Volume X - Issue III - March 2008
PM Book Reviews
Book Title: The Six Dimensions of Project Management
Introduction to the Book Michael’s Dobson’s approach for authoring this book is the result of a basic project management premise involving scope management. As he authored his book entitled, “The Triple Constraints in Project Management”, Michael realized there was much more to say about the topic than originally conceived. Michael partnered with Heidi Feickert, a noted historian, educator, and cross-cultural expert. Her approach combined with Michael’s background in product management, software development, and strategy, formed a dynamic combination resulting in the completion of this text The Six Dimensions of Project Management. The stated purpose of the book is to better communicate and understand the typical project manager’s plight with regard to real-world, not classroom based, project management. The text is filled with quotations and satire which serves to lighten up the engineering complexity of typical project management books. The text delivers ‘what we already know’ but may not necessarily articulate in our daily meetings with management over the ‘triple-constraint’ process.
Book Title: Professional Project Management, the Guide
Introduction to the Book This is a specialty guidebook of approximately 268 pages that enhances many of the key concepts presented in the PMBOK with the intent of amplifying the traditional elements of project development so that a project manager can surpass the client’s expectations. The author describes the benefits of establishing long-term relationships with suppliers and other stakeholders. The book offers a systematic methodology that can be adapted to a variety of projects and details the author’s innovative approach called the Escala Method that follows the guidelines of the Project Management Institute. The author writes in a flowing narrative style and creates word pictures to help the reader visualize the tools and techniques and their application to a project. His style of presentation includes a detailed table of contents that outlines the elements to be covered in seven chapters and four appendices. His introduction provides a description of the reason for writing the book, his defense of the Escala Method and how each chapter relates to the PMBOK and especially the five process of initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing. Each chapter is comprised of definitions, a series thought provoking questions, numerous tables and charts and a unique visual approach using Mind Maps to reinforce the interaction of key processes. Each chapter is summarized and case studies are provided to help the reader see the importance of each concept. The book has a very good glossary written in layman’s terms, a list of references and recommended readings and finishes out with an excellent topical index. The focus of the book on managing project quality is based on the perspective of how to simultaneously manage both projects and quality output. The book describes a logical and systematic adaptation for the use of quality tools and knowledge to meet the unique needs of projects.
Book Title:Applied Software Project Management
Introduction to the Book The keyword ‘Applied’ itself, best describes this project management book. Among all professional services, IT project management plays a major role in the software development life cycle. In this book the authors explain tools and techniques along with easy to understand example, one could need to handle software projects and management skills to work with people, teams, and organizations. The main idea behind this book is to allow readers to pick one of these skills and solve problems one could be facing. Overview of Book’s Structure The book is structured into two parts. The first part of the book emphasis on tools, techniques, and practices used in each phase of project management life cycle. E.g. How to conduct a project in right way and efficiently? ‘How-to’ guides offer multiple paths and not just one way to different knowledge areas of project management. The Scope of this book ranges from software project planning, estimation, schedules, reviews, software requirement and programming to testing. Each of areas contains the most important attributes underneath it. E.g. sub-sections of project schedules contain how to build the project schedules (create, relocate, optimize…), how to deal with multiple projects (understand dependencies, priorities, use schedule as a commitment technique) and earn values management. The authors are focused on practical practices. This common sense of project management approach empowers an individual reader. The second part of the book focuses on how to lead a team and work with people and organizations. Each organization has its own reason to make changes and it may not belong to company’s culture. This section of the book has good examples to illustrate how people response / resist to a change and shows how to overcome people’s fearful feelings, and make changes workable in order to have a successful software project. Outsourcing is not a fancy PM word anymore. In this section author has discussed of how to manage outsourcing projects, prepare good estimates, manage issues, and build relationships as they are normal situation in IT outsourced projects. These skills are very rich in knowledge and with experiences and can be helpful to expand management skills.
Book Title:Professionalizing Business Analysis:
Introduction to the Book The practice of business analysis has been active for many years however, the role of the Business Analyst has been a catalyst for change. This book focuses on the role and responsibility of the ever-changing business analyst and how they fit into the current state of organizations. The author, Kathleen B. Has is the Project Management and Business Analysis Practice Leader for Management Concepts, and has 25+ years of experience in project management and business analysis, including multiple phases of IT. This book is a portal into the series of Business Analysis Essential Library that provides insight into distinct areas of business analysis. My main reason for selecting this book was to gain additional insight and a different viewpoint on the study of business analysis, primarily to see how others view this position.
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