The Bottom Line
If you have ever been mired in an IT project that is doomed from the start, then this book is a must-read. It will teach project managers as well as team members how to start and manage a sucessful IT project. It is not, however, a study guide for the PMP exam. This book handles high-level project managment concepts and should be used in addition to PMP study guides.
Pros
- Great writing style
- Excellent project scenarios
- Good reference for all IT project managers
Cons
- None
Description
- 235-page spiral-bound book.
- Excellent fictional scenario runs throughout book.
- Very understandable, informative, and well-written.
- Authored by Dick Billows, president of 4PM.
- Good use of figures and screen prints.
Guide Review - Managing Information Technology Projects
Although not geared toward certification, this is an excellent book and should be on every project manager's reading list. It begins with a fictional scenario centered around the "lessons learned" meeting of a failed project. Most of us have suffered through the accusations and frustration involved in this all-too-familiar situation, and the author points out what typically goes wrong on a project and spends the remainder of the book explaining how to do it right. Written in very clear language, all of the tools and concepts critical to project success are provided. Another fictional scenario following the entire lifecycle of a difficult ERP project runs throughout the book and helps drive home key concepts. You will learn how to use Microsoft Project and will find a software appendix at the back of the book, which provides step-by-step instructions for the tasks included in the chapters. If you find your project going awry, take a moment to sit down and read through this book to get back on track. For those seeking certification, you will find most of the information covered on the PMP exam, but this is not the book you should rely on to pass the exam. There is no exam-specific information and "Managing Information Technology Projects" is geared towards advanced PM concepts rather than PMP study topics. I would recommend this in addition to the "Project Manager's Knowledgebase," also published by 4PM (see link below).