The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management brings you the information you need when you need it most— now! This practical, easy-to-use guide gives you instant access to the cutting-edge ideas and hard-won wisdom of one of today’ s leading experts on project management. In short, lively segments using real-world examples, it delivers the information you need to navigate complex project management issues. You’ ll find brief descriptions of key concepts, tips on real-world applications, compact case studies, the most sought-after skills, and warnings on how to avoid pitfalls. Here are all the tools you need to manage even the most complex project. You’ ll discover how to:

• Coordinate a team by getting everyone to agree on the objectives and schedules
• Find the best sponsor for your specific project
• Set a realistic schedule and budget projections
• Outline and build a specific project plan, step-by-step
• Make accurate estimates and better manage the expectations of customers as well as management
• And much more

The Portable MBA From the creators of the bestselling Portable MBA series comes The Fast Forward MBA …

• A quick way to brush up on new ideas
• An easy-to-use format that his in any briefcase
• Real-world information that you can put to use now!

Many companies now rely on teams of people, often from different parts of the company, to manage complex business initiatives. This text presents proven techniques for managing projects, from establishing project objectives to building realistic schedule and cost projections.

The bestselling introduction to project management—now with downloadable forms and worksheets!

This practical, easy-to-use guide gives you instant access to the cutting-edge ideas and hard-won wisdom of one of today's leading experts on project management, Eric Verzuh. Using real-world examples, it delivers all the information you need to navigate complex project management issues. This revised Second Edition also includes downloadable, customizable forms to help you plan your project. You'll learn how to build and coordinate teams, set realistic schedules and budgets, design a plan step-by-step, and manage the expectations of customers and management.

As the business world has changed, so has project management—and so has this bestselling, comprehensive resource. Keeping up with the state of project management today, this edition includes entirely new information on building project teams and enterprise project management. For the best practices and the latest advice on project management, this is the only resource you need.

From the creators of the bestselling Portable MBA series comes The Fast Forward MBA . . .

• A quick way to brush up on new ideas
• An easy-to-use format that fits in any briefcase
• Real-world information that you can put to use now!

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.

ERIC VERZUH is President of The Versatile Company, which provides project management training and consulting to such major corporations as Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Adobe Systems, Inc., and the U.S. Postal Service.

Preface.

PART 1: INTRODUCTION.

Chapter 1. Project Management in a Changing World.

Chapter 2. The Project Environment.

PART 2: DEFINING THE PROJECT.

Chapter 3. Project Stakeholders.

Chapter 4. Making the Rules.

PART 3: THE PLANNING PROCESS.

Chapter 5. Risk Management.

Chapter 6. Work Breakdown Structure.

Chapter 7. Realistic Scheduling.

Chapter 8. The Dynamics of Accurate Estimating.

Chapter 9. Balancing the Project.

PART 4: CONTROLLING THE PROJECT.

Chapter 10. Building a High-Performance Project Team.

Chapter 11. Communication.

Chapter 12. Measuring Progress.

PART 5: PUTTING THE DISCIPLINE TO WORK.

Chapter 13. Enterprise Project Management.

Chapter 14. Application is the Art: Solving Common Project Problems.

Appendix: The Detailed Planning Model.

Notes.

Index.