Product Details

• Published on: 1996-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

Customer Reviews

A must for future PMPs...
If you are studying for the PMP exam, this book is a must read. Although some feel that if they have several years of project management experience they shouldn't have to read the book - I disagree. PMI has the goal to provide consistency in project management methodology and terminology. It is very important to read the book and understand PMI's philosophy and terminology for project management.

This book provide a good overview of the PMI project management methodology - for each knowledge area the book provides the various steps along with the inputs, tools and outputs. For people studying for the PMP...this is only one source for studying. The exam requires you to interpret the PMBOK and have a broader knowledge of various PM philosophies.

Still valid even with the 2000 edition available
Why purchase the 1996 edition when the 2000 edition is out? Two reasons: (1) according to the Project Management Institute the PMP examinations conducted in 2001 will use the 1996 edition as one of the principal references, and (2) the 1996 edition is an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standard, designated as Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge IEEE 1490-1998.

This book is nearly identical to the 2000 edition with the following exceptions:

Chapter 2 (2000 edition) adds a brief piece on the role of project offices. Chapter 3 (2000 edition) appears to have taken a few ideas from the British PM standard, PRINCE 2 (PRojects IN a Controlled Environment) because more attention appears to be given to phases and interactions among phases. The 2000 edition also briefly addresses iterative development. Chapters 4 and 11 (2000 edition) more fully address earned value with a lot more material on this topic. Chapter 6 (2000 edition) briefly covers theory of constraints.

I have compared the 1996 and 2000 editions and cannot find any substantial differences between the two other than what I've cited above. However, since the PMI has stated that the 1996 edition is a resource for the 2001 examinations you need to go over this book carefully if you are a PMP candidate in 2001.

This is really a guide, almost an index.
Project Management is not easy stuff, even though many people think all they need is to get a computer package and start using it in order to be project managers. This book is almost an index of the topics you should cover when managing a project, as well as a guide to the Project Management Institute Certification (PMP).

The book does not try to be fun, it is very technical. If you want to get serious about project management, or show off somebody who thinks he/she knows it all about project management, this is a good start point. As I said before, this is almost an index: covers a lot of topics, does not get into the details of almost anything. I would have liked it to includean example of how to put all the techniques together. Nevertheless, I would not say this books is not useful at all, I think it is really meant to be exclusively a guide.

Like the other reviewer, I read this book for a Project Management Course.

If you want to learn how to manage people on projects, and you think they should love their jobs, you should get "Peopleware", by Tom de Marco and Timothy Lister.

For a quick, basic introduction, I think "Fundamentals of Project Management", by Lewis, is almost a "Quick Guide", but you can give this one to busy people, since it is very thin and fun.

For a book that covers human and technical abilities on project management, try "A Survival Guide for Project Managers", by James Taylor.