The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management

by Eric Verzuh

Book Overview

This is one of the bestselling books ever published on the topic of project management. Now in a revised new third edition, it presents you with a wealth of proven techniques for managing projects--from establishing project objectives to building schedules to projecting costs. It includes all the basics on defining, planning, and tracking a project, as well as building stronger project teams. This new edition includes new chapters on Agile Project...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470247894
• ISBN13: 9780470247891
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 462 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Wealth of knowledge in advanced techniques

This book is more than an expansion of Verzuh's earlier "Fast Forward MBA in Project Management", ISBN 0471325465, in that both books can be used in conjunction with one another. Whereas the earlier book is a quick-start guide imparts a wealth of knowledge and techniques, this one goes deep into advanced techniques that project managers of all experience levels will appreciate. More importantly, executive management will benefit from parts of this book, especially Part One, which makes a case for project manager at the strategic level.Contributing authors are subject matter experts in every facet of project management, assuring that this book will reflect the best thinking across all PM areas. Part Two contains a number of chapters that drill down into core areas, such as project selection, stakeholder satisfaction, risk management and quality. These areas are often overlooked by working project managers who are more concerned with estimating, scheduling and control (also covered in this part of the book).Part Three is completely focused on team management, with excellent material on team building. I especially liked the chapter on managing virtual teams because this is an increasing requirement, both within internal organizations as well as managing teams comprised of internal resources and off-shore resources to which parts of a project may be outsourced. This is also applicable to project teams comprised of a prime and number of subcontractors.For those interested in building an organizational structure that is project-based Part Four contains a wealth of material. I found the Stage-Gate new product development process given in chapter 11 to be both a viable and innovative approach to managing development and launches of new products. I also liked chapter 13, which covered enterprise project management in great detail. This material is outstanding for companies that are considering establishing a PMO.As I read through this book I discovered techniques that had eluded me during my 25+ years of project management experience, as well as fresh ways of looking at techniques and methods I've used throughout my career. The selection of contributors to this book is one of its strengths - each comes across with the highest credibility, and there are no technical or factual gaps anywhere in the book.If you are a working project manager, regardless of experience level, I strongly recommend adding this outstanding book to your professional library.

Next level - improving the organizational capability

You can provide all the training your company can afford but if the organization doesn't embrace project management at every level performance will continue to suffer and the folks with all that new training will soon become disillusioned. Verzuh's new book outlines the issues you'll face in building a project centered enterprise that routinely adds value to customers and shareholders alike. Verzuh has taken some of the best writing in project and program management, then added articles crafted in his honest, clear, to the point, style to fill in any gaps. The result is an excellent reader for those who care to help their business achieve the next level (and the next...) in project performance.I've recently taken on several significant change efforts for major clients. I've found the chapters on: Enterprise Project Management: The Path to Maturity (12.), Integrating Project Management into the Enterprise (14), and Project Risk Management (6) particularly helpful in forming my approach. But as I look at this list I reflect on the fact that virtual teaming is giving one client a problem. Guess I better re-read Virtual Team Critical Success Factors (10). And I'm sure the other chapters will be needed before I'm done with this book. That's why others mention how dog-eared Verzuh's books become - because they provide assistance when you need it, and that's a value-added book you should have on your shelf - nope, it won't stay on your shelf, better make room for it right on the desk.Thanks Eric, we needed this one.

Verzuh Does it Again

In almost every industry and profession, there is a growing reliance on Project management. This trend gives rise to a new term: the project-based organization.This book is intended for their leaders. It takes an integrated approach to managing a project based organization. CIO's, department managers, program managers and senior project managers who are being challenged to formalize the processes of managing projects will find this compendium to be a source of strategies and standards for leveraging the discipline of project management across an organization.Verzuh has assembled some the leading thinkers in project management to provide the reader with the theory, methods and framework to manage the project-based organization successfully. The collection includes essays from:* Elaine Biech, President and Managing Principal, Ebb Associates * Robert G. Cooper, President and cofounder, The Product Development Institute * Denis Couture, President and cofounder, PCI Group * Deborah L. Duarte, George Washington University * Randall Englund, Associate, Strategic Management Group * Robert J. Graham, Senior Associate, Strategic Management Group * Ned Hamson, strategic innovation consultant * Samuel J. Mantel Jr., Professor Emeritus, University of Cincinnati * Jack R. Meredith, Editor in Chief, Journal of Operations Management * Nancy Tennant Snyder, Vice President for Leadership and Strategic Competency Creation, Whirlpool Corporation * Eric Verzuh, President, The Versatile Company * Neal Whitten, President, Neal Whitten Group.I particularly enjoyed Chapters 7 and 14. In Chapter seven Ned Hamson provides as concise an overview of quality, quality management and project management as I have found on the subject. In Chapter 14, Eric Verzuh discusses integrating Project Management into the organization. In it, he argues that in the successful project-based organization project management disappears. Disappearing, he says, is not the same as ceasing to exist. The purpose of the project driven enterprise is not to hone project capabilities, it is to deliver products and services.My copy of Verzuh's first book, The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, sits dog-eared on my desk from constant reference. I will not be surprised if this, his second, soon starts to take on a similar appearance.

PM's Best Friend

While my favorite text on project management is Visualizing Project Management, this handly treasure chest of PM knowledge and techniques is my constant companion. It is much more than a quick reference quide - it contains a lot of information that I haven't stumbled across in any other project management book, such as metrics, estimating techniques and sound advice on a number of PM topics that are presented concisely. In other words, this book has a lot of meat and no fluff.If you are starting out as a project manager I recommend Visualizing Project Management as your first book. However, if you are a practicing and experienced project manager this is "must-have". And the price is right! When was the last time you found a decent book on project management (or any other technical or business subject) priced below $15.00? Price aside, the value of this book is the content and the fact that it covers project management the way it should be covered: work breakdown structures, risk management, earned value and other controls. I strongly recommend this book.

All PM Professionals & Students Should Have a Personal Copy

Verzuh's book is at the top of its class. We just recently concluded a Project Management Seminar here in Barbados and this was the text used throughout the seminar. In addition, it's one of the standard texts on our Project Management Professional Diploma Program.What most heady and highly theoretical writers on project management tend to do in over 500 pages, Verzuh achieved in 300 pages. He was able to demystify Project Management and present it in such a way that everyone out there with an interest in the subject area could follow. It would therefore be totally incongruous to review this book in academic jargon. By the same token, it perfectly compliments some of the more abstract academic texts that are out there.We particularly found the chapter on the Work Breakdown Structure to be very useful since most amateurs will probably just buy a software package and command it intuitively without fully understanding the logic and problem solving behind the it. Verzuh's text will definitely help you to better understand the logic behind the software.The text is highly recommended and our students love it.Andre Barrow & Ian WalcottGrey's Consulting Inc. greysconsulting@sunbeach.net