Project and program management : a competency-based approach /

Choosing the right people to carry out a project is essential to its success. When multiple projects are combined into a complex program, the 'human aspect' becomes even more important. This book is the first to truly balance a complete account of the technical aspects of project and progr...

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator: Springer, Mitchell L., 1959- (Author)
Format: eBook Electronic
Language:English
Language notes:English.
Edition:Third edition.
Imprint: West Lafayette, Indiana. : Purdue University Press, [2016]
Subjects:
Online Access:Click here for full text at Project MUSE
Description
Summary:Choosing the right people to carry out a project is essential to its success. When multiple projects are combined into a complex program, the 'human aspect' becomes even more important. This book is the first to truly balance a complete account of the technical aspects of project and program management with a practical approach to understanding and developing the core competencies required to accomplish desired goals. Drawing on almost thirty years of senior managerial experience in the defense and software industries, where the successful completion of multimillion-dollar projects is a strategic imperative, the author has a unique understanding of both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of program management. On the technical side, this book is a complete introduction to predicting costs, setting schedules, and assessing risks. On the people side, it sheds new light on how to mold different personality types into a team, how to motivate the team's members, and how to produce extraordinary results. After exploring the concept of 'competencies' and showing how people must be at the heart of any organizational decision, Springer focuses on the essential qualities of leadership, the dynamics of teams, and the relationship between a team and the individuals that compose the team. He shows how an inclusive approach is essential to effective decision making. Using these insights, he then details the essential parts of the program management approach, describing the best way to define, organize, and schedule the work to be done, identifying risks and controlling costs during the whole process. This is a uniquely insightful and practical text that will be invaluable reading for all professionals involved in the dynamic field of project and program management. Tested in a number of classes, the second edition includes numerous pedagogical improvements. New research on competency models is presented and more emphasis is placed on the importance for project managers of understanding the global context.
This third edition of Project and Program Management: A Competency-Based Approach expands on the second edition in every chapter. It brings fresh, updated insights gained from years of teaching and research. Specifically, the third edition delves deeper into the qualitative nature of program/project management to deepen the reader's understanding of key concepts. The new edition also expands its approach to instruction to accommodate a variety of learning scenarios, from the new student encountering program/project management for the first time, to the working professional advancing job skills and exploring practical aspects of the multifaceted discipline.
Item Description:Online resource; title from PDF title page (EBSCO, viewed May 31, 2016).
Physical Description:1 online resource (xvii, 468 pages)
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:9781612494562
1612494560
1612494579
9781612494579
Author Notes:Mitchell L. Springer is the executive director of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute at Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana. He has over thirty-five years of theoretical and industry-based practical experience from four disciplines: software engineering, systems engineering, program management, and human resources. Springer possesses a significant strength in pattern recognition, analyzing and improving organizational systems. He is internationally recognized, and has over 150 contributions to scholarship on software development methodologies, management, organizational change, and program management. Springer is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. He received his BS in computer science from Purdue University, and his MBA and doctorate in adult and community education with a cognate in executive development from Ball State University. He is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR & SHRM-SCP), and in Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR). He is a State of Indiana registered domestic mediator.