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Project Management for Dummies [Paperback]

Stanley E. Portny (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)


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Paperback, January 15, 2000 --  
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Project Management For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)) Project Management For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)) 4.2 out of 5 stars (32)
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Book Description

For Dummies (Computer/Tech) January 15, 2000
Projects have been around since ancient times. Noah built the ark, Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine – all projects. Why then, is the topic of project management suddenly of such great interest today? The answer is simple. The audience has changed and the stakes are higher.

Successful businesses and organizations create projects that produce desired results in established timeframes with assigned resources. As a result, businesses are increasingly driven to find individuals who can excel in this project-oriented environment. And that's where this guide comes into play.

Reading Project Management For Dummies could help a diverse group of people, some of which include the following:

  • Senior managers and junior assistants (the senior managers of tomorrow)
  • Experienced project managers and people who've never been on a project team
  • People who've had significant project management training and people who've had none
  • People who've had years of real-world business and government experience and people who've just entered the workforce

By reading this guide, you'll gain insight into beginning a project, supporting it throughout its life, and bringing it to a successful closure. You'll discover how to manage the uncertainties surrounding a project, and uncover the definitions to the most common project management terms. And you'll figure out how to handle some of the more common project management situations you'll encounter, from dealing with the people involved to organizing the mountains of paperwork.

While most businesses are looking for ways to get a better handle on their projects, what no one is saying is that the majority of people who become project managers aren't doing so by choice. Instead, project management is often an unexpected but required progression in their chosen career paths. Think of this guide as a friend or comfortable resource that has more to share each time you crack it open as you experience new situations in which you can apply the knowledge.



Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Real-life examples show how to handle typical problems

The fun and easy way(r) to lead a project successfully from start to finish Whether you're preparing an important presentation on your own or heading up a task force of several dozen people, managing a project means dealing with schedules, budgets, deadlines - and pressure. Relax! This friendly guide delivers the practical know-how you need to manage your resources and get the job done - on time and within budget.

Discover how to: Develop schedules Build a project team Work within your budget Manage risk and uncertainty Motivate people who don't report to you Use technology to stay on track

The Dummies Way(TM)Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun "Stan Portny is the best in the field." - Maggie Grace, Education and Training Administrator, U.S. Air Force

Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily(TM) e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers

About the Author

Stanley E. Portny, PMP, is a renowned project-management consultant who has trained more than 25,000 people in over 100 organizations, including Hewlett-Packard and AT&T.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 350 pages
  • Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (January 15, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 076455283X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0764552830
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #408,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stanley E. Portny, president of Stanley E. Portny and Associates, LLC, is an internationally recognized expert in project management and leadership with 28 years experience.

 

Customer Reviews

32 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (13)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (32 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

118 of 119 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Pragmatic, Insightful and Extremely Helpful Resource, June 11, 2005
This review is from: Project Management for Dummies (Paperback)
I don't normally post reviews of books I read. However, this time I am making an exception; and I hope you take a moment to read this, if you are seriously considering buying this book.

I have been performing projects for several years at work; but recently, I began to receive expanded project responsibilities. I have never had formal project management training; and I decided it was time to look for resources to help me improve my planning and management practices. My boss and several colleagues highly recommended this book; and, after reading it, I can see why.

This book is a wonderful resource for anyone who plans and performs projects. The author takes what could certainly be a very complex and dry topic and makes it seem logical and easy to apply in many different situations. His examples are to the point and easy to relate to. His discussions on several topics (for example, assigning team member roles, defining outcomes, identifying work to be performed) helped me see why several projects with which I had been involved in the past had failed. His insights on how to ensure the tools and techniques are used most effectively are invaluable.

I was able immediately to start using many of the techniques at my job; and I saw their positive effects almost at once. I felt I had greater control over what happened in all aspects of my projects. I was even able to influence team members' behavior on some of the larger projects on which I was working.

What really motivated me to write this review, however, was a review by Joseph Dewey that I saw on this site before I bought this book. After I read the book, I realized that, sadly, his "review" consisted mainly of a combination of unsubstantiated criticisms ("this is a bad book", "(the author) is a bad author", "(the author) is arrogant", etc.) and grossly exaggerated or just plain false statements ("I'm not kidding, every one of the 100 examples in this book follows the same model", "all the techniques sound the same", etc.).

I understood that this review reflected the feelings and opinions of one person. However, it occurred to me that someone who had not read the book might read this review and actually believe some of what it says. And I truly feel it would be a shame, if this review caused even one person to miss out on this uniquely valuable resource. If you are seriously looking for insights and approaches to help you dramatically improve your project performance, I strongly suggest you buy this book.
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110 of 130 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Too Basic, November 26, 2001
By 
agkeene (Birmingham, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Project Management for Dummies (Paperback)
Individuals with any experience in running a project, whether it is a small focused job or a large-scale product development effort, will find subject treatises too fundamental. The chapters lack the in-depth coverage and focus as the apparent goal is to present a broad-based overview of basic concepts in the field of project management.

Here is a guideline to use in deciding whether or not to purchase this book:
How comfortable are you with using the Microsoft Project software?
If you are very comfortable with MS Project, I recommend that you try "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" instead.
If you have never used MS Project and/or have no idea what it does, then you should probably buy this book.

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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Useful and Enjoyable, January 11, 2001
This review is from: Project Management for Dummies (Paperback)
Stan is an excellent trainer (I have attended 2 of his courses), and it turns out he is a good writer, too! He presents PM concepts and tools in an easy-to-understand way with great real-life examples. As a new PM, I have found this book to be a great reference as well as good "flip-through" reading.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Successful organizations create projects that produce desired results in established timeframes with assigned resources. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
conceive phase, work effort estimates, flour project, nonpersonnel resources, audience list, milestone method, activity interdependencies, project audiences, indirect cost rate, project drivers, resources matrix, intermediate milestones
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Statement of Work, Linear Responsibility Chart, Person Loading Chart, Skills Roster, Microsoft Project, Human Resources Matrix, Microsoft Access, United States, Defining Team, Smith Apr, Smith Feb, Use What You'll Have, Using the Experience You've Gained
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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