Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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. greysconsulting@sunbeach.net

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.

While my favorite text on project management is Visualizing Project Management, this handly treasure chest of PM knowledge and techniques is my constant companion. It is much more than a quick reference quide - it contains a lot of information that I haven't stumbled across in any other project management book, such as metrics, estimating techniques and sound advice on a number of PM topics that are presented concisely. In other words, this book has a lot of meat and no fluff.

If you are starting out as a project manager I recommend Visualizing Project Management as your first book. However, if you are a practicing and experienced project manager this is "must-have". And the price is right! When was the last time you found a decent book on project management (or any other technical or business subject) priced below $15.00? Price aside, the value of this book is the content and the fact that it covers project management the way it should be covered: work breakdown structures, risk management, earned value and other controls. I strongly recommend this book.

I work for a major airline in NY and I am presently involved in the certification program to become a Project Manager. I am studying with the PMBOK Group and have just completed the Project Management Module of courses including the simulation exam. I have purchased several books on the subject of Project Managment however I have found the: Fast Forward MBA in Project Management to be the most useful.

Each chapter is broken down into key areas which can adapt to any skill level of a Project Manager. The one chapter which was especially informative and helpful to me was in regards to the: Work Breakdown Structure (Chapter 6). Once a new student understands the concept of the WBS you have a strong foundation for what Project Management stands for.

I consistently reference this book as I continue my studies and learn each new area of Project Management. This is a definite MUST HAVE book for a Project Manager's library.

As someone who has performed a bit of project management in the Aerospace industry I can honestly say how much I wished I had read this book BEFORE I started doing PM. Without it I got by, through hard work, trying to apply common sense, and the luck of having great bosses. But it was painful nonetheless and often felt like I was walking an icy tightrope in pitch-black.

I did about a year of PM on a small project and the moved onto more design related work on a larger effort. This book cleared up everything that didn't quite click about PM while I was doing it, and it would have absolutely helped out if I had read it before hand. It also helps you understand how any work you do fits into the big picture, wheter it is PM or not, and will help you do it better with an eye towards continuous improvement and learning from history.

Also having recently gotten a Master's degree in engineering yet never having been exposed to project management at school I can say what a dis-service that is to college students (particularly engineers and other knowledge workers.) There really should be a project management requirement class built around this book for any good engineering school.

The book is broken into steps and chapters that guide you sequentially through the project management process. It is written in a very easy to understand, poignant, and concise manner. There is a little repetition but only to make sure the most important ideas sink in, and to show you they are important by showing how often they arise in doing project management. The book is also very hands-on, and can be used as a how-to guide. You don't even have to read the entire book to begin applying it. You can apply it as you learn, and at 12 chapters long you can read it quickly if you commit to a chapter a day.

An excellent book that will introduce you to all the basics of project management in an applied manner. Extremely useful and a MUST read for anyone not only doing project management, but working on projects!

This is an very good book for a beginning or intermediate Project Manager. The author lays out the concepts of project management in a structured, well-though through pattern. The chapters are well-ordered and concepts build nicely as you move throught the chapters.

In many ways it is a good idea to read this book before working with a Project Management software package. One will move much faster along the learning curve on a project management application, like Microsoft Project, by reading this book prior to touching the program.

Regardless of the industry, or function in which you may be managing projects, this book will help you design and build a solid project management process.

I have been teaching a PMP preparation class for several years now and I recommend this book to every one of my students because it fits and supports the strategy which I stress: concepts, concepts, concepts - if you get the concepts, the rest (processes, formulas, techniques, etc.) comes easier. I recommend this book because it nails the concepts consistent with PMI's PMBOK guide plus it provides an approach to the application of these concepts in the workplace. If you're preparing for the PMP exam or just need a guide to help improve your project management skills, I highly recommend "The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, Second Edition."

Rare is a book that is both easily readable but content rich. This book is one such.

Project Management is both art and science. In the art part comes all the leadership skills and people skills that you acquire through life experiences.

There is also a large "science" part to Project Management. To be effective as a Project Manager you need the right methods, the right tools and techniques. This is where the book comes in handy.

The book is a very good exposition of the methods, tools and techniques of Project Management. It is easy without being simplistic. There is good advice to be had for each phase of the project. Much of the advice presented is applicable to a wide variety of domains (e.g. Construction, Software, etc).

I find this book immensely useful in my role as Technical Manager. While the author expects you to learn the art from your own experiences, he teaches you a lot of the science.

As a welcome added bonus, the book is both thin and inexpensive.

I've taken about $5000 worth of PM classes, and I sure do wish that I had this book in the beginning. It explains in simple language many of the concepts that were hard to comprehend. The explaination of how to calculate cost & schedule variance alone is worth the cost of the book. Covered everything from the classes I've taken. Better than books I've paid 3 times as much for.