Project Management for Small Projects, Third Edition

by Sandra F. Rowe

Overview

Project Management for Small Projects shows you how to tailor bureaucratic planning processes to a sleek minimum while still keeping your project running like a well-oiled machine.


The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) recommends tailoring the planning processes to fit the size of your project, but it doesn't always fully explain how. Using too much process can be as detrimental to a project as not using a process at all. For years, this book has helped managers of small projects design processes that are neither too big nor too small but "just right." It provides simplified but compliant tools for immediate use in managing small projects. And since most small projects tend to be similar in structure or outcome, a template for one project can be used for future projects. This new edition of Project Management for Small Projects has been updated to align with the latest PMBOK. In addition, there is new material on Agile project management and on the essential leadership skills for small project managers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781523097708
Publisher:	Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication date:	08/25/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	312
File size:	14 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Sandra F. Rowe, PhD, has more than thirty years of project management experience. Her responsibilities have included leading information technology and process improvement projects; developing project management processes, tools, and techniques; and designing, developing, and delivering project management programs. She has also taught MBA courses and project management professional certification classes. Dr. Rowe speaks regularly at project management conferences on a variety of topics related to project management processes, project management for small projects, the project office, and knowledge sharing.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Part 1 Project Management Discipline 1

1 Introduction to Project Management 3

Project Overview 4

What Is Project Management? 12

The Value of Using Project Management on Small Projects 14

2 Concerns for Small Projects 17

Challenges for Small Projects 17

Problems Resulting from Not Using Project Management 23

3 Managing and Leading Small Projects 27

The Difference between Management and Leadership 27

Managing Small Projects 28

Leading Small Projects 35

Managing and Leading a Project 42

Managing and Leading Simple Projects 43

4 Preproject Activities 45

Business Documents 46

Statement of Work 46

Project Request 47

Project Success Measures 49

Part 2 Project Management Process for Small Projects 53

5 Process Overview 55

Project Life Cycle 56

Deliverables 59

Project Management Process for Small Projects 59

PALM Principle 63

6 Initiating 67

Initiating Process Summary 68

Initiating Process Steps 69

Project Charter 72

Project Roles and Responsibilities 80

Stakeholder Register 82

Initiating Process Guide 85

7 Planning for Small Projects 87

Planning Process Summary 88

Planning Process Steps 88

Planning Process Guide 144

8 Planning for Simple Projects 147

Planning Process Summary 147

Planning Steps 148

Planning Process Guide for Simple Projects 153

9 Controlling 155

Controlling Process Summary 155

Controlling Process Activities 156

Action Items 164

Controlling Process Guide 167

10 Closing 169

Closing Process Summary 169

Closing Process Steps 170

Closing Process Guide 180

Part 3 Additional Discipline 183

11 Managing Multiple Small Projects 185

Mukiproject Overview 186

Small Project Portfolios 189

Problems with Managing Multiple Projects 190

SPM Multiple-Project Management Process 191

12 Projects as Part of a Program 199

Project Activities and Collaboration 200

Knowledge Sharing 204

13 Building Effective Teams 209

Teams for a Small Project 209

Team Charter 210

Meeting Management 212

Effective Team Meetings 213

The Tuckman Model 214

Facilitation Tools 219

14 The Power of One 225

What Is the Power of One? 225

Roles and Responsibilities 226

Realizing the Power of One 228

Time Management 229

15 Transitioning to Larger Projects 233

Project Management Skills 233

Leadership Skills 235

People, Process, and Technology 236

Project Management Keys for Success 237

Part 4 Agile 241

16 Agile 243

History of Agile 244

Project Life Cycles: From Predictive to Adaptive (Waterfall to Agile) 244

Agile and the Project Management Knowledge Areas 250

Servant Leadership 254

Agile Teams 256

Tools and Techniques 260

Common Practices 264

17 Activity Board for Small Projects 271

What Is the Activity Board for Small Projects? 271

How to Use the Activity Board for Small Projects 272

Notes 273

Glossary 279

Acknowledgments 289

Index 290

About the Author 298

Editorial Reviews

Project Management for Small Projects is a tight compendium of the project management discipline, suitable for both novice and experienced project managers. The book serves as a reference handbook, covering the essentials with sufficient spice of a good tutorial. It’s is a good addition to every project manager's bookshelf.”
—William A. Moylan, PhD, PMP, FESD, DTM

“An excellent compendium of tools, practices, and guidelines for most project managers. This in-depth and easily followed resource coaches the project manager in ways to create successful projects and a project management culture. Sandra Rowe has produced a tool that both the novice and experienced project professional will want to utilize regularly. Project Management for Small Projects has great graphics, modeling, and rich vocabulary, making it a must-have reference for any project manager who needs guidance toward project success. The book correlates well to the PMBOK® sixth edition and dutifully follows the best thinking in the discipline to date.” 
—Ernest L. Owens, Jr., EdD, MBA, ACPPM, CPPM, PMP, 6 Sigma Black Belt

“Most project managers work on small-to-medium-sized projects. This new edition of Project Management for Small Projects is essential for those wanting to further their skills and knowledge, as well as those working on megaprojects now challenged in scaling their practices down. In addition to aligning with the latest project management standards, the third edition introduces Agile and iterative projects, a must-have for project managers in the 21st century. The interspersed scenarios and illustrated templates are valuable in reinforcing the concepts. Be sure to add this book to your project management library!”
—Ray W. Frohnhoefer, Managing Partner, PPC Group, LLC, and author of Accidental Project Manager and Risk Assessment Framework

From the Publisher