Fundamentals of Technology Project Management

by Colleen Garton, Erika McCulloch

Overview

Designed to provide software engineers, students, and IT professionals with an understanding of the fundamentals of project management in the technology/IT field, this book serves as a practical introduction to the subject. Updated with information on how Fundamentals of Project Management integrates with and complements Project Management Institute's Project Management Body of Knowledge, this collection explains fundamental methodologies and techniques while also discussing new technology, tools, and virtual work environments. Examples and case studies are based on technology projects, and there are sample documents ranging from initial RFP to closing reports and different meeting agendas, status reports, cost analysis, and technical specifications. The book includes 60 templates to lead technology professionals through the six phases of the project life cycle: planning, design, development, integration, deployment, and postdeployment. A chapter on using social media is also included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781583473399
Publisher:	MC Press, LLC
Publication date:	09/21/2012
Edition description:	Second Edition, Second edition
Pages:	744
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.70(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

Colleen Garton, PMP is an expert on technical project management with over two decades of hands-on project management experience. She is the owner of Garton Consulting Group and a former manager/director for technology and analytics companies such as Intuit and FICO. Colleen is the author of the virtual and global management book Managing Without Walls. She lives in Dunedin, Florida. Erika McCulloch is an associate and adjunct professor, teaching courses in project management, strategic management of technology and innovation, managing technological change, and other technology topics. She lives in San Diego, California.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1: Concepts of Project Management
Chapter 2: Project Management Methodologies
Chapter 3: Project Initiation
Chapter 4: Advancing Beyond the Greenlight
Chapter 5: The Project Plan & Project Approach
Chapter 6: Project Kick-Off
Chapter 7: Project Design
Chapter 8: Creating The Project Schedule
Chapter 9: Project Development
Chapter 10: Managing Obstacles and Risks
Chapter 11: Managing Communication
Chapter 12: Integration and Testing
Chapter 13: Deployment
Chapter 14: Project Closure
Chapter 15: How To Be An Effective Leader
Chapter 16: Personal Growth and Development
Appendix A: Case Study
Appendix B: Project Success
Appendix C: The Project Manager's Toolkit
Appendix D: Document Templates and Powerpoint Presentations
Index
CD-ROM

Editorial Reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review
If you want to move up the technical hierarchy, you need to become a skilled, comfortable project manager. For many programmers, that’s a pretty big leap. This book will be your guide and companion. It's careful, patient, practical, and comprehensive. And, unlike many PM books, it’s focused on the specific challenges of managing technical projects.

Colleen Garton and Erika McCulloch bring well over 30 years’ experience to the table, and their book reflects it from the beginning of the project lifecycle all the way to project closure and point releases.

You’ll start by understanding your (many) roles as a project manager, then walk through everything it takes to initiate a project successfully. There’s practical advice on generating preliminary cost and time estimates; building teams; planning effective QA/testing; creating proposal documents (RFIs, RFQ, RFPs, and so forth); and more.

The authors explain what to do as soon as you have the formal go-ahead; how to define deliverables, milestones, and functional and technical requirements; and how to run effective meetings -- especially your crucial kickoff meeting.

They systematically cover both technical issues (for instance, building a complete project plan with Microsoft Project, defining source and build control processes) and human issues (delegation, motivation, managing client expectations, what not to say in an email). You’ll find insights into everything from methodologies (PMI, CMMI, Six Sigma) to documentation and technical support.

Perhaps most valuable, the authors’ “voice of experience” on managing constraints, obstacles, and risks -- including how to recognize when trouble’s brewing. (Garton and McCulloch spend several pages on the classic “hurry up and wait” disorder, and the less famous but equally aggravating “wait and hurry up” syndrome.) Calm, focused, and realistic, this book will help you navigate even “Class 5” project whitewater. Bill Camarda, from the March 2005 Read Only

bn.com