Customer Reviews

Modern Project Management : Successfully Integrating Project Management Knowledge Areas and Processes

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Modern Project Management does an excellent job of blending Modern Project Management ideas in concert with the latest IT methodology. The book is easy to understand and presents topics not found in similar books. The included software uses the excellent Access database system, which is another winner. I also discovered if you register on their web site you could request the latest Version II software update. Best book on this topic I have seen.

In Modern Project Management, Dr. Howes dispels the common misconception that "scheduling" alone delivers effective project management. This book bridges the gap left by schedule-oriented software packages by guiding the user to first employ critical, upfront thinking that will yield effective, efficient project planning. Modern Project is a must read for new project managers and seasoned veterans. Its straightforward philosophy and innovative tools will consistently yield predictable and repeatable results regardless of the project at hand. The accompanying project management system found on the enclosed CD is a valuable complement to the Microsoft Project scheduling tool. It includes an automated interface to Microsoft Project that allows one to transfer the Microsoft scheduling dates into the Modern Project software.

I was lucky enough to read this book before it became generally available. Mr. Howes has distilled a lot of wisdom, insight and superb project management technique into this book. The methods of top-down quantitative and qualitative project management methods (with supporting software) will help keep the biggest and smallest projects out of trouble.

Doesn't cover every aspect of PM but every aspect it covers is done very well. An easy read that can change how you do things. The enclosed software reinforces your knowledge.

I concur with other reviewers that this book is
extremely valuable, insightful, and comprehensive. It
provides clarification of several Project Management
concepts that are typically glossed over and sometimes
completely ignored in other texts. Perhaps the most
important contribution the author makes is in his
explanation of the subtleties of Earned Value - the
primary measurement for a project's performance. Many
Project Managers that I have worked with do not
understand how to measure Earned Value and end up with
incorrect measurements, or simply fail to use this
critical indicator altogether. I recommend this book to
all project managers who want clarification on this and
other topics that will help them improve their own
performance as managers.

This book focuses on modern project management concepts and techniques, but covers the standard stuff like what you will find in the PMI PMBOK. The project management system that comes on the CD with the book contains tools you won't find even in expensive PM systems. There are at least a couple dozen tools on the CD and an example project you can use to try the tools out on.

I have never seen a project management system that does so much and costs so little. It's worth buying the book just to get the Modern Project toolset that is distributed on a CD with the book. You can also get an upgraded version, suitable for really large projects .... The book is also a great read. It explains a lot of things like how to quantitatively measure productivity and how to easily make accurate forecasts that I have never seen in project management books before.

I've served as a project and program manager for two decades, and Howes's new book, "Modern Project Management" is the best treatise I've seen on the topic. The book provides a wealth of information for both the new and seasoned manager. Howes provides a copious life-cycle approach to project management. The work opens with a chapter on the critical planning stage of a project, and unfolds systematically; providing excellent models for project monitoring, evaluation, productivity metrics, risk management, and even an excellent chapter on rescuing failed projects. Another big plus is the Access database system that is included with the book, which provides automation support for Howes's management models. This book is a big winner, a must read for the serious manager, and all others interested in pursuing a management track in their careers.

Whereas most so-called project management books do not deal with project management at all, and those that do rely on intuition and some experience, Dr Howes bases his method and supporting tools on vast experience and mathematics. This is crucial for those that need to manage complex projects, because now, finally, there is a solid and scientific basis for making decisions. Even though the underlying mathematics may be unpleasant reading for some, the technique can be understood and the tools cen be used without deep mathematical knowledge; this is quite an achievement! A must for anyone involved in project management!

It is a pleasure to find a comprehensive text that provides the type of information necessary to easily keep track of my ongoing tasks and projects. This book is filled with numerous facts and background information from a real management perspective. I personally found it a useful reference from the moment I started chapter 1, and have accessed it on several occassions since. Howes provides a good read and timely information on all levels. I would recommend every serious project manager keep a copy nearby for quick reference and application.