Customer Reviews

Project Planning Scheduling and Control: A Hands-On Guide to Bringing Projects In On Time and On Budget

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If more project people read, practised and internalized the principles in this book, fewer projects would be out of control. I've been through the text completely, twice, and refer to the sample forms and checklists, often. Have recomended the text to client project leaders who are new to the concept. The Checklist for Managing Projects in the Appendix is a must have for the PM controlling the team. The first few chapters speak to the people side of project management. The middle section is devoted to the computations, PERT, and other statistical measures of project tracking. The final chapters ease back into the management styles needed, dealing with resistence, how to mold the team, and leaves the reader fairly optimistic that the project can be had on time and on budget.

I have been in the project management field for over a decade now. The beauty of this book is that it contains the "backbone" of the steps required to manage medium to large-scale projects. It is an easy read, succinct and concise, and it fits easily in your briefcase or on your bookshelf.

I for one have used this book to model many of my projects - especially when I formed a project office when I started with a new company. The PM flowchart (I believe it is now called the Lewis PM Process Flow or similar) is a very handy checklist to ensuring you are properly establishing your project, controlling your project, and closing out the project.

I recommend this to all junior PM's as a fundamental read. I believe it belongs in the library of senior PM's, since it reinforces what we should know (but have probably neglected or forgotten). It should serve as a handy reference to all level of PM's.

One comment I would add, again related to the flow chart - use it to cross-reference the chapters to the related process.

Project Planning Scheduling And Control - Revised Edition James P Lewis McGraw-Hill ISBN-1-55738-869-5 If you are, or want to become a project manager or indeed do any work in connection with the management of projects then this book is essential reading matter. As the tittle implies this book is predominantly about the project planning, control and the techniques used to help achieve the management of successful projects. It does however also discuss, although in less detail, other management areas, including the management, motivation and control of people working on projects. The topic of this book is such a huge subject it is unrealistic to believe that it is possible that one book could cover, in depth, every conceivable area in relation to this subject. Indeed there are hundreds of books on the market that discuss single project management techniques in detail and as such this book does not attempt to make the reader an expert in every possible area of this subject. This book does however attempt to impart knowledge, to the reader, to a level that they are able to understand and apply the tool and methods discussed within. Because of this book can be a useful aid to both a new comer to the subject or a manager that has been working form many years. Neither type of reader will be left grappling for understanding or be left feeling that they are being treated far below their level. If a reader wishes to gain a deeper understanding of any of the topics discuss this book also contains many references and recommendations of books to read to do so. As well as explaining much of the current knowledge of this topic it aids the teaching of these ideas by making you think about the ideas that are being expressed with the aid of stories of real life situations and anecdotes By doing this James Lewis is able to display the advantages, pitfalls of these methods and the common misconceptions and misunderstandings that can make the application of these ideas a success or failure. I can only recommend that every one connected with project management reads this book and retains a copy on their desk for future reference guidance.

I thought so much of this book that I recommend it to all new project managers in my company. Considering both the human and technical sides of project management, the book provides a great step by step approach to the subject. It is this direct applicability to the work of a project manager that makes the book so good. The Project Management Institute's Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) gives information about all aspects of project management - James Lewis's book brings this to life by showing you how to actually execute many of the processes. If I was ever to write a book about project management, which I might, it would probably look like this book, so it saves me the effort!

I'm not a project manager by training, (I've had no formal 'lessons' in the craft,) but I do perform the work of a PM, and this book has been a life-saver at times. It has helped me understand the basics of what I need to do in my current role, and helped me understand what to focus on first to ensure I don't flounder too much. Thank you Mr. Lewis for putting this book together! (I also have your more basic "Fundamentals of Project Management" paperback, also a good buy!

I haven't completely read the book yet, but it's been very helpful so far. The book is definitely a page turner and does not get too wrapped up on dry theory. The author rapidly fires through most all of the key topics for project management, often citing experts in the field that you can read to learn more.

The author points out that most projects fail because of poor definition. It's unfortunate his book doesn't fully describe how to prevent this, especially when it comes to really connecting to customers and understand what they need out of the project. This might be very obvious if your customers of the project work in your same firm. Of course you may also be the customer of the project. If you're not though, you're going to need more than this book to deliver the *right* product.

I only read this book because it was a requirement for a college course. Turns out the book is interesting enough to keep my attention. Large print makes for a quick and easy read. Plenty of diagrams as well.

While the content is informative and the reading quite easy, I found the index to be quite inadequate. It really limits the ability to easily locate topics/terms.

The author presents practical information in an easy and readible manner. I found the book extremely useful and would recommend it for all but the most advanced project managers.

I am a student in the Project Management Program at Northwestern University, this book will give you the fundamental of Project Management, graphic and explanation are great.