Strategic Project Management - Important New Book
by Bob Prieto Published in US
Strategic Program Management, a new book by Bob Prieto, has been published in the USA by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). The book addresses topics that are essential for building the right foundations within the owner organization as well as in the program manager's organization. All author's royalties are being donated to the Construction Management Program at Polytechnic University of NYU in New York.
According to Bob, "I tried to distill 30 years of experience in this book, which addresses some of the major strategic issues that affect all large construction programs and projects. The book is not only aimed at executives in our industry, but also at owner organizations where many strategic decisions are made that can affect a project’s outcome."
Contents of the book include:
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 - Strategic Program Management
CHAPTER 2 - Foundations, Frameworks, and Lessons Learned in Program Management
CHAPTER 3 - Evolution of Owner's Role Under Program Management
CHAPTER 4 - Governance: Key to Successful Program Management Delivery
CHAPTER 5 - Changing Audit Roles Under Program Management
CHAPTER 6 - Organizational Transformation: A Key Ingredient
CHAPTER 7 - Strategic Risk Management for Capital Construction
CHAPTER 8 - Special Issues of International Concession Programs
CHAPTER 9 - Strategic Program Management Drives Success
APPENDIX 1 - Capital Project Delivery Lessons Learned
REFERENCES
Robert (Bob) Prieto is a Senior Vice President for Fluor Corporation, one of America’s largest construction and project management companies, where he is responsible for strategy in support of the firm’s Industrial & Infrastructure Group and its key clients. He focuses on the development and delivery of large, complex projects worldwide. Prior to joining Fluor, Bob served as chairman of Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc.
Bob is a member of the executive committee of the National Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, a member of the board of directors of the Business Council on International Understanding, a member of the board of the Civil Engineering Forum for Innovation, and co-founder and member of the board of the Disaster Resource Network.
He currently serves on the National Research Council’s committee framing the challenges on Critical Infrastructure Systems. Until 2006 he served as one of three U.S. presidential appointees to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC). He has also served as chairman of the Engineering and Construction Governors of The World Economic Forum and co-chair of the infrastructure task force formed after September 11th by the New York City Chamber of Commerce. Bob is a member of the board of trustees of Polytechnic University of New York.
Strategic Project Management, by Bob Prieto, published by CMAA, ISBN: 978-0-9815612-1-9; $49.95 – http://cmaanet.org/cmaa-bookstore.
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New Program Management book by Dr. Paul Sanghera
announced by J. Ross Publishing
Fundamental of Effective Program Management: A Process Approach Based on the Global Standard is a new book by author Dr. Paul Sanghera, PMP and published by J Ross Publishing in the USA.
In this book, Dr. Paul Sanghera provides a logical learning sequence with each chapter building upon previous chapters and each section on previous sections. Each concept, both simple and complex, is defined and explained when it appears the first time. Important points, terms and practices are reviewed at the end of each chapter and discussion exercises presented to test newly acquired knowledge.
The book is intended to help both the experienced practitioner and novice master the fundamentals and practical applications in any field.
"This book does an excellent job presenting program management principles based on PMI's global standards and showing how to apply them to real-world situations. Buying this book would definitely be a worthwhile investment for all levels of practitioners." -Dr. Prasad S. Kodukula, PMP, Kodukula & Associates, Inc.
In accordance with generally recognized best practices and based on the program management, project management and OPM3 standards released by the PMI, this guide covers the Fundamentals of Effective Program Management. It is designed for self-learning, training or academic instruction.
Key Features:
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Processes. Tools and techniques, along with input and output, for each program process are presented.
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Metrics and controls. The metrics and controls in program management are introduced and described throughout the book.
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Running example. An example of a fictitious company runs through all the chapters to present practical scenarios in order for the reader to understand concepts in concrete terms.
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Big picture. The big picture of the topics covered is presented in the beginning of each chapter before diving down into details.
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Notes and Tips. As you read through a chapter, you will find notes that present additional helpful material related to the topic being described, and tips that provide additional real-world insight into the topic being discussed.
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Summary. The summary section of each chapter provides a unified picture while reviewing the important concepts covered in the chapter.
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Fundamental Points. The fundamental points section highlights the important principle covered in the chapter.
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Key Terms. This section lists the important terms and concepts introduced in the chapter along with their definitions.
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Discussion Exercises. Each chapter ends with the discussion exercises section which has a two-pronged purpose: to help the reader test their knowledge about the material presented in the chapter, and to help apply the knowledge to practical situations.
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Glossary. Presents a dictionary of basic terms and concepts in program management --
Dr. Paul Sanghera, is a manager, educator, technologist, and entrepreneur, and has 15 years of diverse project and program management experience in the computer industry, including Netscape and MP3, and at research labs like Cornell and CERN. Having worked in various roles including director of project management, director of software development, software developer, trainer, and scientist, he has a broad view of project and program management. Expertise in multiple application areas including physics, computer science, RFID, and nanotechnology enabled him to climb the mountain top of project/program management.
Dr. Sanghera has several industry certifications, including PMP, CAPM, Project+, Network+, Linux+, SCJP, and SCBCD, and has contributed to building world-class technologies such as Netscape Communicator and Novell's NDS. As an engineering manager, he has been at the ground floor of several startups and has been a lecturer at San Jose Sate University and Brooks College. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 technical papers published in well reputed European and American research journals. Paul is the best-selling author of several books on technology and project management including PMP In Depth. Dr. Sanghera has a Master's degree in Computer Science from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Physics from Carleton University. He currently lives in Silicon Valley where he runs an information company, Infonential Inc., that specializes in project management and emerging technologies.
Fundamental of Effective Program Management: A Process Approach Based on the Global Standard, by Dr. Paul Sanghera, 2008, J. Ross Publishing, ISBN 13: 978-1-932159-69-1; $49.95 http://www.jrosspub.com or http://www.jrosspub.com/Engine/Shopping/catalog.asp?store=12&category=182&item=14117
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New book on Relationship Management Provides Networking Resource for Project Management Professionals
Results Through Relationships, Building Trust, Performance and Profit Through People is a new book authored by Joe Takash and published by Wiley in the USA. While not written specifically for the project management community, this book addresses a topic that every project manager worldwide will recognize as critical to successful project management.
Results Through Relationships focuses on behaviors that directly affect results. Whether it be connections with colleagues, bosses, subordinates, customers, clients, or vendors, Takash presents a pragmatic, action-based process for achieving observable, tangible benefits.
According to Mr. Takash, President of Victory Consulting, “Many people assume that only new contacts will help them achieve their goals, but in reality, boundless opportunities lie within existing networks. Even the brightest of business minds struggle to bring these to the next level. This book demonstrates how to transition business relationships into breakthrough connections.”
Joe Takash is President of Victory Consulting, a Performance Management firm in LaGrange Park, Illinois, USA. As a professional speaker and business consultant, he has been interviewed by, and his articles have been published in, a variety of outlets, including Investor’s Business Daily, Selling Power magazine, MSNBC.com, Crain's New York Business, Entrepreneur magazine, and Career Builder. His client list features numerous Fortune 100 corporations, including General Motors, American Express, and AIG.
Since 1988, Joe Takash has delivered more than 3,000 speaking programs throughout the country. Joe delivers opening keynote and general session presentations in the areas of Leadership, Customer/Client Service Excellence, Presentation Skills and Employee Motivation. As a presentation consultant, he also coaches and advises corporate executives prior to their delivery of multi-million-dollar sales presentations.
Results Through Relationships: Building Trust, Performance, and Profit Through People; by Joe Takash; Wiley ($24.95; September 16 2008); ISBN: 978-0470238264. For more information, visit www.JoeTakash.com.
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The IT Measurement Compendium - major new book for IT Project Managers by Bundschuh & Dekkers now Available Worldwide
The IT Measurement Compendium: Estimating and Benchmarking Success with Functional Size Measurement, is an important new book for software and IT project managers and organizations just published by Springer. Authored by Carol Dekkers, well known American software metrics guru, and Manfred Bundschuh, the German benchmarking expert, the book represents a significant effort at documenting some of the most important assumptions and bases for estimating software development projects in the world.
According to the book's publisher, "The first step towards success in a software project is to ensure a professional setup. This includes a metrics-based formal estimation process to ensure a solid foundation for project planning. Accurate estimates require quantitative measurements, ideally tool based. In addition, software project managers must also monitor and update these estimates during the project's lifecycle to control progress and assess possible risks. Based on their many years of practical experience as software managers and consultants, Manfred Bundschuh and Carol Dekkers present a framework of value to anyone involved with software project management."
The authors present all five ISO/IEC-acknowledged Functional Sizing Methods, with variants, experiences, counting rules and case studies, and they use numerous practical examples to show how to use functional size measurement to produce realistic estimates. Written in a practical style, including checklists, templates, and hands-on advice, and backed up with many pointers to both national and international metrics and standards organizations, this book should be a good companion for any busy software project manager or quality assurance manager.
Some of the features of the new book include:
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Explains ISO/IEC standards specific to software measurement and Functional Size Measurement
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Details the five most popular and ISO/IEC accepted Functional Size
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Measurement standards including IFPUG, COSMIC, FiSMA, Mark II and NESMA
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Presents various other software sizing methods including case points, object points and academic approaches
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Complete with many real-world examples and hands-on checklists
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Based on the authors’ many years of experience
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Provides many pointers to Internet resources and international metrics organizations
PMForum caught up with Carol at the 22nd IPMA World Congress in Rome where we discussed the new book. According to Carol, "We are really proud of this new book, which took a long time to prepare. We're also proud of it, since we think it will be enormously useful for software and systems development professionals who must struggle with the difficult task of estimating both software requirements as well as resources and costs. The IT Measurement Compendium should make those tasks much easier."
(photo: Nelson Soucek & David Pells of PMForum; PMForum’s UK advisor and correspondent Miles Shepherd holding a copy of The IT Measurement Compendium; Carol Dekkers; and Pekka Forselius who is holding a copy of the Program Management Toolkit for Software and Systems Development, another new book co-authored by himself, Carol Dekkers, Matti Karvinen and Matti Kosonen and published in Finland.)
The IT Measurement Compendium, by Carol Dekkers & Manfred , published by Spring, 2008. XXXVI, 644 p. 134 illus. Hardcover, ISBN 978-3-540-68187-8, Priced at 64,95 €, US$99.00, SFr. 108.00, or UK £51.99. For more information or to purchase, visit on http://springer.com/978-3-540-68187-8 or contact dekkers@qualityplustech.com.
Editor’s note: Carol Dekkers is an International Correspondent for PMForum based in Florida. We want to congratulate her on this simultaneous publication of The IT Measurement Compendium and the Program Management Toolkit for Software and Systems Development, important new tools for helping with the critical scope planning process on software development projects. If you’re working on software or IT programs or projects, we encourage you to buy these books.
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Wideman PM Website updates announced for December 2008
Max Wideman has announced the latest updates to his popular project management website. According to the email from Max this month, here are the items that Max discusses or has added to his website this month.
Max' Guest this month, Thomas B. Clark, provides detailed listings of the Requirements of the Project Management Office, including Concept, Purposes, Responsibilities and Solution.
In Musings Max reports briefly how a Study Demonstrates Cultural Differences, its affect on the way we communicate and how North Americans may be at a disadvantage in multi-cultural teams.
In his Papers section this month, Max reviews Bennet P. Lientz & Lee Larssen's book: Risk Management for IT Projects: How to Deal with Over 150 Issues and Risks in IT projects. This is a useful reference for identifying, tracking and handling those risks that most closely match your own particular situation
Are you in charge of a project portfolio management office? Do you really know what reports are required by whom? If you are looking for answers, guidelines or templates, check out Max’s Issacons - "Issues and Considerations" that are presented in bullet form for quick and easy reference by project managers.
Have you seen Max’s book A Management Framework for Project, Program and Portfolio Integration? For information or to order a copy, visit http://www.maxwideman.com/papers/framework_book/intro.htm. Do you have a project management question? Find the answer at: http://www.maxwideman.com.
Max Wideman is one of the world’s best-known project management authorities. An engineer and professional project manager, his experience includes systems, social and environmental projects, as well as design and engineering projects. He is a Fellow of the Project Management Institute, of which he is past president and chairman and for which he led the development of the 1987 version of the Project Management Body of Knowledge. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK), the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering. His personal web site at http://www.maxwideman.com is a source of superior project management knowledge and information. It is free to the public. Max Wideman is also a global advisor to PMForum and PM World Today; additional information about Max can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/advisors.htm.
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