The Project Manager's Little Book of Cheats


Book Description

There is no such thing as cheating in project management, but if there were it would be this book. It includes quick steps, relevant tips, fun stories, and applicable advice to solving common problems and questions focused around the work of a project manager. The book is in question / answer format with 11 chapters covering 65 questions. Chapters: 1 - Starting 2 - Communication 3 - Change 4 - Scope 5 - Time 6 - Risk 7 - Process 8 - Portfolios 9 - Teams 10 - Tools 11 - Vendors Some of the questions include: #12 I need to convince someone of my idea. How do I sell an idea? #16 Since most of my work communication is through email, how can I make my email communication more effective? #22 How can I convince those who are change resistant? #39 Assumptions introduce a lot of risk. What are some common assumptions to watch out for? #41 How can I tell if a project is getting off track before it's too late? #47 What process could I use to evaluate project requests to determine if they should be approved or not? #51 How can I make my team meetings more productive? #58 My project tracking needs have grown beyond Microsoft Excel. What are some good project management tools? When you have a question or problem do you have time to stop what you're doing and read a three hundred page book on a single topic? Wouldn't it be great if you could open a book and find a one to two page answer that you can apply immediately, in the moment when you need it? Now you've found one. This book has hopes and dreams. It hopes that it will sit on or in your desk and be opened frequently when questions or problems arise. It wants you to write on its pages, make your own notes, and highlight what works for you. And it dreams that you will share its contents with your colleagues.




How to Cheat at IT Project Management


Book Description

This book is written with the IT professional in mind. It provides a clear, concise system for managing IT projects, regardless of the size or complexity of the project. It avoids the jargon and complexity of traditional project management (PM) books. Instead, it provides a unique approach to IT project management, combining strategic business concepts (project ROI, strategic alignment, etc.) with the very practical, step-by-step instructions for developing and managing a successful IT project. It's short enough to be easily read and used but long enough to be comprehensive in the right places.* Essential information on how to provide a clear, concise system for managing IT projects, regardless of the size or complexity of the project* As IT jobs are outsourced, there is a growing demand for project managers to manage outsourced IT projects* Companion Web site for the book provides dozens of working templates to help readers manage their own IT projects




The Lazy Winning Project Manager


Book Description

Fully updated to reflect developments in artificial intelligence (AI), remote working and more, this book brings together two well-loved titles to address emerging trends and challenges in project management and personal development, offering a unique and comprehensive reference book for a new generation of project professionals. In the ever-evolving world of project management, The Lazy Project Manager has been a guiding light for those seeking efficiency through unconventional strategies as well as honesty and a whole lot of fun. With The Lazy Winner, Peter Taylor brought his straightforward and humorous approach to personal productivity and success. Now, Peter has combined these two books to ensure a comprehensive guide for professionals seeking both project management excellence and personal fulfilment – the goal of a great work/life balance. But this book goes beyond evergreen principles, adding rich content on: The effectiveness of the productive lazy approach in harnessing the power of AI, demonstrating that project managers and individuals alike can leverage this hot technology Ways to manage projects remotely and strategies for individuals to thrive in virtual work environments, all using the productive lazy approach New and updated case studies showcasing how the productive lazy approach has been successfully implemented in project management scenarios and personal development journeys The preferences and strengths of the new generations within the workforce, and how the productive lazy approach aligns with their expectations and workstyles Project management professionals worldwide, from new starters learning the ropes to seasoned pros looking for fresh inspiration, will welcome the latest insights and tested strategies from a project management legend.




Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager (Updated and Revised Edition)


Book Description

No project management training? No problem! In today’s workplace, employees are routinely expected to coordinate and manage projects. Yet, chances are, you aren’t formally trained in managing projects—you’re an unofficial project manager. FranklinCovey experts Kory Kogon and Suzette Blakemore understand the importance of leadership in project completion and explain that people are crucial in the formula for success. This updated and revised edition of Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager offers practical, real-world insights for effective project management and guides you through the essentials of the value, people, and project management process: Scope Plan Engage Track and Adapt Close If you’re struggling to ensure multiple projects are finished with high value and on time, this book is for you. If you manage projects without the benefit of a team, this book is also for you. Change the way you think about project management—"project manager" may not be your official title, but with the right strategies, you can excel in this project economy.




The Art of Cheating


Book Description

Cheat? ME? Never!!! Well, except that one time... Who says you should always tell the truth? With this handy informational guidebook you can con your way through life -- from finessing your resume, to lying about your age, to getting a date. Whether you've decided to cheat out of sheer desperation or the need to get ahead, The Art of Cheating provides essential tips and guidelines for how to be the ultimate swindler, and how to spot the con artists among us. You'll learn what it takes to be a great cheater, and the pros and cons to every swindle. As a newly minted master of deception, you'll be able to cheat: ¥ On a diet ¥ On your spouse or significant other (or both!) ¥ On your taxes ¥ On standardized tests ¥ Death And more! With clever illustrations and humorous deadpan delivery, The Art ofCheating will have you sleeping your way to the top, faking an illness, and forging someone else's handwriting -- without batting an eye.




Commander in Cheat


Book Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Reilly pokes more holes in Trump's claims than there are sand traps on all of his courses combined. It is by turns amusing and alarming."-- The New Yorker "Golf is the spine of this shocking, wildly humorous book, but humanity is its flesh and spirit." -- Chicago Sun-Times "Every one of Trump's most disgusting qualities surfaces in golf." -- The Ringer An outrageous indictment of Donald Trump's appalling behavior when it comes to golf -- on and off the green -- and what it reveals about his character. Donald Trump loves golf. He loves to play it, buy it, build it, and operate it. He owns 14 courses around the world and runs another five, all of which he insists are the best on the planet. He also claims he's a 3 handicap, almost never loses, and has won an astonishing 18 club championships. How much of all that is true? Almost none of it, acclaimed sportswriter Rick Reilly reveals in this unsparing look at Trump in the world of golf. Based on Reilly's own experiences with Trump as well as interviews with over 100 golf pros, amateurs, developers, and caddies, Commander in Cheat is a startling and at times hilarious indictment of Trump and his golf game. You'll learn how Trump cheats (sometimes with the help of his caddies and Secret Service agents), lies about his scores (the "Trump Bump"), tells whoppers about the rank of his courses and their worth (declaring that every one of them is worth $50 million), and tramples the etiquette of the game (driving on greens doesn't help). Trump doesn't brag so much, though, about the golf contractors he stiffs, the course neighbors he intimidates, or the way his golf decisions wind up infecting his political ones. For Trump, it's always about winning. To do it, he uses the tricks he picked up from the hustlers at the public course where he learned the game as a college kid, and then polished as one of the most bombastic businessmen of our time. As Reilly writes, "Golf is like bicycle shorts. It reveals a lot about a man." Commander in Cheat "paints a side-splitting portrait of a congenital cheater" (Esquire), revealing all kinds of unsightly truths Trump has been hiding.




The Accidental Project Manager


Book Description

Why do so many software projects fail? The reality is that many of these projects are led by programmers or developers thrown into the role of project manager without the necessary skills or training to see a project through successfully. Patricia Ensworth has written a hands-on survival guide designed to rescue the "accidental project manager" and help them to quickly ramp up on all key areas involved in software project management. This book provides a no-nonsense, jargon-free approach to getting the job done. With the help of useful templates, checklists, and sample forms, as well as pointers to essential resources, Ensworth gives concise, easy-to-understand advice on everything needed to hit the ground running--including phases of project development, role assignment in the development team, the tools of the trade, and criteria for success.




The Project Workout


Book Description

"an important book, taking a lead role in growing a new generation of professional project managers." Oded Cohen, The Goldratt Institute. Put yourself and your business through the Project Workout – learn to direct and manage the programmes and projects that will deliver results, drive change and improve the health of your business. Project Workout shows you how to: Identify and overcome common challenges Measure critical success factors in any project Master a staged framework for managing a project Set up your project and manage the team, the schedule, the finances and the risks Develop the soft (interpersonal) and hard (structured management) skills of the effective project manager Manage a portfolio of projects Use project and programme management to direct and deliver change Improve your project tracking and delivery This book is supported by the Project Workout Live online resource (go to www.live.projectworkout.com), A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE ART OF PROJECT AND PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT Projects are an important strategic management tool and a way of life for every business person. But how do you get started and how do you ensure a successful outcome?This 4th edition of the definitive book on business-led project management offers help at every stage, from building a project team right up to reaping the rewards of a timely and successful project. Project Workoutgives you practical, immediately usable methods for directing and managing complete portfolios of projects as well as individual projects. Throughout the books is a collection of Workouts for you to use: exercises, problem posers, and techniques to help you put the book’s advice into practice straightaway. These are also provided on the enclosed CD-ROM, ready for you to print out and use with your team. The CD also contains handy templates including a Health Check, MS Project views and project logs, which can be downloaded to your desktop ready for use. Project Workoutis a valuable companion for project managers and executives at any level and a comprehensive resource for students of project management. About the author Robert Buttrickhas worked in project and programme management in many of the world’s most turbulent industrial sectors,includingtelecommunicationsand system engineering. Recently he has been engaged on a £1bn program to implement health systems in the UK. Before taking up his corporate career in 1993, Robert was with PA Consulting Group, a management and technology consultancy. There, he specialized in business-led project management, advising clients such as Lloyds TSB Bank, National Rivers Authority, Property Services Agency, Avon Industrial Polymers, National Westminster Bank, and RHM. Robert is a Master of Business Administration (Henley Management College), a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. His main pastime is watercolor painting. His one, unknown, claim to fame is that he once stopped a column of Russian tanks dead in its tracks. Robert can be contacted via his website, www.projectworkout.com.




Handbook for Mortals


Book Description

"Zade Holder has always been a free-spirited young woman, from a long dynasty of tarot-card readers, fortunetellers, and practitioners of magick. Growing up in a small town and never quite fitting in, Zade is determined to forge her own path. She leaves her home in Tennessee to break free from her overprotective mother Dela, the local resident spellcaster and fortuneteller. Zade travels to Las Vegas and uses supernatural powers to become part of a premiere magic show led by the infamous magician Charles Spellman. Zade fits right in with his troupe of artists and misfits. After all, when everyone is slightly eccentric, appearing 'normal' is much less important. Behind the scenes of this multimillion-dollar production, Zade finds herself caught in a love triangle with Mac, the show's good-looking but rough-around-the-edges technical director and Jackson, the tall, dark, handsome and charming bandleader. Zade's secrets and the struggle to choose between Mac or Jackson creates reckless tension during the grand finale of the show. Using Chaos magick, which is known for being unpredictable, she tests her abilities as a spellcaster farther than she's ever tried and finds herself at death's door. Her fate is left in the hands of a mortal who does not believe in a world of real magick, a fortuneteller who knew one day Zade would put herself in danger and a dagger with mystical powers"--Amazon.com




The Phoenix Project


Book Description

***Over a half-million sold! And available now, the Wall Street Journal Bestselling sequel The Unicorn Project*** “Every person involved in a failed IT project should be forced to read this book.”—TIM O'REILLY, Founder & CEO of O'Reilly Media “The Phoenix Project is a must read for business and IT executives who are struggling with the growing complexity of IT.”—JIM WHITEHURST, President and CEO, Red Hat, Inc. Five years after this sleeper hit took on the world of IT and flipped it on it's head, the 5th Anniversary Edition of The Phoenix Project continues to guide IT in the DevOps revolution. In this newly updated and expanded edition of the bestselling The Phoenix Project, co-author Gene Kim includes a new afterword and a deeper delve into the Three Ways as described in The DevOps Handbook. Bill, an IT manager at Parts Unlimited, has been tasked with taking on a project critical to the future of the business, code named Phoenix Project. But the project is massively over budget and behind schedule. The CEO demands Bill must fix the mess in ninety days or else Bill's entire department will be outsourced. With the help of a prospective board member and his mysterious philosophy of The Three Ways, Bill starts to see that IT work has more in common with a manufacturing plant work than he ever imagined. With the clock ticking, Bill must organize work flow streamline interdepartmental communications, and effectively serve the other business functions at Parts Unlimited. In a fast-paced and entertaining style, three luminaries of the DevOps movement deliver a story that anyone who works in IT will recognize. Readers will not only learn how to improve their own IT organizations, they'll never view IT the same way again. “This book is a gripping read that captures brilliantly the dilemmas that face companies which depend on IT, and offers real-world solutions.”—JEZ HUMBLE, Co-author of Continuous Delivery, Lean Enterprise, Accelerate, and The DevOps Handbook