Harvard Business Essentials Managing Projects Large and Small 1st edition by Harvard Business Review 9781422131756 1422131750

1 – Project Management As a Process

Defining and Organizing the Project

Planning the Project

Managing Project Execution

Closing the Project

Summing Up

2 – The Cast of Characters

Project Sponsor

Project Manager

Project Team Leader

Project Team Members

Characteristics of Effective Project Teams

Summing Up

3 – A Written Charter

A Mandate for Action

Clarify Objectives

Make It Time-Bound

Be Specific About Project Scope

Summing Up

4 – A Framework for Action

Decisions, Decisions

Tracking and Disposing of Unresolved Issues

Documenting Decisions and Actions

Creating a Communications Plan

Bringing People into Contact

Developing the Budget

Summing Up

5 – Work Breakdown

Work Breakdown Structure

Time and Resource Estimates

Assigning the Work

An Extended Example

Shall We Proceed?

Summing Up

6 – Scheduling the Work

Examine the Relationships Between Tasks

Create a Draft Schedule

Optimize the Schedule

Using Scheduling Software

Summing Up

7 – Adjustments and Trade-Offs

When the Project Won’t Fit

Challenge Assumptions

Revisit Tasks and Times

Summing Up

8 – Managing Risk

What Is Risk Management?

Identify and Prioritize Project Risks

Take Actions to Avoid or Minimize Risks

Develop Contingency Plans to Handle Potential Setbacks

Summing Up

9 – Project Adaptation

Sources of Unanticipated Risk—and Their Consequences

The Adaptive Management Approach

Summing Up

10 – Getting Off on the Right Foot

Why Launch Meetings Matter

Create Integrative Mechanisms

Establish Norms of Behavior

Summing Up

11 – Keeping on Track

Monitoring and Controlling the Project

Dealing with People Issues

The Role of Communication

Handling Problems

Summing Up

12 – The Closedown Phase

Performance Evaluation

Documentation

Lessons Learned

Celebration

Summing Up