The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management (Portable Mba Series) [Paperback]

Eric Verzuh (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470247894 | ISBN-13: 978-0470247891 | Publication Date: April 25, 2008 | Edition: 3

This is one of the bestselling books ever published on the topic of project management. Now in a revised new third edition, it presents you with a wealth of proven techniques for managing projects—from establishing project objectives to building schedules to projecting costs. It includes all the basics on defining, planning, and tracking a project, as well as building stronger project teams. This new edition includes new chapters on Agile Project Management, PMI exam prep, and more.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Until the early '90s, project management was definitely located somewhere near the unsexy end of the business spectrum. But now, with the rise of downsizing and outsourcing, it has become one of the hot disciplines. Professional membership of the U.S.-based Project Management Institute has quadrupled in the last decade, and Microsoft claimed recently to have over 2 million users worldwide of its project-management software. The reasons for this growth are simple. Project management is about managing "projects," that is, unique pieces of work (as opposed to ongoing operations). Downsizing, outsourcing, and the accelerating pace of change have meant that, increasingly, work is carried out on an ad-hoc, one-off project basis. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management is designed as an advanced textbook for businesspeople with a grasp of the basics and insufficient time (or inclination) to go back to school to learn more. Written by Eric Verzuh, president of the Versatile Company, a leading project-management consultancy, this is not a heavy academic text.

Like the rest of the Fast Forward series, this book is designed to let the reader extract maximum information in minimum time. There is a strong use of graphics with tables, charts cross-heads, and bullet points. Important passages are flagged in bold and/or emblazoned with the words key concept. When you read it, you realize that there is nothing magical about project management, just the application of careful common sense. The book covers all the basic stuff like planning, time-tabling, quantity and price estimation, resource allocation, and scheduling. But it also acknowledges that there is inevitably a political dimension to every project, no matter how small. So it has important sections on how to ensure that all the stakeholders in the project are kept "on board" and the importance of communication.

As Verzuh states in his introduction, "Every project participant from part-time team member to executive sponsor, becomes more effective once he or she understands the basics of project management." Really, this is a book about management that every manager should read, whether he or she has a project or not. --Alex Benady --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

The bestselling introduction to project management—updated and more comprehensive than ever!

This practical, easy-to-use guide gives you instant access to the cutting-edge ideas and hard-won wisdom of one of today's leading experts on project management, Eric Verzuh. Using real-world examples, Verzuh delivers all the information you need to navigate every complex project management issue. This revised Third Edition also includes downloadable, customizable forms to help you plan your project. You'll learn how to build and coordinate teams, set realistic schedules and budgets, design a plan step-by-step, manage expectations, and handle small or large projects.

As the business world has changed, so has project management—and so has this bestselling, comprehensive resource, with important new chapters on Microsoft Project, the PMP exam, and coverage of hot topics such as Enterprise Project Management, Project Portfolio Management, and applying Lean principles to project management. For the best practices and the latest advice on project management, this is the only resource you need.

From the creators of the bestselling Portable MBA series comes The Fast Forward MBA...

• A quick way to brush up on new ideas

• An easy-to-use format that fits in any briefcase

• Real-world information that you can put to use now!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 3 edition (April 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470247894
• ISBN-13: 978-0470247891
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Verzuh (Seattle, WA) is President of the Versatile Company. He and his team have spent over twenty years improving project results for all kinds of organizations, including such major corporations as Adobe Systems, Inc., The Boeing Company, GE Capital, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Nordstrom.

See his free monthly webinars by visiting his website, www.VersatileCompany.com.

He is certified by the Project Management Institute.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

292 of 296 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first Project Management book that makes sense., July 24, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management: Quick Tips, Speedy Solutions, and Cutting-Edge Ideas (Paperback)

I've purchased a number of books on Project Management. They run the gamut from dry, cryptic self-congratulatory works of academic vanity to the disorganized and insultingly simplistic (including anything with the word "idiot's" in the title).

This is the first book I've read that I would consider appropriate for both seasoned PM's and those new to the discipline.

The format is great. For someone new to Project Management it has a logical, step by step flow backed up with relevant visuals and great case studies. For the more seasoned PM it is a treasure trove of problem-solving techniques, examples and formulas. It's not a book you'll be willing to loan to your friends (my copy looks to become one of the more "dog-eared" in my collection).

I run a small company but many of my clients are quite large (the companies, not the... nevermind). The concepts in "The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management" are adaptable to any size business and any size project; the case studies range from the development of the Boeing 767-400 to how Seattle's Safeco Field keeps their grass green. If the rest of "The Fast Forward MBA" series are as strong and results-oriented as this book, I may end up getting the collection.

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All PM Professionals & Students Should Have a Personal Copy, June 9, 2000

By 

Ian Walcott (Barbados, Caribbean) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management: Quick Tips, Speedy Solutions, and Cutting-Edge Ideas (Paperback)

Verzuh's book is at the top of its class. We just recently concluded a Project Management Seminar here in Barbados and this was the text used throughout the seminar. In addition, it's one of the standard texts on our Project Management Professional Diploma Program.

What most heady and highly theoretical writers on project management tend to do in over 500 pages, Verzuh achieved in 300 pages. He was able to demystify Project Management and present it in such a way that everyone out there with an interest in the subject area could follow. It would therefore be totally incongruous to review this book in academic jargon. By the same token, it perfectly compliments some of the more abstract academic texts that are out there.

We particularly found the chapter on the Work Breakdown Structure to be very useful since most amateurs will probably just buy a software package and command it intuitively without fully understanding the logic and problem solving behind the it. Verzuh's text will definitely help you to better understand the logic behind the software.

The text is highly recommended and our students love it.

Andre Barrow & Ian Walcott

Grey's Consulting Inc. [e-mail]

83 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short, sweet and to the point, just like Eric's book., November 22, 1999

By 

Penrose Stout (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management: Quick Tips, Speedy Solutions, and Cutting-Edge Ideas (Paperback)

I teach Project Management to Fortune 100 companies and I'm a principal in an internet based project management enterprise, 'ProjectOasis.com'.

I tell my students: 'If you want 1 book that covers it all in a way you can quickly access and put to practical use then get Eric's book. The material in the book is well proven and can be applied in all industries and on all projects.'

I've seen this book stolen from conference rooms! I recommend you buy your copy... from Amazon of course.