Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams [Hardcover]

Terry Schmidt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 2009

When Fortune Magazine estimated that 70% of all strategies fail, it also noted that most of these strategies were basically sound, but could not be executed. The central premise of Strategic Project Management Made Simple is that most projects and strategies never get off the ground because of adhoc, haphazard, and obsolete methods used to turn their ideas into coherent and actionable plans. Strategic Project Management Made Simple is the first book to couple a step-by-step process with an interactive thinking tool that takes a strategic approach to designing projects and action initiatives. Strategic Project Management Made Simple builds a solid platform upon four critical questions that are vital for teams to intelligently answer in order to create their own strong, strategic foundation. These questions are:

1. What are we trying to accomplish and why?

2. How will we measure success?

3. What other conditions must exist?

4. How do we get there?

This fresh approach begins with clearly understanding the what and why of a project - comprehending the bigger picture goals that are often given only lip service or cursory reviews. The second and third questions clarify success measures and identify the risky assumptions that can later cause pain if not spotted early. The how questions - what are the activities, budgets, and schedules - comes last in our four-question system. By contrast, most project approaches prematurely concentrate on the how without first adequately addressing the three other questions. These four questions guide readers into fleshing out a simple, yet sophisticated, mental workbench called "the Logical Framework" - a Systems Thinking paradigm that lays out one's own project strategy in an easily accessible, interactive 4x4 matrix. The inclusion of memorable features and concepts (four critical questions, LogFrame matrix, If-then thinking, and Implementation Equation) make this book unique.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The business world is more demanding and competitive than ever, and the old project management tools and methods are no longer sufficient. Getting any project accomplished requires better methods to think, plan, and act to achieve successful results.

In Strategic Project Management Made Simple, Terry Schmidt offers a fresh approach specifically developed for today's challenges. This project management system provides all you need to get the results you want—whether you're a CEO, executive champion, project manager, or team member. Proven in large and small businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and global corporations alike, this system maps out a step-by-step, flexible approach to planning and executing change initiatives that work faster and more effectively than any other method.

This breakthrough combination of business strategy and project management will show you how to:

• Design practical action plans for any problem, idea, or opportunity

• Align project objectives with organizational goals, vision, and strategic intent

• Clearly communicate project strategy among stakeholders

• Discover and eliminate potential pitfalls in advance

• Get teams moving faster with clear plans that show who does what, when, and how

• Improve working relationships and reduce conflict

• Deliver on-target projects that increase performance, productivity, and profits

Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner, by mastering the art of Strategic Project Management as outlined in Strategic Project Management Made Simple, you'll multiply your ability to execute new ideas and advance your own career in the process.

From the Back Cover

Praise for TERRY SCHMIDT and STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT MADE SIMPLE

"Terry's books guide your thinking about any reasonably complex goal you're trying to achieve. I've seen very few things in this space that make sense past the paper they're written on. This is a remarkable exception." —David Allen, author, Getting Things Done

"Terry has created a powerful and actionable methodology for change. Our team at eBay got immersed in it, loved it, and have taken it to heart. I'm definitely adding this valuable tool to my management tool belt." —Arnold Goldberg, Senior Director, Systems Engineering, eBay

"Pound for pound, Terry is the world's best strategic project consultant."
—Joseph Sunio, Project Manager, Boeing

"Learn from a master as Terry offers practical hands-on tools for tackling the tough issues that keep good leaders awake at night. Terry takes you from the surreal to the real world of strategic thinking and planning." —James Whalen, Vice President, DirecTV, Inc.

"Most projects get off track because the rails have been improperly laid. Terry's insightful book provides practical ways to ensure that your rails are properly aligned." —Gordon Peters, Founding Chairman, CEO, Institute for Management Studies

"We used this method to organize and execute an awards campaign that earned numerous nominations and awards, including an Oscar®." —Don Levy, Senior Vice President, Sony Pictures Digital

"We are actively using these tools to develop global players, local champions, and knowledge entrepreneurs who make a difference in the world." —Dr. Booncharoen Sirinaovakul, PhD, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

"Terry provides a clear and compelling methodology for creating enterprise-wide strategies that integrate all of our sub departments. This is a must-read book for all leaders who want to revitalize their organization." —Dale Hough, Chief of Reengineering, Los Angeles County Assessor's Office

"This book provides concise, simple, and highly effective tools to turn problems into action plans. No project is too complex when broken down using Terry's four strategic questions and his Logical Framework tool." —Anne Wu, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, 3M Unitek

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470411589
• ISBN-13: 978-0470411582
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars logical framework inventor applauds this book, June 17, 2009

By 

Leon Rosenberg - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams (Hardcover)

I am the inventor of the Logical Framework tool Terry featured in his book. As a physicist, I saw the need for a more scientific approach to help the USAID (US Agency for International Development) do a better job of planning, implementing, and evaluating their multi-billion dollar project portfolio in developing countries. My team installed this method in USAID missions in 50 countries, and many organizations around the world have adopted it as a way of doing business.

Terry was one of the most creative consultants and trainers in my company Practical Concepts Incorporated: it was my pleasure to mentor him and work together on projects in Bangladesh, Thailand and elsewhere.

Then we lost contact until recently when, voila, he sent his book. I am pleased that it makes available some powerful and practical concepts for leaders at all levels, private and public sector.

Terry has taken my original work to another level, adding strategic questions and other features to make this approach easier to understand and use. This publication adapts the Logical Framework to a mainstream business and technical audience.

My hope is that knowledge workers of all types will recognize the power of this approach and put it to use. STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT MADE SIMPLE: PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR LEADERS AND TEAMS can help address the problems and opportunities you face.

Leon J. Rosenberg

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Notch Book on How to Apply Strategic Project Management, April 12, 2009

By 

James Brady "PhD student and IS Manager" (Valencia, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams (Hardcover)

Terry takes a novel look at project management and delivers a book that provides a comprehensive approach to applying the principles of project theory across many industries. The importance of addressing projects from a strategic perspective, something most organizations fail to consider, is clearly demonstrated. The author does an excellent job in detailing a proven approach to completing simple and complex projects, along with showing the importance of managing the strategic action cycle and people dynamics. The Logical Framework, Systems Thinking Theory, the Four Critical Questions, and the Cycle-Logical Approach are clearly described and laid out in a manner that executives, functional management, and project managers at all maturity levels can find immediately useful. Terry provides a very structured yet practical and flexible way to improve project portfolio management. If you follow the steps outlined in this text, your ability to align project activities with higher-level goals and objectives will increase substantially. A wealth of tips, tools, resources, and helpful case studies are given throughout the book. If you see the need for a more structured project management approach, one that will reflect the mission of your organization, department, or personal life, then this book needs to be one of your most often referenced resources.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A strategic management model that is a natural fit to any organization, August 2, 2009

By 

Farshad Allahdadi "Reasearch Analyst and Mana... (portland, oregon) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams (Hardcover)

Terry presents a tool and a way of thinking that is widely adaptable to the planning and execution needs of the organization, regardless of where you are on the Org-Chart. Terry demonstrates how to clearly walk through the logical connections that tie the highest level strategic objective to the lowest level activity; an essential exercise to effectively and efficiently deploy ever scarce resources. Perhaps most importantly, Terry's model provides a common platform, a foundation, for organizational leadership and staff to understand how their work contributes to the organization's success, and aligning their efforts toward those ends.

In sea of jargon and ad hoc tools, Terry presents a simple, natural, way of tying it all together. Regardless if you or your organization are just starting down the road of strategic management, or you have a well-established process in place for making strategic decisions, Terry's book provides insight; identifies the right questions to ask; and gives a framework for organizing and prioritizing the steps for your success.