Customer Reviews

Project Management for Trainers

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For trainers and learning professional, this is indispensable reading as it helps systemize and organize any training and learning project in a manner that ensures delivery on time and stakeholders' satisfaction: two things that I previously thought were almost impossible to achieve simultaneously!

This book assumes a basic knowledge of project management and helps focus the reader's attention on how to apply and customize this knowledge to learning and training projects. Beginning with defining the project and communicating it to stakeholders to the final evaluation stages; no aspect of the project has been ignored. Lou Russell liberally provides tools, templates, and ideas that can help organize the whole project from A - Z as well as practical exercises and activities at the end of every chapter that "do the work for you" should you have picked the book to help you through a particular project. In fact, I highly recommend using it while in the process of planning and delivering a training program.

Russell takes you through the project management process in nine chapters:

1: Beginning the project - an introduction to key concepts and ideas.
2: Defining the Project - From business objectives to issues and constraints, this is the initial stage of the project.
3: Panning the project - Help for building the project plan, calculating schedules and finalizing learning objectives.
4: A Course Development Template - Lou Russell relies on the Accelerated Learning framework for developing training, but I found his approach equally effective with the ISD model as well.
5: Managing the project - I found this chapter extremely useful as it focuses on elements that trainers might not think of like risk, monitoring criteria, and constraints.
6: Reviewing the project - The evaluation stage of any training implementation project.
7: Managing Performance Consulting Projects - Using the project management framework for performance consulting.
8: A Template for Managing external Suppliers - An ultra useful chapter on identifying the optimum supplier for your learning needs.
9: The Project begins - Summary and checklists for the start-up.

Project Management for Trainers is an outstanding book. It provides clear and concise information on developing and managing a successful learning event.
Lou's book provides real-world answers to the complex challenges we learning professionals face on a daily basis.
The diagrams and checklists make the book a very practical tool that I turn to again and again. I bought a copy for everyone on my staff, and I always see their copy out on their desk--not on the shelf.

Unlike many other project management "how to" books this book is for real. The contents are laid out in a logical sequence with practical and useful tools. The exercises and templates are realistic and applicable to what training project managers need. This is one book we never have to take off the shelf because it never makes it to the shelf!

when your manager recommends a book for you to read "to further develop your skills", you do it. I would have much rather read "The Alphabet of Manliness" or "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell". That said, this book offered a great perspective on project management, especially how it applies to a learning and development role. Many project managers have the methodologies but dont have a good grasp on applying them to L&D. This book can help with that if you have the time to read it.