An Introduction to Project Management, Third Edition: With Brief Guides to Microsoft Project 2007 and @task [Paperback]

Kathy Schwalbe (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0615308910 | ISBN-13: 978-0615308913 | Publication Date: August 3, 2009

Note: The revised version of this book came out in late April 2010. The only changes are corrections and Appendix A being based on Project 2010 versus 2007. You can get the Project 2007 guide free from the author's Web site. An Introduction to Project Management, Third Edition offers a general yet concise introduction to project management. This book provides up-to-date information (based on the 2008 PMBOK Guide) on how good project, program, and portfolio management can help you achieve organizational success. It includes over 50 samples of tools and techniques applied to one large project, and it is suitable for all majors, including business, engineering, healthcare, and more. This text uses a chronological approach to project management, with detailed explanations and examples for initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing projects.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kathy Schwalbe is a tenured Professor at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, primarily teaching courses in project management and problem solving for business. A professional working in the industry for ten years prior to entering academia in 1991, she is currently an active member of the Project Management Institute. Kathy earned her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, her MBA at Northeastern University, and her B.S. in mathematics at the University of Notre Dame.

Product Details

• Paperback: 530 pages
• Publisher: Kathy Schwalbe, LLC (August 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615308910
• ISBN-13: 978-0615308913
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Project Management
  • #66 in Books > Computers & Technology > Microsoft > Applications

More About the Author

I am a tenured college professor, author, consultant, and active PMI member, having served on the local and national levels. My Information Technology Project Management, now in its sixth edition, sold over 200,000 copies and was translated into Chinese,Japanese, Russian, and Czech. I also have another book, Introduction to Project Management, now in its third edition. My first full-time job was as a project manager in the Air Force in the early eighties. Before entering academia in 1991, I also worked on various projects at Boeing and Clark Oil. I enjoy teaching project management and other courses at Augsburg College, writing books and articles, consulting, and taking time to enjoy life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent resource, January 16, 2010

By 

Julie S. Erndt (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Project Management, Third Edition: With Brief Guides to Microsoft Project 2007 and @task (Paperback)

I must say this is one of the best books I have found to teach an introductory course in project management. It is flexible enough to use for both undergraduate and graduate courses. The third edition follows the latest PMBOK Guide, so it's a great resource for anyone planning to take the PMP exam. This book goes beyond just preparing students for an exam by including lots of information on "how" to perform various project management tasks. I really like the way a concept is explained and then an example is provided on how to apply that concept. There are several exercises and team projects to help reinforce student learning. There are also many real-world references showing how organizations do things right and wrong in project management, plus new xkcd cartoons to lighten things up. I applaud the author for self-publishing this third edition after Cengage decided not to update it. Yes, there are dozens of introductory project management books on the market, but this one is comprehensive, easy-to-read, includes a great free Web site with templates, interactive quizzes, Jeopardy-like games, etc., plus the price is right! Why should we make our students spend over $100 on a dry textbook when they can get this one and actually read it for under $60? The new appendices with guides to using Project 2007 and @task (the leading web-based PM software) are excellent. The instructor materials are also outstanding, and the author is very responsive to instructor inputs. I highly recommend this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Introduction to Project Management - Third Edition, December 30, 2009

By 

Andrew Shulick (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Project Management, Third Edition: With Brief Guides to Microsoft Project 2007 and @task (Paperback)

The third edition is an outstanding introduction to Project Management. It is written in a style that makes it very enjoyable to read and hard to put down. The integration of basic Project Management methodology, graphics/tables, and actual examples of What Went Wrong, What Went Right, etc. provide a means to gain a very good, basic understanding of Project Management. The use of a case study from the beginning to the end of the text to illustrate the methodology presented transforms the presented theory into an understandable, real life situation. In addition, the companion website and industry references provide unlimited additional material to gain in-depth Project Management knowledge. The text is a "must have tool" for the beginner and a "required reference" for the professional.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Needs work, August 18, 2010

By 

The candidate - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to Project Management, Third Edition: With Brief Guides to Microsoft Project 2007 and @task (Paperback)

The book is based on best practice theory. It's a shame it does not take the reader of the book into account by pointing out the benefits and motivation of such practices, because of the temporal nature of these project management theories. While the fundamentals are solid and useful the text book fails to predict or foresee various project management schemes and layouts that might be more interactive and exciting for the reader.