Project Planning, Scheduling, and Control A Hands-on Guide to Bringing Projects in on Time And on Budget

Practical strategies for managing each phase of a professional projectSince 1992, Project Planning, Scheduling & Control has helped thousands of professionals understand project management issues, implement viable solutions, and effectively guide each project from conception to close. This fourth edition updates and expands upon its bestselling predecessors and is a vital reference, whether you are looking to learn more about project management, improve your on-the-job management performance, or ensure that you pass the PMP exam on your first try.Written and updated by globally renowned project management authority James P. Lewis, founder of The Lewis Institute, this applications-oriented blueprint describes the knowledge and processes you need to know to:Successfully take a team through each project stage--Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring and Control, and Close-OutMinimize time and resource waste by quickly addressing internal political issues, motivating team members, and moreIdentify and improve processes, both during and after the project, to enhance future project successThe competitive success of a business is determined by the leadership skill of its project managers. Project Planning, Scheduling, and Control shows you how to excel in this challenging role by providing you with the tools and techniques you need to monitor and manage each project, regardless of its size, to a profitable conclusion.Project success is the lifeblood of every organization. Yet experts estimate that one-third of the cost of the average project goes to correcting errors that could have been prevented through more capable project design and management.Project Planning, Scheduling, and Control demonstrates how you can manage projects of every size and content to maximize each team's productivity, eliminate financial and operational waste, and deliver outcomes that match and even surpass management objectives. Detailing principles and techniques for improving your ability to oversee each phase of a project, from initial definition, strategic planning, implementation, scheduling, risk control, and post-project review and analysis, this essential guide walks you through everything you need to know to:Develop a standardized management methodology that is easily adapted to any project, yet flexible enough to be customized for specific projectsSimplify project management by understanding and implementing common tools and techniques, including PERT, CPM, earned value analysis, Gantt schedules, and moreEliminate sources of miscommunication, ensuring that both decision makers and team members understand overall goals and what is required to achieve those goalsApply the three-step risk management process to identify risks, quantify and prioritize them, and develop workable contingency plans for overcoming themConduct lessons-learned reviews, documenting and reporting conclusions to assist teams throughout your organization in foreseeing and avoiding errors in the futureManage multiple projects to reduce setup time and cost while enhancing efficiency and resource utilizationProject Planning, Scheduling, and Control features Key Points boxes, quotes from industry leaders, examples of project management inaction, and more to succinctly illustrate the methodologies for becoming a proven project manager. Up-to-date and authoritative, it remains the most complete and easy-to-follow overview of the core methods, principles, and practices of results-based, cost-effective project management.Lewis, James P. is the author of 'Project Planning, Scheduling, and Control A Hands-on Guide to Bringing Projects in on Time And on Budget', published 2005 under ISBN 9780071460378 and ISBN 0071460373.