Introductory Material

(Simplified Introduction to PM Basics)

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Assignment: Your Unique Project Life Cycle

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Worksheet: My Unique Project Life Cycle

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Assignment: Your Essential Project Actions

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Summary of Key Project Manager Actions & Results

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Phases, Processes, and Action Items: Pulling It All Together

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Support for Project Initiation

Worksheet: Demonstrating Project Need and Feasibility

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Worksheet: Is this Project Authorized?

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Worksheet: The Project Charter

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Worksheet: Is This Phase Really Authorized?

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Support for Project Planning

Example: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Chart

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Example: Phased WBS Chart

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Checklist: Evaluating Project Scope

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Worksheet: Project Scope Statement

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Example: Project Network Diagram

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Guidelines for Defining and Sequencing Project Activities

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Guidelines for Estimating Durations for Activities and Resources Required

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(Discussion of Effort versus Duration)

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Example of an Effort/Duration Table

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Worksheet: Estimating Durations, Resources, and Effort

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Examples: Project Schedules

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Guidelines for Developing the Project Schedule

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Example: A “Bottom Up” Cost Estimate

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Guidelines for Making a “Bottom Up” Cost Estimate

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Guidelines for Building a Budget and Spending Plan

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Guidelines for Creating a Formal Quality Plan

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Guidelines for Developing the Project Communications Plan

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Worksheet: Project Communications Planner

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Guidelines for Developing the Organizational Plan and Strategy for Acquiring Staff

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Worksheet: Project Responsibility/Accountability Matrix

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Guidelines for Identifying Risks and Planning to Respond

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Worksheet: Risk Assessment and Response Analyzer

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Guidelines for Planning to Procure Outside Goods or Services

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Guidelines for Soliciting Bids for Outside Goods or Services

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Guidelines for Selecting the Best Contractor for the Job

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Guidelines for Building the Project Plan

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Guidelines for Closing Out the Project Planning Phase

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Guidelines for Revisiting the Plan and Replanning If Needed

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Support for Execution of the Project

Guidelines for Executing a Project Phase

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Guidelines: Ways to Recognize Project Team Members

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Support for Controlling the Project

Guidelines for Controlling a Project Phase

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Guidelines: Keeping Things Moving – A “To Do” List and Items to Help You Execute, Control, and Close Out Your Project

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Worksheet: Project Deliverables Status Analyzer

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Worksheet: Project Variance Analyzer

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Guidelines: Handling Project Scope Change

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Worksheet: Project Scope Change Order

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Worksheet: Project Issue Tracker

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Worksheet: The Project Status Report

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Support for Closing Out Project Activities

Guidelines for Closing Out a Project Phase

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Sample Project “Post Mortem” Review Questions

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Worksheet: Sample Project Sign-Off Form

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Appendices

A: Tips for Managing Experts Outside Your Expertise

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B: Glossary of Project Management Terms

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C: Summary of Key Project Manager Actions and Results

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D: Potential Shortcuts for Low-Risk Projects

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E: Guidelines – When to Kill the Project

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F: Taking Charge of Your Project Manager Software

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G: Selected Project Manager Resources

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References

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Subject Index

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