The Artech House bestseller Critical Chain Project Management now builds on its own success in a second edition packed with fresh, field-tested insights on how to plan, lead, and complete projects with unprecedented efficiency. It provides project managers with expanded coverage on critical chain planning, multiple project selection and management, critical change project networks, 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 spells out all the CCPM techniques, tools, and theory managers need to develop critical chain solutions and apply them to their challenging projects. Moreover, the book helps managers master key project skills not covered in other critical chain books, such as scope control and risk management.
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About the Author
Lawrence P. Leach is president of Advanced Projects, Inc. and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He received his M.S.ME. from the University of Connecticut and his M.B.A. from the University of Idaho.
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More About the Author
Lawrence (Larry) Leach is the principal of the Advanced Projects, Inc. (API), applying business tools to help clients improve their project delivery system. Prior to founding API, he was a vice president in several Fortune 500 companies, managing projects up to one billion dollars (US). Leach has a master's degree in business management from the University of Idaho (USA) and a master's in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut (USA). Larry is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He has authored papers and books including Critical Chain Project Management, Second Edition, chapters in the Wiley Guide to Project Management and Project Portfolio Management, Lean Project Management: Eight Principles for Success, and most recently released Lean Project Leadership.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
While not a devotee of critical chain project management (CCPM), I embrace several features of the approach.
Overall, this is a fine book despite some typos and minor organization flaws.
Mr. Leach has been promoting, teaching, and consulting in this area for years. It appears that the book is intended to complement his training and consulting---and that's okay. Anecdotes are frequently from questions arising at training or during client implementations. His experience shows.
Leach works to integrate concepts from theory of constraints (Goldratt), Project Management Institute's "PMBOK® Guide," lean manufacturing, and Six Sigma. He does this reasonably well, building upon and extending the foundation laid by Goldratt.
Some standout features of the book include a) implmentation barriers and issues; b) table of project model (logic) checks; and c) extensive notes and a chapter on implmentation.
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The first reading about CCPM should always be "Critical Chain" (1997) by E. Goldratt. This is an easy, insightful reading, by the guy that popularized (invented?) CCPM.
Then, before attempting implementation, I suggest studying Larry Leach's (this)book. Another credible guide is "Project Management in the Fast Lane: Applying the Theory of Constraints" (1998) by Robert Newbold
Overall, this is a fine book despite some typos and minor organization flaws.
Mr. Leach has been promoting, teaching, and consulting in this area for years. It appears that the book is intended to complement his training and consulting---and that's okay. Anecdotes are frequently from questions arising at training or during client implementations. His experience shows.
Leach works to integrate concepts from theory of constraints (Goldratt), Project Management Institute's "PMBOK® Guide," lean manufacturing, and Six Sigma. He does this reasonably well, building upon and extending the foundation laid by Goldratt.
Some standout features of the book include a) implmentation barriers and issues; b) table of project model (logic) checks; and c) extensive notes and a chapter on implmentation.
----------
The first reading about CCPM should always be "Critical Chain" (1997) by E. Goldratt. This is an easy, insightful reading, by the guy that popularized (invented?) CCPM.
Then, before attempting implementation, I suggest studying Larry Leach's (this)book. Another credible guide is "Project Management in the Fast Lane: Applying the Theory of Constraints" (1998) by Robert Newbold
20 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read Goldratt's Critical Chain and was interested but had no idea what to do next other than pay him a bundle of money for a seminar.
Not the problem here. Now I understand what they are proposing and I can explore these ideas further without forking up more money... at least until I need some good training. Which has it's place... after you've decided to committ.
Not the problem here. Now I understand what they are proposing and I can explore these ideas further without forking up more money... at least until I need some good training. Which has it's place... after you've decided to committ.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have always been interested in Critical Chain from a PM perspective and, more generally, the concept of Theory of Constraints. I thought this book would be a great way to extend my knowledge of ToC and to learn about how to move away from critical path.
The real meat of this book doesn't even kick in until about Chapter 4. Prior, there are lots of thoughts about the many sins of "critical path" and how we're all doomed to failure if we don't change our ways. Then, the book starts to get into how to actually use the technique. It's a long discussion... without a lot of "knowledge checks" to make sure you understand what is going on. There are technical diagrams, lots of them, many of them without a whole lot of explanation. I found myself occasionally having to re-read sections two or three times to really understand what the author was driving at.
I'm sure this is a practical book if used as a "complete reference" but in my opinion it's not a good guide for someone who wants to understand the basics quickly and then gain extensive knowledge of the topic over time.
The real meat of this book doesn't even kick in until about Chapter 4. Prior, there are lots of thoughts about the many sins of "critical path" and how we're all doomed to failure if we don't change our ways. Then, the book starts to get into how to actually use the technique. It's a long discussion... without a lot of "knowledge checks" to make sure you understand what is going on. There are technical diagrams, lots of them, many of them without a whole lot of explanation. I found myself occasionally having to re-read sections two or three times to really understand what the author was driving at.
I'm sure this is a practical book if used as a "complete reference" but in my opinion it's not a good guide for someone who wants to understand the basics quickly and then gain extensive knowledge of the topic over time.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent good book for CCPM
I am a new starter to CCPM and TOC since last month. What I can say to this book is, you must have it on your bookshelf. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Weng Yu-sheng
unfortunate
Overall a good book. His positions on agile processes should be disregarded, as they fail to address changing requirements. Read more
Published on August 16, 2008 by M. MCKNIGHT
Must Have
I used this book as my primary reference to learn CCPM and guide me in leading a full implementation of Critical Chain PM across a complete portfolio of Pharmaceutical development... Read more
Published on February 1, 2007 by BLR, PMP
7 pages of errata - RIDICULOUS
There are 7 PAGES of errata for this title. http://www.artechhouse.com/GetBLOB.asp?Name=leach%20errata.pdf
Many of the critical figures are simply broken. Figure 3. Read more
Many of the critical figures are simply broken. Figure 3. Read more
Published on December 16, 2005
New Edition Provides and Excellent Overview
If not the actual father of CCPM, Mr. Leach is at least the midwife who has championed its cause, written the book, given the talks and done more to bring it to life than anyone... Read more
Published on March 17, 2005 by John Matlock
Not out of print!
The message that says Critical Chain Project Management is out of print is not exactly correct. It has now been published as a second edition! Read more
Published on February 12, 2005 by Larry P. Leach
Gran explicacion de la Cadena Critica
He leido Cadena Critica (Goldratt), Project Management in the Fast Line (Newbold)y Critical Chain Project Management (Leach). Read more
Published on November 16, 2002 by Victor
Experience Project Manager agrees with the Author
Review of "Critical Chain, Project Management By Lawrence P. Leach"
Critical Chain by Lawrence P. Read more
Published on November 20, 2000 by Dr. Robert R. Stiger
Fantastic coverage of PM/TOC integration
Books covers TOC integrated into Project management, with further integration of the TQM principles. Read more
Published on November 13, 2000
The Best Book on Critical Chain Yet !
If your organization finds itself mired in delays, budget overruns, and exhausted staff 'running around in circles,' critical chain project management (CCPM) deserves your... Read more
Published on September 1, 2000 by "thepmguy"
Inside This Book
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Browse and search another edition of this book.
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First Sentence:
Projects fail at an alarming rate. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
critical chain plan, drum resource, concentrating contingency, critical chain implementation, project buffer, project throughput, buffer penetration, drum schedule, multiproject constraint, critical chain solution, buffer reporting, critical chain tasks, critical chain project management, paradigm lock, feeding buffers, buffer reports, cost buffer, critical chain schedule, evaporating cloud, capacity constraint resource, task duration estimates, future reality tree, multiproject environment, project work plan, critical chain method Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, North River Press, Great Barrington, Microsoft Project, Upper Darby, Edwards Deming, Lucent Technologies, Joseph Juran, National Construction Estimator, Objective Knowledge, Project Management Body of Knowledge, Systems Approach, Clarendon Press, Implement Phase, Statistical Method, The Free Press, The New Economics New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Projects fail at an alarming rate. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
critical chain plan, drum resource, concentrating contingency, critical chain implementation, project buffer, project throughput, buffer penetration, drum schedule, multiproject constraint, critical chain solution, buffer reporting, critical chain tasks, critical chain project management, paradigm lock, feeding buffers, buffer reports, cost buffer, critical chain schedule, evaporating cloud, capacity constraint resource, task duration estimates, future reality tree, multiproject environment, project work plan, critical chain method Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, North River Press, Great Barrington, Microsoft Project, Upper Darby, Edwards Deming, Lucent Technologies, Joseph Juran, National Construction Estimator, Objective Knowledge, Project Management Body of Knowledge, Systems Approach, Clarendon Press, Implement Phase, Statistical Method, The Free Press, The New Economics New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 42
books:
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52
books
cite this book:
See all 52 books citing this book
- Critical Chain by Eliyahu M. Goldratt on 11 pages
- Theory of Constraints by Eliyahu M. Goldratt on 7 pages
- It's Not Luck by Eliyahu M. Goldratt on 4 pages
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Third Edition (PMBOK Guides) by Project Management Institute on 4 pages
- Science And Human Behavior by B.F Skinner on page 73, and page 256
See all 42 books this book cites
- Effective Project Management: Traditional, Adaptive, Extreme by Robert K. Wysocki on 8 pages
- Effective Project Management: Traditional, Adaptive, Extreme, Third Edition by Robert K. Wysocki on 7 pages
- Project Portfolio Management: A Practical Guide to Selecting Projects, Managing Portfolios, and Maximizing Benefits (Jossey-Bass Business & Management) by Harvey A. Levine on page 389, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Project Management @ Netspeed-: Trends And Techniques For The Third Millennium by Stephen B. Lafferty AIA on page 85, and Back Matter
- IT Project Portfolio Management by Stephen S. Bonham on page 177, and Back Matter
See all 52 books citing this book
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