The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, Second Edition

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 416 pages
• Published by: Wiley; Second edition January 28, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0471692840
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0471692843
• Book Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Weighs: 1 pounds

Product Review
Until the early '90s, project management was definitely located somewhere near the unsexy end of the business spectrum. But now, with the rise of downsizing and outsourcing, it has become one of the hot disciplines. Professional membership of the U.S.-based Project Management Institute has quadrupled in the last decade, and Microsoft claimed recently to have over 2 million users worldwide of its project-management software. The reasons for this growth are simple. Project management is about managing "projects," that is, unique pieces of work (as opposed to ongoing operations). Downsizing, outsourcing, and the accelerating pace of change have meant that, increasingly, work is carried out on an ad-hoc, one-off project basis. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management is designed as an advanced textbook for businesspeople with a grasp of the basics and insufficient time (or inclination) to go back to school to learn more. Written by Eric Verzuh, president of the Versatile Company, a leading project-management consultancy, this is not a heavy academic text.

Like the rest of the Fast Forward series, this book is designed to let the reader extract maximum information in minimum time. There is a strong use of graphics with tables, charts cross-heads, and bullet points. Important passages are flagged in bold and/or emblazoned with the words key concept. When you read it, you realize that there is nothing magical about project management, just the application of careful common sense. The book covers all the basic stuff like planning, time-tabling, quantity and price estimation, resource allocation, and scheduling. But it also acknowledges that there is inevitably a political dimension to every project, no matter how small. So it has important sections on how to ensure that all the stakeholders in the project are kept "on board" and the importance of communication.

As Verzuh states in his introduction, "Every project participant from part-time team member to executive sponsor, becomes more effective once he or she understands the basics of project management." Really, this is a book about management that every manager should read, whether he or she has a project or not. --Alex Benady --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description
An updated and revised edition of a bestselling guide to project management
The first edition of The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management sold over 100,000 copies and has been widely adopted in university courses and corporate training programs around the world. The book teaches the basic methods for defining, planning, and tracking a project, as well as techniques for leading and building strong project teams.

This new edition includes:

• Downloadable, customizable project management forms
• Study aids for passing the popular Project Management Professional certification exam
• Guidelines for building high-performance project teams
• New examples of project management at work in the 21st century

Eric Verzuh (Seattle, WA) is certified by the Project Management Institute and is President of The Versatile Company, which delivers project management training and consulting services to such companies as Adobe Systems, Inc., GE, Lockheed Martin, Nordstrom, and the United States Postal Service. He is also the author of The Portable MBA in Project Management (0-471-26899-2), from Wiley.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management: Quick Tips, Speedy Solutions, and Cutting-Edge Ideas (Paperback) I've purchased a number of books on Project Management. They run the gamut from dry, cryptic self-congratulatory works of academic vanity to the disorganized and insultingly simplistic (including anything with the word "idiot's" in the title). This is the first book I've read that I would consider appropriate for both seasoned PM's and those new to the discipline. The format is great. For someone new to Project Management it has a logical, step by step flow backed up with relevant visuals and great case studies. For the more seasoned PM it is a treasure trove of problem-solving techniques, examples and formulas. It's not a book you'll be willing to loan to your friends (my copy looks to become one of the more "dog-eared" in my collection). I run a small company but many of my clients are quite large (the companies, not the... nevermind). The concepts in "The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management" are adaptable to any size business and any size project; the case studies range from the development of the Boeing 767-400 to how Seattle's Safeco Field keeps their grass green. If the rest of "The Fast Forward MBA" series are as strong and results-oriented as this book, I may end up getting the collection. Comment | | (Report this)