Project Management Framework

This book covers the framework of project management, a discipline that is topical in many quarters. The aims of ‘Project Management Framework’ are to understand project management and to stimulate and contribute to a structured way of thinking in applying this discipline. In this work, a systems view to project management is described, based on the realization that management is a synthesis or inverse problem. One of the overriding reasons for writing this book was to counter the myriad of misconceptions and thinking errors that exist amount project management writers and practitioners. In addition, the usage of correct terminology and application of right level of thinking are discussed as factors contributing to the heart of more mature management practices. The subject matter is developed in this edition through looking at the fundamentals of projects and management and subsequently through studying the chronological development of the project life cycle. In order to support theory, numerous case examples from diverse industries are included. Aspects that are generally not available elsewhere are highlighted, whereas project management material that is readily available in other texts has been deliberately omitted. This book is intended to serve students, teachers and practitioners. As only very few prerequisites are needed apart from a basic interest in projects, some exposure to the discipline and a systematic thinking ability, this book serves a broad group of interested readers who want to know more about the discipline. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 12 About the author......Page 14 PART A OVERVIEW......Page 16 CHAPTER 1 Introduction......Page 18 CHAPTER 2 Projects and Project Life Cycles......Page 34 CHAPTER 3 What is Project Management?......Page 66 CHAPTER 4 Systematic General Problem Solving......Page 78 APPENDIX 4/1 Value Management......Page 93 APPENDIX 4/2 Risk Management......Page 99 APPENDIX 4/3 Work Study......Page 109 PART B STARTING A PROJECT OFF......Page 120 CHAPTER 5 Early Project Activities......Page 122 CHAPTER 6 A Project’s Origin......Page 134 CHAPTER 7 Objectives and Constraints......Page 158 CHAPTER 8 Project Scope......Page 186 PART C OTHER LIFE CYCLE ACTIVITIES......Page 198 CHAPTER 9 Other Life Cycle Activities......Page 200 PART D PROJECT EXAMPLES......Page 206 CHAPTER 10 Movie Making......Page 208 CHAPTER 11 Organisational Change......Page 218 CHAPTER 12 Converting to a Project-Based Organisation......Page 230 CHAPTER 13 Technical v Non-Technical Projects......Page 234 CHAPTER 14 Projects with Ill-Defined Scope......Page 242 CHAPTER 15 Fast-Tracked Projects......Page 252 PART E A FRESH LOOK AT PROJECT MANAGEMENT......Page 264 CHAPTER 16 Systems Thinking......Page 266 CHAPTER 17 Staged (Phased) Decomposition of Projects......Page 282 References and Bibliography......Page 296 Subject Index......Page 298 "This book is intended to serve students, teachers and practitioners. As only very few prerequisites are needed apart from a basic interest in projects, some exposure to the discipline and a systematic thinking ability, this book serves a broad group of interested readers who want to know more about the discipline."--BOOK JACKET The aims of the book are to understand project management and to stimulate and contribute to a structured way of thinking in applying this discipline. A systems view to project management is described, based on the realisation that management is a ..