How to Cheat at IT Project Management – Tutorial Book

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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

From the Back Cover

There is no specific technology covered in this book and so applicable to all. Microsoft Project may be referenced. The IT project management topic is very timely and is gaining attention as companies (and employees) look for ways to do “more with less.

Contents of this How to Cheat at IT Project Management – Tutorial Book

Chapter 1. What’s Project Management Got To Do With IT?

Section 1.1. Introduction
Section 1.2. Business Process Improvement Systems
Section 1.3. Overview of Project Management
Section 1.4. Project Success Factors
Section 1.5. Four Project Constraints
Section 1.6. Projects, Programs, and Portfolios
Section 1.7. Summary
Section 1.8. Solutions Fast Track
Section 1.9. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 2. What’s Corporate Strategy Got To Do With IT?

Section 2.1. Introduction
Section 2.2. Overview of Corporate Strategy in Today’s Environment
Section 2.3. Aligning IT with Corporate Strategy: Taking It One Step Further
Section 2.4. Understanding Your Company’s Strategies
Section 2.5. Developing Your IT Strategy
Section 2.6. Assessing Your Current IT Environment
Section 2.7. Developing Your IT Operational Roadmap
Section 2.8. Summary
Section 2.9. Solutions Fast Track
Section 2.10. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 3. Navigating Corporate Politics

Section 3.1. Introduction
Section 3.2. Corporate Politics: A Primer
Section 3.3. Understanding Sources of Power
Section 3.4. Understanding Methods of Influence
Section 3.5. The Power Paradox
Section 3.6. Working Effectively in a Political Environment
Section 3.7. Breaking Up Political Logjams
Section 3.8. Effective Countermeasures
Section 3.9. Summary
Section 3.10. Solutions Fast Track
Section 3.11. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 4. Managing the IT Project Team

Section 4.1. Introduction
Section 4.2. Today’s Management Environment
Section 4.3. What People Really Want
Section 4.4. Work Styles and the Project Team
Section 4.5. Culture Matters
Section 4.6. Men, Women, and Technology
Section 4.7. Developing High Performance Teams
Section 4.8. Summary
Section 4.9. Solutions Fast Track
Section 4.10. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 5. Defining IT Projects

Section 5.1. Introduction
Section 5.2. Project Management Process Overview
Section 5.3. Project Origins
Section 5.4. Validating the Project Proposal
Section 5.5. Defining the Project
Section 5.6. Developing the Project Proposal
Section 5.7. Identifying the Project Sponsor
Section 5.8. Gaining Validated Project Proposal Approval
Section 5.9. Summary
Section 5.10. Solutions Fast Track
Section 5.11. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 6. Organizing IT Projects

Section 6.1. Introduction
Section 6.2. Identifying Project Objectives
Section 6.3. Identifying Stakeholders
Section 6.4. Identifying Project Requirements
Section 6.5. Refining Project Parameters
Section 6.6. Defining Project Infrastructure
Section 6.7. Defining Project Processes
Section 6.8. Summary
Section 6.9. Solutions Fast Track
Section 6.10. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 7. Quality From the Ground Up

Section 7.1. Introduction
Section 7.2. Quality Overview
Section 7.3. Planning Quality
Section 7.4. Monitoring Quality
Section 7.5. Testing Quality
Section 7.6. Summary
Section 7.7. Solutions Fast Track
Section 7.8. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 8. Forming the IT Project Team

Section 8.1. Introduction
Section 8.2. Identifying Project Team Requirements
Section 8.3. Identifying Staffing Requirements and Constraints
Section 8.4. Defining Roles and Responsibilities
Section 8.5. Acquiring Needed Staff
Section 8.6. Forming the Team
Section 8.7. Summary
Section 8.8. Solutions Fast Track
Section 8.9. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 9. Planning IT Projects

Section 9.1. Introduction
Section 9.2. Creating the Work Breakdown Structure
Section 9.3. Creating A Network Diagram
Section 9.4. Creating the Project Schedule
Section 9.5. Creating the Project Budget
Section 9.6. Identifying Project Risks
Section 9.7. Planning Project Communications
Section 9.8. Finalizing the Project Plan
Section 9.9. Summary
Section 9.10. Solutions Fast Track
Section 9.11. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 10. Managing IT Projects

Section 10.1. Introduction
Section 10.2. Initiating Project Work
Section 10.3. Monitoring Project Progress
Section 10.4. Managing Project Change
Section 10.5. Managing Project Risk
Section 10.6. Managing the Project Team
Section 10.7. Summary
Section 10.8. Solutions Fast Track
Section 10.9. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 11. Tracking IT Projects

Section 11.1. Introduction
Section 11.2. Technical Tracking Tools
Section 11.3. Testing Project Deliverables
Section 11.4. Preparing for Implementation, Deployment, and Operational Transfer
Section 11.5. Resolving Common Project Problems
Section 11.6. Summary
Section 11.7. Solutions Fast Track
Section 11.8. Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 12. Closing Out IT Projects