The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management - 5th Edition by Eric Verzuh (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The all-inclusive guide to exceptional project management

The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management is the comprehensive guide to real-world project management methods, tools, and techniques. Practical, easy-to-use, and deeply thorough, this book gives you answers you need now. You'll find the cutting-edge ideas and hard-won wisdom of one of the field's leading experts, delivered in short, lively segments that address common management issues. Brief descriptions of important concepts, tips on real-world applications, and compact case studies illustrate the most sought-after skills and the pitfalls you should watch out for. This new fifth edition features new case studies, new information on engaging stakeholders, change management, new guidance on using Agile techniques, and new content that integrates current events and trends in the project management sphere.

Project management is a complex role, with seemingly conflicting demands that must be coordinated into a single, overarching, executable strategy -- all within certain time, resource, and budget constraints. This book shows you how to get it all together and get it done, with expert guidance every step of the way.

• Navigate complex management issues effectively
• Master key concepts and real-world applications
• Learn from case studies of today's leading experts
• Keep your project on track, on time, and on budget

From finding the right sponsor to clarifying objectives to setting a realistic schedule and budget projection, all across different departments, executive levels, or technical domains, project management incorporates a wide range of competencies. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management shows you what you need to know, the best way to do it, and what to watch out for along the way.

From the Back Cover

Project management is a strategic capability for organizations and a popular career track for countless individuals. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management is the classic resource and handy guide to essential project management methods, tools, and techniques. Now in its fifth edition, the text retains its laser-like focus on excellence in project management and outlines the key factors that influence project success. Designed to be practical and easy-to-use, this comprehensive resource is filled with the most recent ideas and time-tested strategies in the field. Author Eric Verzuh--a noted project management expert--delivers the information in short, lively segments that address the underlying principles, strategies, and management issues related to project management.

The revised fifth edition features new content on the vital role that innovation plays in most organizations, as well as fresh case studies that clearly demonstrate successful project management in action, and updated ideas for engaging stakeholders. The text offers details on the discipline of change management and gives suggestions for using Agile techniques for project scheduling. Advice for using Microsoft Project--the most commonly used software application specifically designed for planning and managing projects--is also included. In addition, the author provides references for preparing for the Project Management Institute's Project Management Professional exam.

Step by step, the author reveals how a project begins and the critical actions that bring the necessary stakeholders to agreement on the definition and direction of the project. The book then details the essential planning techniques and the tools that have been used by seasoned project managers to organize information in order to make better decisions. Verzuh reviews the strategies for controlling a project that blends the art and science of project management--building a strong, committed team while at the same time making progress with the plan. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management also contains a proven framework that individuals and organizations can adopt to extend and improve the practice of project management.

Project management is a critical discipline for navigating through today's complex and turbulent work environment. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management is the basic resource that includes concise descriptions of key concepts, tips for applying proven strategies in the real world, illustrative case studies, common pitfalls to avoid, and a review of the most in-demand project management skills.

About the Author

ERIC VERZUH is President of The Versatile Company, a project management training and consulting firm based in Seattle, Washington. His company trains thousands of professionals every year in the fundamentals of successful project management. Verzuh is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute and the author of The Portable MBA in Project Management, published by Wiley. Contact him at www.VersatileCompany.com or e-mail him at EVerzuh@VersatileCompany.com.