product Vision -- Requirements Engineering Scope and Processes -- Requirements Development Activities -- Requirements Management Activities -- Requirements Documentation Techniques -- Requirements Engineering Demands Discipline -- End Point -- Chapter 16-Project Initiation: Turning A Problem Or Opportunity Into A Project -- Introduction -- Project Initiation's Place in the Project Life Cycle -- Enterprise Requirements Drive Project Initiation -- Common Principles for Project Initiation -- Basic Project Proposal Content -- Designing a Realistic Initiation Process -- End Point -- Stellar Performer: The Logical Framework Approach -- Chapter 17-Information Technology Project Success Factors -- Introduction -- The Many Kinds of Software Projects -- Why Are Information Technology Projects So Challenging? -- Current Best Practices in IT Project Management -- Using an Agile Approach -- End Point -- Stellar Performer: The Agile Approach to Software Development -- Chapter 18-Project Portfolio Management: Align Project Resources With Business Strategy -- Introduction -- The Scope and Goals of the Portfolio.

Stakeholders: Roles in Project Portfolio Management -- PPM Information Supports Decisions -- Project Selection and Prioritization -- Ongoing Portfolio Management -- Monitor the Results of Projects and the Portfolio -- Culture Change -- End Point -- Chapter 19-PMP Exam Preparation -- Introduction -- Requirements to Earn the PMP -- Top 10 Study Tips for the PMP Exam -- End Point -- Chapter 20-Microsoft Project: Guidelines for Effective Use -- Introduction -- Project Management Software Supports the Discipline -- Looking under the Hood: The Design of Project -- Set Up the Project First -- Follow the Planning Model in This Book -- Task Types: Fix the Duration, Work, or Resource Level -- Assigning Resources to a Project -- Resource Leveling Your Schedule -- Maintaining the Plan throughout the Project -- Communicating with Your Team and Management -- Project Server and Project Web App -- End Point -- Appendix: The Detailed Planning Model -- Notes -- Index.