Pocket Guide to Project
Management
Table of Contents
How to Use This Handbook
Part I. Your Deliverables, Phases, and Project Life Cycle
Part II: Your Essential Project Actions
Part III: Your Project Management Action Tools
Part I: Your Deliverables, Phases, and Life Cycle
Phase I: Determine Need and Feasibility
Phase III: Create Deliverables Specifications
Phase V: Test & Implement Deliverables
Assignment: Your Unique Project Life Cycle
Worksheet: My Unique Project Life Cycle
Part II: Your Essential Project Actions
Project Phases and the Project Management Processes
Assignment: Your Essential Project Actions
Summary of Key Project Manager Actions & Results
Phases, Processes, and Action Items: Pulling It All Together
Part III: Your Project Management Action Tools
Action Tool: Demonstrate Project Need and Feasibility
Worksheet: Demonstrating Project Need and Feasibility
Action Tool: Obtain Project Authorization
Worksheet: Is This Project Authorized?
Worksheet: The Project Charter
Action Tool: Obtain Authorization for the Phase
Worksheet: Is This Phase Really Authorized?
Action Tool: Describe Project Scope
Checklist: Evaluating Project Scope
Worksheet: Project Scope Statement
Example: Work Breakdown Structure
Action Tool: Define and Sequence Project Activities
Guidelines for Defining and Sequencing Project Activities
Example: Project Network Diagram
Action Tool: Estimate Durations for Activities and Resources Required
Guidelines for Estimating Durations for Activities & Resources Required
Worksheet: Estimating Durations of Activities and Resources Required
Action Tool: Develop a Project Schedule
Guidelines for Developing the Project Schedule
Example: A “Bottom Up” Cost Estimate
Guidelines for Making a “Bottom Up” Cost Estimate
Action Tool: Build a Budget and Spending Plan
Guidelines for Building a Budget and Spending Plan
Optional Action Tool: Create a Formal Quality Plan
Guidelines for Creating a Formal Quality Plan
Optional Action Tool: Create a Formal Project Communications Plan
Guidelines for Developing the Project Communications Plan
Worksheet: Project Communications Planner
Action Tool: Organize and Acquire Staff
Guidelines for Developing the Organizational Plan and Strategy for Acquiring Staff
Worksheet: Project Responsibility/ Accountability Matrix
Guidelines: Tips for Working With Experts Outside Your Area of Expertise
Optional Action Tool: Identify Risks and Plan to Respond
Worksheet: Risk Assessment 7 Response Analyzer
Optional Action Tool: Plan For and Acquire Outside Resources
Guidelines for Planning to Procure Outside Goods or Services
Guidelines for Soliciting Bids for Outside Goods or Services
Guidelines for Selecting the Best Contractor for the Job
Action Tool: Organize the Project Plan
Guidelines for Building the Project Plan
Action Tool: Close Out the Project Planning Phase
Guidelines for Closing out the Project Planning Phase
Action Tool: Revisit the Project Plan and Replan If Needed
Guidelines for Revisiting the Plan and Replanning If Needed
Action Tool: Execute Project Activities
Guidelines for Executing a Project Phase
Guidelines: Keeping Things Moving—A “To-Do” List to Help You Execute, Control, and Close Out Your Project
Worksheet: Project Deliverables Status Analyzer
Guidelines: Handling Scope Change
Worksheet: Project Scope Change Order
Worksheet: The Project Status Report
Worksheet: Project Issue Tracker
Action Tool: Control Project Activities
Guidelines for Controlling a Project Phase
Action Tool: Close Out Project Activities
Worksheet: Sample Sign-Off Form
Appendix A: Potential Shortcuts for Low-Risk Projects
Appendix B: Guidelines—When to Kill the Project
Appendix C: Glossary of Management Terms
References