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Preface
This page will be developed gradually as time permits. It is intended to provide a starting point for Project Managers and students of Project Management who wish to continually enhance their ability to understand the hard lessons of "on the job experience ". This objective will be achieved by reviewing books and references which have been identified by PMI as valuable aids to improving understanding and ability in the field of Project Management.
Project Management Institute Standards Committee., Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), A: Paperback Available from the PMI Book Store at http://pmibookstore.org , Price 26.35 to PMI members as of October 1999. The PMBOK Guide is a starting point for Project Managers and should be considered a must have document. It reviews the Project Management Context, Project Management Processes, eight knowledge areas of scope, time, cost quality, human resources, communications, risk and procurement and then discusses the way in which all of the knowledge areas are integrated into the total Project Management framework from concept to project closure.
Harold Kerzner., Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling: Available from the Regina Public Library. Dr. Kerzner review the development of business systems in society and relates the systems concepts to Project Management. Project Managers will find that the concepts developed by Dr. Kerzner are presented in considerable detail and supported by examples. It is quite easy for Project Managers to apply the ideas and concepts to actual projects which may be in process.
Meredith Jack R. and Mantel Samuel J. Jr., Project Management - A Managerial Approach Available from the Regina Public Library. This is a very comprehensive reference which discusses most Project Management issues which would normally be encountered by Project Managers. The book addresses Project Management from the perspective of the manager and considers managerial, organizational and behavioural aspects of Project Management. Issues are discussed in the chapters of the book in roughly the sequence they would be encountered by Project Managers. There is a summary at the end of each chapter, a glossary of terms, examples (cases) from actual projects, exercises for individuals, exercises to be worked on in groups, and an extensive bibliography of literature relevant to the material discussed in the chapter. If a Project Manager was only going to have one reference book, this would be the book.
Westney Richard E., Computer Management of Multiple Small Projects Marcel Dekker Inc., 1992. At the outset, Westney makes the point that "Personal computers (P.C.s) have made project management methods relevant and extremely useful to anyone whose job performance is measured, at least in part, by the ability to complete projects on time and on budget." He notes that project management tools, correctly adapted to multiple small projects, belong in the arsenal of every professional person. The author points out that a very high percentage of project managers are managing several small projects at the same time. He also holds that in many cases these small projects are of equal or greater importance to the welfare of the company than the high profile large projects. Unfortunately, he states, this fact is seldom recognized by senior management. Westney details procedures for consistently planning, scheduling and resourcing single projects and then devotes his attention to methods of coordinating the implementation of large numbers of small projects have been consistently planned and which are resourced from a single resource pool. A sequence of managerial steps are outlined to be taken by the Project Coordinator to ensure that the overall objective for the entire group of projects is achieved. It is interesting to note that this book was published in 1992 when many Project Management Software Tools were in an early stage of development. The thesis of the book would be many times more accurate today in view of the present level of sophistication of project management software. The book was obtained by the Regina City Library through interlibrary loan.
Williams Paul B., Getting A Project Done On Time, Paul Williams is an experienced Project Management Consultant and Trainer. This book reflects the Project Management lessons he has learned through practical experience. He uses a project scenario to illustrate various project management processes. His focus is on processes which relate to preparing a Project Implementation Schedule and relating to the schedule through project implementation. Unfortunately Williams makes little reference to the use of a computer tool to facilitate full utilization of the processes which are so well described. The book can be reviewed quickly and is recommended to Project Managers who are attempting to improve scheduling and implementation processes. It will assist managers in systematizing a Project Management Discipline. This reference is available in the Regina Public Library.
Megill Robert E., An Introduction To Risk Analysis This book was obtained through the Regina Central Library by inter library loan. Magill explains various risk analysis methods in considerable detail. His examples are drawn largely from oil exploration projects. Risk analysis methods discussed and illustrated by example include: Delphi, Monte Carlo, use of standard deviation, pert analysis, and the decision tree for risk quantification.
Huston Charles L., Management of Project Procurement McGraw-Hill Inc., New York, 1996. The book was obtained by the Regina Central Library on Interlibrary Loan. Procurement principles, procedures and practices are set out in a comprehensive manner. Case studies from construction and engineering projects are outlined and questions for readers are presented at the end of each chapter. Manny excellent examples of procurement processes are give along with numerous examples of forms which can be utilized to advantage. In addition, a full range of contract types is reviewed with analysis of types of projects and situations where the various contract types should or should not be used. This is an excellent reference on procurement.
Dobson Michael S., The Juggler's Guide To Managing Multiple Projects, The Project Management Institute, 1999. Dobson begins by stating that if the reader has not developed good time management and priority setting skills, it will not be possible to put the tools in this book to good use. Dobson shows how to put multiple projects on a time line, determine resource requirements, handle emergencies and put yourself , as Project Manager, in charge. Strategies are developed for handling three types of multi project situations: 1) task oriented project portfolio, 2) independent project portfolio and 3) interdependent project portfolios. This is an excellent reference for Project Managers who are charged with managing multi projects.
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