Managing Projects Large and Small: The Fundamental Skills to Deliver on budget and on Time |  | Author: Harvard Business School Press
Publisher: Harvard Business Press
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
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Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 33,664
Media: Paperback
Edition: illustrated edition
Pages: 192
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.1 x 0.7
ISBN: 1591393213
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.404
EAN: 9781591393214
ASIN: 1591393213
Publication Date: February 2003
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Product Description
When it comes to project management, success lies in the details. This book walks managers through every step of project oversight from start to finish. Thanks to the book's comprehensive information on everything from planning and budgeting to team building and after-project reviews, managers will master the discipline and skills they need to achieve stellar results without wasting time and money. "The Harvard Business Essentials Series" is for managers at all levels but is especially relevant for new managers. It offers on-the-spot guidance, coaching, and tools on the most relevant topics in business. Each book includes the critical information that managers need on a given topic - from budgeting to hiring to communication to strategy - and offers interactive tools and worksheets that translate advice into action. Providing ready answers to day-to-day issues, these guides make sound, trusted mentoring advice available whenever managers need it. Other Books in the "HBE Series" are: "Managing Change and Transition"; "Hiring and Keeping the Best People"; "Finance for Managers Business"; "Communications"; "Innovation"; and "Negotiation".
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| Customer Reviews:
Essential to any executive's "tool box" August 28, 2006
Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
This is one of the volumes in the Harvard Business Essentials Series. Each offers authoritative answers to the most important questions concerning its specific subject. The material in this book is drawn from a variety of sources which include the Harvard Business School Press and the Harvard Business Review as well as Harvard ManageMentor_, an online service. I strongly recommend the official Harvard Business Essentials Web site (www.elearning.hbsp.org/businesstools) which offers free interactive versions of tools, checklists, and worksheets cited in this book and other books in the Essentials series. Each volume is indeed "a highly practical resource for readers with all levels of experience." And each is by intent and in execution solution-oriented. Although I think those who have only recently embarked on a business career will derive the greatest benefit, the material is well-worth a periodic review by senior-level executives.
Credit Richard Luecke with pulling together a wealth of information and counsel from various sources. He is also the author of several other books in the Essentials series. In this instance, he was assisted by a subject advisor, Richard D. Austin, a member of the Technology and Operations Management faculty at the Harvard Business School. Together, they have carefully organized the material within 12 chapters.
1. Project Management as a Process (four phases)
2. The Cast of Characters (i.e. who's who in project management)
3. A Written Charter ("your marching orders")
4. A Framework for Action (i.e. important first steps)
5. Work Breakdown (i.e. from huge job to manageable tasks)
6. Scheduling the Work ("put the horse before the cart")
7. Adjustments and Trade-Offs (i.e. more fine-tuning)
8. Managing Risk ("scanning the hazy horizon")
9. Project Adaptation (i.e. dealing with what you could not or did not anticipate)
10. Getting Off on the Right Foot (i.e., project needs to keep in mind)
11. Keeping on Track (i.e. maintaing control)
12. The Closedown Phase (i.e. wrapping up)
I especially appreciate the provision of a "Summing Up" section at the conclusion of each chapter, and, the provision also of two appendices: "Useful Implementation Tools" and "A Guide to Effective Meetings." Re the appendices, all executives should possess and continuously upgrade a "tool kit" even if what is needed this week or this month requires entirely different "tools" later. One of the most important value-added benefits of the "Essentials" series is that each of its volumes includes a number of "tools" relevant to the given subject and an explanation of how to use them effectively.
With regard to the advice provided on meetings (probably the single greatest time-waster), it is sensible but sparse. Years ago, I became convinced that most meetings are convened to discuss what needs to be discussed rather than to discuss what needs to be done. And even when the latter, more often than not, the "PTD Principle" is ignored (i.e. P = person, T = task, and D = deadline). I now presume to share my own advice.
1. Schedule a meeting only when it is absolutely necessary.
2. Include only those who must be present.
3. In advance, inform everyone involved what the meeting's specific objectives are.
NOTE: No more than three objectives per meeting.
4. Limit the discussion entirely to achieving the specified objective(s).
5. Encourage dissent.
NOTE: If two people in the group agree on everything, one of them is useless.
6. Have zero tolerance of gabbers.
7. Strictly follow the "PTD Principle."
8. Follow-up with everyone re who must do what and by when.
9. Have zero tolerance of slackers.
10. If someone suggests another meeting, see Point #1.
Other than Appendix B, the material which Luecke and Austin provide is first-rate. I highly recommend it to decision-makers in all organizations (regardless of size or nature) and especially to those who are now preparing for a business career or have recently embarked on one. Effective and efficient management of work at all levels and within all areas of any organization is absolutely essential. However, what Peter Drucker suggested more than 40 years ago is even more relevant now than ever before: "There is surely nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency what should not be done at all."
Simple and useful February 8, 2007
Micah G. Modell (New York, NY USA)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book is authored very readably. The anecdotes support and reinforce the solid content and advice presented. It is based in reality and offers best practices rather than just offering theory. I don't find myself getting bogged down in terminology as I have with some other books.
A Great Essential Read for Anyone who wants to be more Productive October 8, 2009
T. R. Templo (Sewell, NJ United States)
This is a well written book, and its brevity is just right to wets one's appetite into business from a non-business person's point of view.
The way the book address the systematic approach towards projects is admirable by its shear ease and simplicity. It tackles the finer points and moves on to the more complicated concepts aware to let the reader absorb things at their own pace. Its manner of selecting and arranging information for consumption and internal organization is quite remarkable, and leaves nothing to chance or confusion.
A must get, if not for the basics it presents but to lend to others who are confused and without direction in how to tackle any difficult project.
I recommend that even a HS student can use this in tackling their own projects when presented opportunities of initiative.
Great book for every project manager. June 15, 2010
P. Y. (CA)
I've read other books in the Harvard Business Essentials collection, and this one is great also. Has a lot of the same topics as PMP books do, but in a more condensed and no fluff version. Great as a reference book for quick access. Definitely will keep this one in arms reach. You may need to pick up another book though if you want more depth into the topics this one covers.
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