BOOK REVIEW
Book Title: The Ultimate Guide to RAID Log: The only tool you need to run any project
Author: Kim Essendrup
Publisher: RAIDLog.com
List Price: $14.99
Format: Paperback, 102 pages
Publication Date: November 2022
ISBN: 979-8987375204
Reviewer: Dr. Joshua Cunio
Review Date: January 2025
Introduction
Kim Essendrup’s The Ultimate Guide to RAID Log masterfully introduces readers to one of the most versatile tools in project management. RAID (Risks, Actions, Issues, Decisions) logs are a project manager’s compass, helping navigate challenges and organize essential information. Essendrup’s practical approach transforms this seemingly simple tool into a strategic asset, ensuring project managers can drive success through proactive and informed decision-making.
Overview of Book’s Structure
The book begins by exploring the foundational importance of RAID logs and their role in fostering transparency, collaboration, and accountability within projects. The author divides the book into three key sections:
- Understanding RAID Logs: This section delves into what RAID logs are, their components, and their relevance to project success. Essendrup skillfully connects theory with practice by illustrating how these logs provide clarity and structure in chaotic project environments.
- Implementing RAID Logs: Here, Essendrup outlines step-by-step guidance for creating and maintaining RAID logs. The section includes practical templates, examples, and common pitfalls to avoid.
- Mastering RAID Logs: The book concludes with advanced techniques, such as customizing RAID logs for complex projects and leveraging them as communication tools to build trust among stakeholders.
Essendrup’s conversational tone and actionable insights make the book a valuable resource for project managers at any experience level.
Highlights
One of the book’s standout features is its accessibility, making it a practical guide for both seasoned professionals and those new to project management. Essendrup writes with clarity and precision, stripping away unnecessary jargon and focusing on the actionable aspects of RAID logs. His straightforward explanations ensure that the concepts resonate with readers from diverse industries, enabling them to apply the lessons learned directly to their unique project environments.
A particularly noteworthy aspect of the book is the inclusion of case studies in each section. These real-world examples elevate the content from theoretical discussion to tangible application. Each case study illustrates how project managers across different industries have successfully implemented RAID logs to overcome specific challenges. For instance, readers are walked through scenarios where RAID logs were instrumental in identifying and mitigating project risks before they escalated, addressing unforeseen issues in a timely manner, and documenting critical decisions to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
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How to cite this work: Cunio, J. D. (2025). The Ultimate Guide to RAID Log: The only tool you need to run any project, book review; PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue II, February. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pmwj149-Feb2025-Cunio-Ultimate-Guide-to-RAID-Log-Book-Review.pdf
About the Reviewer
Dr. Joshua Cunio
Texas, USA
Dr. Joshua Cunio is the Managing Director of P3M Strategies and PILL Framework, and the author of The Project Manager’s Guide to Lessons Learned. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration with a specialization in Project Management from National University, a MS in Project Management from Post University, a Graduate Diploma in Project Portfolio Management from the Institute of Project Management (Sydney, Australia), and a BS in Criminal Justice from California Coast University.
Dr. Cunio is a highly credentialed professional with numerous project and business management-related qualifications, including Project Management Professional (PMP), NeuralPlan Project Planning Qualification (NPPQ), Business Development Professional (BDP), Agile Scrum Professional (ASP), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Certified Manager (CM), Certified Agile Director, Certified Project Director (CPD), Certified Project Trainer (CPT), and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (LSSMBB).
As a thought leader in the field, Dr. Cunio’s research focuses on advancing project management practices, exploring causality in project, program, and portfolio outcomes, and enhancing performance metrics. His book, The Project Manager’s Guide to Lessons Learned, provides practical insights into leveraging lessons learned to drive project success. Dr. Cunio bridges the gap between theory and practice, contributing valuable insights to both academia and industry. Dr. Cunio can be contacted at jcunio06@gmail.com
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