Results Without Authority : Controlling a Project When the Team Doesn't Report to You

For project managers looking to establish credibility and drive winning results, author Tom Kendrick’s groundbreaking system provides the key to leading cross-functional, outsourced, and other types of teams through every stage of the project cycle. Results without Authority is the definitive book on control--teaching the three principal levels of control, including project process, influence, and metrics, among other important areas. Readers learn the surefire way to keep projects moving forward: by relying only on these factors. The book’s completely updated second edition includes new information on agile methods and evolving project management tools, strategies for working with virtual teams, analytical versus “blink” decision processes, the use (and misuse) of social media in project environments, and the myth of multitasking. For project leaders lacking clear-cut authority, getting everyone on board--and keeping them there--can be a challenge. Whether you’re managing small, team-level projects or major organizational initiatives, Results without Authority is the must-have guide to getting the best outcomes for your company. Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1. CONTROL OF PROJECTS Who's in Charge? Structure of This Book Elements of Project Control No One Ever Said That Projects Are Easy 2. CONTROL THROUGH PROCESS Project Management Processes Quality Management Project Infrastructure The Project Management Office Key Ideas for Project Processes 3. CONTROL THROUGH INFLUENCE Appropriate Leadership Styles Getting Through Giving Enhancing Influence Maintaining Relationships Key Ideas for Influencing 4. CONTROL THROUGH PROJECT METRICS Desired Behaviors Types and Uses of Project Metrics Measurement Definition and Baselines Potential Problems and Measurement Barriers Key Ideas for Project Metrics 5. CONTROL BEGINS WITH PROJECT INITIATION Sponsorship Project Vision Project Launch Start-Up Workshops Projects with Cross-Functional, Distributed, and Global Team Members Key Ideas for Project Initiation 6. BUILDING CONTROL THROUGH PROJECT PLANNING Plan Collaboratively Measure Your Plan Set a Realistic Project Baseline Use Your Plan Key Ideas for Project Planning 7. MAINTAINING CONTROL DURING PROJECT EXECUTION Deploying Status-Based Metrics Status Collection Informal Communication Maintaining Relationships Keeping Your Team Focused Key Ideas for Project Execution 8. TRACKING AND MONITORING FOR PROJECT CONTROL Scope and Specification Change Management Overall Control Formal Communication Rewards and Recognition Project Reviews for Lengthy Projects Project Cancellation Control Challenges Key Ideas for Project Tracking and Monitoring 9. ENHANCING OVERALL CONTROL THROUGH PROJECT CLOSURE Delivering Your Results and Getting Sign-Off Employing Retrospective Project Metrics Administrative Closure Celebration and Team Rewards Capturing Lessons Learned Key Ideas for Project Closure 10. CONCLUSION APPENDIX A: EXAMPLE PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS APPENDIX B: SELECTED REFERENCES INDEX For project managers looking to establish credibility and drive winning results, author Tom Kendrick's groundbreaking system provides the key to leading cross-functional, outsourced, and other types of teams through every stage of the project cycle. Results Without Authority is the definitive book on control—teaching the three principal levels of control, including project process, influence, and metrics, among other important areas. You learn the surefire way to keep projects moving forward: by relying only on these factors. The book's completely updated second edition includes new information on: agile methods and evolving project management tools, strategies for working with virtual teams, analytical versus "blink" decision processes, the use (and misuse) of social media in project environments, and the myth of multitasking. For project leaders lacking clear-cut authority, getting everyone on board—and keeping them there—can be a challenge. Whether you're managing small, team-level projects or major organizational initiatives, Results Without Authority is the must-have guide to getting the best outcomes for your company. It's tricky enough to spearhead a big project when you're the boss. But when you're the leader of a team of people who don't report to you, the obstacles are even greater. Results Without Authority a book for project managers looking to establish credibility and control. It supplies a start-to-finish system for getting successful project results from cross-functional, outsourced, and other types of teams. The completely updated second edition includes new information on: agile methods and evolving project management tools and strategies for working "When you're a project manager with a team of people who don't technically report to you, your challenge is to get Results Without Authority. This book delivers proven techniques for controlling projects and managing diverse teams in a wide variety of situations, and bringing those projects to successful closure. The concepts in this book are essential for all project managers, with and without authority, because they offer a productive alternative to "command and control" management techniques that can easily backfire."--Back cover Leading a team of people who don't report to you is a tricky endeavor--and an essential feature of a project manager's role. Discover the start-to-finish system for getting others to deliver top results. When you’re in charge, but you’re not “the boss,” how can you get a project done? This book provides the answers you need!