37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Valuable insights, effectively delivered!, December 8, 2007
This review is from: Scrappy Project Management: The 12 Predictable and Avoidable Pitfalls Every Project Faces (Paperback)
Unlike other project management books which I left largely unread on my bookshelf, I enjoyed going through this book from cover to cover. It provided very practical advice that are compact and to the point: focus on the customer, plan, communicate widely and often, prioritize, celebrate success, ...
What's great about this book is the style in which it's delivered. The real world stories, annecdotes, famous quotes and the author's unique sense of humor to illustrate the points and make them more memorable. E.g., on the need for clear goals: "When I was young, I always wanted to BE somebody when I grew up. I just wish I'd been more specific." (Lily Tomlin); on the need to prioritize: "What to do if you must choose between your heart, your lungs, and your kidneys?"; on the gap between knowledge and action: "Common Sense is NOT common practice"; and on keeping a positive attitude: "Success consists of going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." (Winston Churchill).
The book also provides a set of checklists, sample diagrams and templates to be used in managing the project and communicating with the team and executives. I find the use of ranges for time estimates particularly useful, since it reflects the uncertain nature of project estimates a bit more accurately than a single number.
While this book isn't the most comprehensive project management book, it does cover the major points to help achieve success. If you're a team lead, project or functional manager, this book will arm you with valuable insights and motivate you to avoid common and deadly project pitfalls. I only wished I had followed many of the advice in the book. It's too late for me, but you can still save yourself by reading and following it :-).
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Handbook for Fearless Leadership, October 13, 2007
This review is from: Scrappy Project Management: The 12 Predictable and Avoidable Pitfalls Every Project Faces (Paperback)
Kimberly Wiefling's Scrappy Project Management isn't just a text with a list of must-dos for project methodology; it's a blueprint for high-end corporate capital-L Leadership. I don't know if it's her knowledge of the scientific method (Wiefling is a trained physicist), her unflinching honesty, or her sense of humor, but she combines relevant and powerful insights about fearless project leadership that even a seasoned--or world weary--project manager needs.
Unlike most project management books, Scrappy Project Management is immensely readable. It's funny and edgy; more than one analogy made me literally laugh aloud. It's concise and easy to read, but not fluffy. More importantly, though, Wiefling's methods are supported by numerous concrete examples, not just vague buzzwords or motivational clichés like we've all heard before. There's solid irrefutable documentation of her assertions about marketing, product development, science, engineering, and organizational psychology.
You certainly don't need an MBA to understand or glean important concepts from Scrappy Project Management, but it's easy to see how formal business training would be acutely enhanced by certain chapters, specifically the ones on risk management, shareholder expectations, and project changes.
Wiefling's unabashed honesty doesn't sugarcoat perhaps the most important fact that I've never seen in any other book: "the role of a project leader cannot be successfully filled by anyone who can't put his or her job on the line in pursuit of doing the right thing." Notice that she doesn't say "in pursuit of getting the product shipped". Wiefling is focusing on the quality and effectiveness of project work, a complete and unrepentant "obsession" with the customer, and creating a motivational framework for both the organization and the consumer--practices that are both essential and profitable. This type of determined focus can apply to any type of organization or product, and in the age of mass global competition, is absolutely necessary for survival.
From a subjective, occasionally more social-science perspective, Scrappy Project Management addresses self-imposed limitations, assumptions, and employee appreciation. Wiefling's chapter "Lessons Not Learned" where she says "Learn from experience...make new and more exciting mistakes each time" turns what appears to be a tongue-in-cheek suggestion into an unflinching and blunt observation about project calamity: "Whatever the cause, allowing your team to fail for entirely predictable reasons is inexcusable."
Happily surprising and informative was the chapter on communication. On the second page, I immediately identified a problem I've had as a PM with organizations ranging from small non-profits to the world's largest software company--sending a critical project document as an email attachment (or putting it on a network share) to solicit feedback and receiving none. Wiefling accurately pinpoints our over-reliance on certain forms of electronic communication and offers up several creative and (empirically proven) successful alternatives for attention-grabbing communication, even with co-located teams. Specific examples for clever communication emphasize principles of viral marketing from the restroom to your computer's screensaver. It's bold, it's innovative, it's guerrilla--and people pay attention.
If I were to change anything about Wiefling's work, I'd ask for more information about ensuring project success as an individual contributor; the book appears aimed at senior managers and decision makers. Though the principles of customer devotion and "doing the right thing" can be adapted for all team members, a lower-level employee or team member may feel hesitant about incorporating such bold actions into their work life. (I'd love to see this sort of Scrappy Guide aimed at fresh college grads.) Another interesting addition would be the inclusion of certain types of team dysfunctions that are especially hard to overcome like ageism, sexism, and broken management structures. Most of all, I wish the book had an index--the chapters have so much information that it would be nice to be able to look for a specific topic or cross-reference topics from multiple chapters.
It's apparent Wiefling is passionate about her work and she makes it abundantly clear that project management is not for the faint of heart or the apathetic team leader. She's unapologetic about expectations, leadership, and making tough decisions about priorities. She's inspiring and realistic; it'll be hard, but it's worth the price.
This is a book for professionals who want to achieve greatness and demonstrate fearless leadership: for their companies, for their customers, for their teams, and for themselves.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A powerful real-world reference you'll laugh your way through, November 15, 2007
This review is from: Scrappy Project Management: The 12 Predictable and Avoidable Pitfalls Every Project Faces (Paperback)
I had the pleasure of working with Kimberly for about a year and a half. She was my project management mentor, and I miss her guidance and inspiration dearly. This book is the next best thing - a dose of Kimberly in my pocket. I pull it out when I need a shot of reality fed to me with a healthy helping of humor, and it gets me back in the game.
My copy of this book is underlined and highlighted, the corners are folded down, and I have post it notes sticking out every which way. For a short book, it sure has a lot packed into it, and surprise, surprise - it's information I can actually use! I suppose that's why it's sitting on my desk next to my computer, and not sleeping on my shelf. Thanks Kimberly!
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