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ID Project
Management: Tools and Techniques for Instructional Designers and
Developers
ID Project Management, the
award-winning text by Michael Greer, is a book of tools to help
project managers take control of their instructional development
projects.
Background | What This
Book Can Do For You | Table of Contents | List of Tools and Techniques | What the Reviewers Say
| How
to Order
As most instructional design (ID) professionals
know, there are all sorts of models and tools available to help
organize the development process. But the job of the ID project
manager is not so well defined. Like any manager, the ID
project manager must complete projects within limited budgets and
schedules. Yet good instructional design and development
principles often collide with these "bottom-line"
constraints. ID project managers must therefore walk a
tightrope, suspended between their own ID conscience and their
management's requirements for fast, cost-effective training.
Faced with these pressures, it is difficult to create
high-quality instructional materials. To be effective, a good
project manager must be able to perform exactly the right
management interventions at exactly the right times.
By providing a conceptual framework (a 10-step project management
model) and the tools and techniques to
make interventions within this framework, this book will help ID
project managers quickly determine the proper course of action at
any point in the development process. Specifically, this
book presents 37 different tools (worksheets, guidelines,
checklists) and describes how you can use them to get concrete
answers to questions like these:
 | What are the types and amounts of
instructional materials we will need to develop? |
 | How long will it take to draft, revise,
test, and produce these materials? |
 | How much will it cost (i.e., how much
should I budget) to develop these materials? |
 | What are some specific roles and
responsibilities I should assign to each member of my
development team? |
 | What events should I include in my project
schedule? |
 | What are the critical components of a
Project Diary? |
 | What specific directions should I provide
reviewers and subject matter experts (SMEs) when they
review drafts? |
 | How do I organize and execute a "test
run" of my materials and then conduct an effective
debriefing of participants? |
If you plan, manage, or help to manage ID
projects, this book is likely to save you time, frustration, and
money by helping you make sure your ID team gets the job done
right the first time.
Preface (pages xv - xvi)
 | Our Goals |
 | What This Book Is Not About! |
 | Why ID Project Management |
 | Is This Book for You? |
Chapter 1: An Overview of ID Project Management
(pages 1 - 14)
 | A Distinction: ID Projects vs. Ongoing ID
Programs |
 | Manager or Juggler? |
 | Assumptions |
 | A Typical ID Project Management Model
 | Phase I: Project Planning |
 | Phase II: Instructional
Development |
 | Phase III: Follow Up |
|
 | The Job of the Project Manager
 | Phase I: Project Planning |
 | Phase II: Instructional
Development |
 | Phase III: Follow Up |
|
 | Conclusion |
Chapter 2: How to Determine Project Scope
(pages 15 - 64)
 | The Big Picture |
 | Estimating Required Materials
 | Typical Materials Created |
 | Tools for Estimating Materials |
 | Case Study Example 1: Estimating
Materials Required |
|
 | Estimating Time Required
 | Consulting Time |
 | Development Time |
 | Tools for Estimating Time Required
|
 | Case Study Example 2: Estimating
Time Required |
 | Arrgh! It's Going to Take Too
Long! |
|
 | Estimating Project Costs
 | Two Types of Project Costs |
 | Figuring Project Costs |
 | Case Study Example 3: Estimating
Project Costs |
 | Arrgh! It's Going to Cost Too
Much! |
|
 | Conclusion |
Chapter 3: How to Organize the Project (pages
65 - 94)
 | Overview |
 | Confirm Project Assumptions |
 | Assemble the Project Team
 | It's Okay to Combine
Roles...Sometimes |
 | Find the Right SMEs |
 | Expect Your Sponsor to Filter SME
Input |
 | Hire the Right Designers |
 | Project Roles & Project
Decision-Making |
|
 | Set Up the Project Diary
 | Two Powerful Tools |
|
 | Hold the Kickoff Meeting |
 | Conclusion |
Chapter 4: How to Gather Information (pages 95
- 108)
 | Overview of Step 3: Gather Information |
 | Planning to Gather Information |
 | Stimulating Action |
 | Intervening |
 | Conclusion |
Chapter 5: How to Develop the Blueprint (pages
109 - 118)
 | What's a Blueprint? |
 | Why Bother Developing a Blueprint? |
 | Your Role as Manager
 | Brainstorm Instructional
Strategies |
 | Develop the Blueprint |
 | Quality-Assure (QA) the Blueprint |
 | Distribute to Reviewers |
 | Obtain Feedback and Sign-off |
|
 | Conclusion |
Chapter 6: How to Create Draft Materials (pages
119 - 130)
 | What Are Draft Materials? |
 | Why Bother Creating Draft Materials? |
 | What Should Your Drafts Include? |
 | Your Role as Manager
 | Create Draft Materials |
 | Quality-Assure (QA) |
 | Distribute to Reviewers |
 | Obtain Feedback and Sign-off |
 | Revise for Testing |
|
 | Conclusion |
Chapter 7: How to Test Draft Materials (pages
131 - 148)
 | Some Distinctions and a Definition |
 | Why Bother Testing Draft Materials? |
 | Your Role as Manager
 | Obtain Test Subjects |
 | Prepare for the Test |
 | Conduct the Test |
 | Debrief |
 | Determine Revisions |
|
 | Conclusion |
Chapter 8: How to Produce Master Materials
(pages 149 - 164)
 | Where Production Fits In |
 | Instructional Integrity Versus Production
Values |
 | Your Role as Manager
 | Orient Producers |
 | Establish Production Method and
Schedule |
 | Review Samples |
 | Attend Production Sessions |
 | Obtain Sponsor Approval |
|
 | Conclusion |
Chapter 9: How to Manage Reproduction and
Distribution (pages 165 - 178)
 | About Reproduction and Distribution |
 | Your Role as Manager
 | Orient Reproduction and
Distribution Team |
 | Confirm Reproduction/Distribution
Methodand Schedule |
 | Review Samples |
 | Inspect Storage and Distribution
System |
 | Obtain Sponsor Approval |
|
 | Conclusion |
Chapter 10: How to Manage Follow-Up Evaluation
(pages 179 - 187)
 | Two Assumptions
 | Caution: Seek Expert Advice |
|
 | About Follow-Up Evaluation |
 | Typical Tasks in Follow-Up Evaluation
 | Define Objectives and Select a
Strategy |
 | Develop Tools |
 | Implement the Strategy |
 | Synthesize and Analyze |
 | Report and Recommend |
|
 | Conclusion |
 | Some Final Thoughts (pages 188 - 190)
 | Hire the Best People You Can |
 | Get the Trivia Out of Their Way |
 | Plan and Replan Daily |
|
Appendix A: Working with Vendors (pages 191
- 218)
 | What Is a Vendor, Anyway? |
 | Four Types of Vendors
 | The Large National Vendor |
 | The Large Regional Vendor |
 | The Vendor Mhocracy |
 | The Independent Consultant |
 | Which Vendor Organization Is Right
for You? |
|
 | Selecting and Managing Vendors
 | Decide If You Need a Vendor |
 | Create a Request for Proposal
(RFP) |
 | Hold a Bidder's Conference |
 | Select the Best Vendor |
 | Negotiate the Vendor Contract |
 | Deal with the Paperwork |
|
 | Conclusion |
Appendix B: Manager Activities Summaries (pages
219 - 222)
Suggested Readings and References (pages 223 -
224)
Index (pages 225 - 227)
To Support ID Project Planning
 | Worksheet: Estimating Materials Required |
 | Rules of Thumb: Estimating Materials
Required |
 | Worksheet: Estimating Project Time |
 | Typical Rules of Thumb for Estimating Time
|
 | Worksheet: Estimating Project Costs |
 | Guidelines for Confirming Project
Assumptions |
 | Who's Who on Your Project Team: A
Reference Aid |
 | The Project Diary: Guidelines and Samples |
 | Planning the Kickoff Meeting |
 | Worksheet: The Project Calendar |
To Support Gathering Information
 | Worksheet: What Information Is Missing? |
 | Checklist: Potential Information Gathering
Strategies |
 | Worksheet: Tightening Your Information
Gathering Strategy |
 | Intervention Guidelines: Gathering
Information |
To Support Creation of Blueprint (Design
Document)
 | Criteria for Internal QA of Blueprint |
 | Sample Cover Letter to Reviewers of the
Blueprint |
To Support Creation of Draft
Instructional Materials
 | Suggested Guidelines for Internal QA of
Drafts |
 | Sample Cover Letter to Reviewers of the
Draft Materials |
To Support Testing of Draft Materials
(Developmental or formative testing)
 | Guidelines for Obtaining Test Subjects |
 | Checklist: Test Preparation Chores |
 | Guidelines for Conducting the Test |
 | Test Debriefing Guidelines |
 | How to Determine Revisions |
To Support Production, Reproduction, and
Distribution of Instructional Materials
 | Guidelines for the Production Orientation
Meeting |
 | Typical Production Checkpoints |
 | Print Production Evaluation Checklist |
 | Audio-Visual Production Evaluation
Checklist |
 | Guidelines for the Reproduction and
Distribution Orientation |
 | Meeting |
 | Reproduction Evaluation Checklist |
 | Sample Reproduction and Distribution
Checkpoints |
 | Important Features of a Storage and
Distribution System |
To Support Vendor Selection and
Management
 | Decision Aid: Do We Need a Vendor? |
 | Guidelines for Creating the Request for
Proposal (RFP) |
 | Guidelines for Planning the Bidder's
Conference |
 | Decision Aid: Select the Best Vendor |
 | Guidelines for Negotiating the Vendor
Contract |
 | Invoice Tracker |
In 1992 the Association for Educational
Communications & Technology's (AECT's) Division of
Instructional Development awarded ID Project Management
its "ID Tool of the Year" award because of its unique
contribution to the management of instructional development.
What's more, the series of articles on which the book is
based was awarded ISPI 's (formerly NSPI) Outstanding Article
Series.
ID professionals agree, the material
in this book is powerful. Here is some reviewers have
said:
- "... Mike's book, ID Project
Management, is a real life saver... specifically
targeted at people who manage ID projects... very much a
"how to" book... Mike offers numerous tips,
techniques, and tools that are guaranteed to help save
you and your clients time, aggravation, and money... The
most enduring value of the book lies in its extensive
collection of job aids... 37 worksheets, guidelines and
checklists...you will refer to again and again."
Jerry Rosen, Performance and Instruction,
May/June 1992
- "The scope of the book is wide, and
follows an ID project through a logical sequence from
start to finish in ten steps... I feel that this book is
a very worthwhile addition to the professional library of
any Human Performance consultant.. Whether s/he is just a
beginner who needs a lot of guidance in approaching a
new, confusing, and perhaps overwhelming task, or an
"old pro" who will find a fresh approach and/or
some handy job aids useful. I'm certainly glad that I've
got it on my bookshelf, but I'm afraid that it won't
retain its shiny new condition for very long."
Richard H. Miller, Columbia Northwest Chapter
NSPI Newsletter, Spring 1992.
- "This book is a compilation of tools
and techniques that have a proven track record...A
synthesis of patterns and practices observed by Michael
Greer over the past twenty years. The book is an
impressive resource and guide to those interested in ID
Project Management. It is full of easy to use worksheets,
guidelines, rules of thumb, and suggestions. It is
especially exciting to see a book that follows sound ID
concepts internally: varied text styles and font sizes,
visually well organized, uncluttered pages, etc. It is
thorough and well-written and would be a valuable
addition to the personal library of any Instructional
Designer and Developer." Scott Schwab
and Don Smellie (Dept. Head, Dept. of Instructional
Technology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah) writing
in Educational Technology Magazine, March/April
1992
Text Adoptions
A partial list of those who have adopted or
volume-purchased ID Project Management:
Colleges and Universities
 | Clarion University of Pennsylvania |
 | Florida State University |
 | Ithaca College |
 | Portland State University |
 | University of Colorado at Denver |
 | University of Georgia at Athens |
 | University of Northern Colorado |
 | University of Texas Health Science Center
in Houston |
 | University of Toledo |
 | University of Virginia, Charlottesville |
 | Utah State University |
 | Wayne State University, Detroit |
Business and Professional Organizations
 | American Red Cross, Drew Institute |
 | Southern California Edison |
 | Harold Stolovich & Associates |
 | National Education Centers |
 | Corning, Inc. |
 | US Office of Personnel Management |
 | Respironics, Inc. |
 | Hewlett-Packard |
 | Tandem Computer |
 | United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development in Geneva, Switzerland |
 | Web-based distributor for ID
Project Management text: Fatbrain.com |
 | Alternate web-based distributor for ID
Project Management text: Amazon.Com
Books |
 | To order this handbook directly from the publisher, send a
check for $39.95 plus $4 shipping to:
Educational Technology Publications, 7 |
 | Educational Technology Publications FAX (Worldwide): (201) 871-4009 |
 | e-mail: EdTecPubs@aol.com or l
lipsitz@aol.com |
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