Project Management Theory and Practice

Book excerpt: Although there are numerous project management resources available, most are either too academic, focus too heavily on IT, or provide quick-fix advice without the theory required to understand why the solutions work. Following and expanding on PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®), Project Management Theory and Practice provides students with a complete overview of project management theory—in language they can easily understand. This classroom-tested textbook translates the abstract model vocabulary and processes from A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), Fourth Edition into accessible discussions complete with contemporary views and projections for the future. The text integrates the organizational environment that surrounds a project to supply students with the well-rounded knowledge of theories, organizational issues, and human behavior needed to manage real-world projects effectively. Providing a clear picture of the state of the art in project management, it details numerous project-related frameworks, including: Enterprise project management Project portfolio management Work breakdown structures Earned value management Professional responsibility Project team productivity The text reaches beyond traditional core project management topics to include discussions on enterprise maturity, virtual and outsourced organizations, project management offices, operational governance, and multi-project management. Filled with numerous end-of-chapter questions, scheduling and budgeting problems, scoping projects, and sample worksheets that illustrate various analytical tools and management decisions, this is the ideal text for classroom use and essential reading for anyone seeking project management certification.