Improve your project management skills and accomplish more in no time at all 

In these days when projects seem to be bigger and more challenging than ever before, you need to make sure tasks stay on track, meet the budget, and keep everyone in the loop. Enter Project Management For Dummies. This friendly guide starts with the basics of project management and walks you through the different aspects of leading a project to a successful finish. After you’ve navigated your way through a couple of projects, you’ll have the confidence to tackle even bigger (and more important) projects! 

In addition to explaining how to manage projects in a remote work environment, the book offers advice on identifying the right delivery approach, using social media in project management, and deploying agile project management. You’ll also discover:

• What’s new in project management tools and platforms so you can choose the best application for your team 
• How to perfect your project management business document with an emphasis on strategy and business knowledge 
• Details on the shift from process-based approaches to more holistic, principle-based strategies focused on project outcomes 
• Examples of how to turn the strategies into smooth-flowing processes 
• Best practices and suggestions for dealing with difficult or unexpected situations 

If you’re planning to enroll in a project management course or take the Project Management Professionals Certification exam, Project Management For Dummies is the go-to resource to help you prepare. And if you simply want to improve your outcomes, this handy reference will have you and your team completing project goals like ninjas!  

Jonathan L. Portny, MBA, PMP^®, has more than 15 years of experience in the field of project management and is a certified Project Management Professional. His father, Stanley E. Portny, PMP^®, was an internationally recognized expert in project management and the author of all previous editions of Project Management for Dummies.

INTRODUCTION 1

PART 1: GETTING STARTED WITH PROJECT MANAGEMENT 7

CHAPTER 1: Project Management: The Key to Achieving Results 9

CHAPTER 3: Beginning the Journey: The Genesis of a Project 41

CHAPTER 4: Knowing Your Project's Stakeholders: Involving the Right People 63

CHAPTER 5: Clarifying What You're Trying to Accomplish -- And Why 85

CHAPTER 6: Developing Your Game Plan: Getting from Here to There 113

PART 2: PLANNING TIME: DETERMINING WHEN AND HOW MUCH 143

CHAPTER 7: You Want This Project Done When? 145

CHAPTER 8: Establishing Whom You Need, How Much of Their Time, and When 181

CHAPTER 9: Planning for Other Resources and Developing the Budget 207

CHAPTER 10: Venturing into the Unknown: Dealing with Risk 221

PART 3: GROUP WORK: PUTTING YOUR TEAM TOGETHER 243

CHAPTER 11: Aligning the Key Players for Your Project 245

CHAPTER 12: Defining Team Members' Roles and Responsibilities 263

CHAPTER 13: Starting Your Project Team Off on the Right Foot 287

PART 4: STEERING THE SHIP: MANAGING YOUR PROJECT TO SUCCESS 309

CHAPTER 14: Tracking Progress and Maintaining Control 311

CHAPTER 15: Keeping Everyone Informed 339

CHAPTER 16: Encouraging Peak Performance by Providing Effective Leadership 361

CHAPTER 17: Bringing Your Project to Closure 377

PART 5: TAKING YOUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL 391

CHAPTER 18: Using Newer Methods and Resources to Enhance Your Project Management 393

CHAPTER 19: Monitoring Project Performance with Earned Value Management 413

PART 6: THE PART OF TENS 431

CHAPTER 20: Ten Questions to Ask Yourself as You Plan Your Project 433

CHAPTER 21: Ten Tips for Being a Better Project Manager 439

APPENDIX: COMBINING THE TECHNIQUES INTO SMOOTH-FLOWING PROCESSES 443

INDEX 449