Customer Reviews

The Strategic Project Leader: Mastering Service-Based Project Leadership (PM Solutions Research)

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In section two of his book, Mr. Ferraro writes:

"In project management, leadership is desperately needed; leadership that is adaptable, perceptive, timely, meaningful, authentic, and unselfish."

This one sentence sums up the core of The Strategic Project Leader's message: Project leaders, not project processes, are the future for project management. As the first section carefully lays out, the codification and standardization of project management knowledge has created a commoditized service that can be bought and sold like any other product. However, project managers can resist the force of commoditization by adding personal value to their organizations through leadership.

Ferraro defines a new role for the project manager seeking to be the spearhead of change - the service-based project leader. As the book points out, this role of 'Project Leader' is an area of untapped potential in project management. This kind of leadership requires a project manager to provide service not only to a sponsor but to all the project's stakeholders. By truly serving the needs of organizations and individuals, project leaders find themselves doing meaningful work, a factor that is linked to personal growth and great job satisfaction. Due to the highly personal and individual nature of leadership, it cannot be codified and standardized into a 'methodology.'

The first section of the book is devoted to this idea of leadership in project management and provides guidance as to how to step up into a leadership role. However, Ferraro also introduces several critical topics not usually found in project management books. He discusses the importance of establishing trust-based relationships with clients, and putting the needs of the client first, ideas that are central to high-level project leadership.

The second section of the book provides more concrete information in the form of a `leadership competency framework' that is comprised of five `core competencies'. This competency framework is presented in the form of a pyramid:

* Project & Program Management Knowledge, Skill & Experience
* Subject Matter Expertise
* Trust-based Relationships
* Consultative Leadership
* Courage

While knowledge of project management processes is necessary as the base of this pyramid, project leaders must move beyond this to become true consultative leaders.

The third section helps the reader create practical self-development plans - a step-by-step guide to improving leadership skills. The final section, written by Roberta Hill, provides a detailed overview of a variety of assessment methods.

Smoothly written and easy to read, The Strategic Project Leader is an indispensable guide to anyone looking to be a leader among project managers.

Having worked with Jack in the past, I know that he actually practices what he preaches and with tremendous success. His knowledge of project management shines through in this book in a way that is easy to grasp for the reader. I am certain that anyone who reads this book will be a better, more strategic leader because of it.

I was very impressed with his book. As a new project manager this book was very helpful and motivating. I especially learned a lot about trusting my staff and as I applied the techniques, I could see a real improvement in my team's outcomes. I would strongly recommend this to any leader.

While the rest of the world moves down the project management path heading to commoditization, Jack Ferraro faces the future and proposes an alternative to becoming a commodity in the Project Management field. He proposes a model for becoming a service-based project leader.
The book is divided into four sections:
In the first section he defines the new project leader. Jack suggests there are opportunities to differentiate oneself by focusing on the customer and their needs. This presents a significant value proposition for a project leader. Many books talk about serving the customer but he gives detailed information about how to establish the trust & relationship that will bring value.
Section two presents the MyProjectAdvisor Leadership Competency framework.He puts forth a 5-layer Leadership Competency Pyramid:
1. Knowledge, skills & experience
2. Subject matter expertise
3. Trust-based relationships
4. Consultative leadership
5. Courage
Section three offers self-directed development to get the reader to a higher level of project leadership.
The final section discusses various assessment tools that are commonly available. He also discusses the 360 degree feedback. In the final chapter he discusses team effectiveness but it is very basic knowledge and seems to be an afterthought that does not add to the rest of the book.
Appendix B, the Self-directed Project Leadership Workbook, leads the reader through a structured assessment to determine your current level of leadership.
There were many thought provoking ideas in this book that instructs the reader on how to achieve a higher level of leadership & service to key stakeholders.

Mr. Ferraro's book is an excellent read.
With insights such as: "In the past much focus has been placed on project management problem-solving skills. However, this focus tends to lead to a project team getting bogged down in viewing their projects as a set of problems that have to be solved." I know Mr. Ferraro has the experience to make meaningful suggestions, and he does.

This book has many great suggestions for taking project management to the next level.

Guy