BOOK REVIEW
Book Title: Managing Business Projects: The Essentials
Author: Frank Einhorn
Publisher: CRC Press
List Price: $69.95
Format: Softcover, 488 pages
Publication Date: 2023
ISBN: 9781032276021
Reviewer: Kevin Dorsey, PMP
Review Date: February 2024
Introduction
Project management fundamentals are widely recognized among engineering, construction, and information technology settings. However, the same principles that lead to a successful deliverable of a new software application can also be used to manage projects in other areas of the business environment.
Managing Business Projects: The Essentials explains these principles and how to apply them specifically to business projects. The book is well suited for new project managers as well as for projects managers experienced in other disciplines. The latter will appreciate the examples contained in the book contrasting business and non-business projects.
Overview of Book’s Structure
The book is organized as a graduate level textbook and split into 4 distinct parts. Part 1 is an overview of the book itself and project fundamentals. It provides basic definitions, methodologies, and explains the roles of the project manager and sponsor. Part 2 covers core elements of business project management such as scope, estimating, scheduling, stakeholder engagement, risk management, change control, and project governance. Part 3 covers issues that are of special significance to business projects. It spends a good amount of time ensuring the reader grasps the concept of tying all activities to the overall business strategy and the business case. It also goes in depth with Organization Change Management (OCM) since most business projects produce some form of policy, application, tool, or process which constitutes a change in the way the organization functions. Ethics, project negotiation, and unique problems associated with business projects are also covered. Part 4 consists of case studies, a study guide, quizzes, and other study materials which are very useful in enhancing student learning.
Highlights
There are distinct differences between business projects and projects of other disciplines. In construction or engineering projects the requirements are well known and understood, whereas in a business project there is usually very little known at the project start. Often times business projects begin with assumptions and those assumptions change as the project evolves. The environment constantly changes, instead of remaining generally constant as with construction projects. To this end, the author discusses the Agile methodology and shows how it can be well suited to a business project.
More…
To read entire Book Review, click here
Dorsey, K. (2020). Managing Business Projects: The Essentials, book review, PM World Journal, Vol. XI, Issue III, March. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pmwj139-Mar2024-Dorsey-managing-business-projects-book-review.pdf
About the Reviewer
Kevin Dorsey
Dallas, Texas, USA
Kevin Dorsey is a Process Improvement project manager for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He provides mentorship and coaching to a team of project managers covering a 14-state region. He also has spent the last 18 years managing projects in the U.S. Army Reserve in addition to serving as a design project manager. He holds a BA from the University of Louisville and holds certifications as a PMP and Six Sigma Green Belt.
Email address: kevin.d.dorsey@outlook.com
Editor’s note: This book review was the result of a partnership between the PM World Journal and the PMI Dallas Chapter. Authors and publishers provide books to the PM World Journal Editor; books are delivered to the PMI Dallas Chapter where they are offered free to PMI members who agree to provide a review within 45 days; book reviews are published in the PM World Journal and PM World Library. Reviewers can normally claim PDU’s for PMP recertification (or continuing education credits for other certifications) upon publication of their book reviews.
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