The project management answer book /

Ch. 1. Project management basics --
Projects, PMs, project management and programs --
Project kickoff documents --
Processes and phases --
The PMBOK® Guide and PMI --
The work of project management --
A few more key management fundamentals --
Top ten pitfalls to avoid when starting a project --
ch. 2. Project planning essentials --
Planning basics --
Historical information and lessons learned --
How organizational factors affect planning --
The baseline --
The project plan --
Pre-planning --
Top ten pitfalls to avoid when planning a project --
ch. 3. From requirement to scope to the WBS --
Preliminary PM documents --
Requirements gathering --
Scope --
The work breakdown structure --
Top ten pitfalls to avoid in going from requirements to scope to the WBS --
ch. 4. Time management : estimating and coming in on schedule --
The triple constraint --
Estimation --
Developing the schedule --
Dependencies --
Schedule compression and resource leveling --
The critical path method --
Float --
Convergent paths --
Building safeguards into the schedule : contingency, delays, and leads --
Critical chain theory and the theory of constraints --
Top ten time management pitfalls to avoid --
ch. 5. Cost management : controlling costs and coming in on budget --
Foundational cost concepts --
Managing costs --
PMI cost process 1 : estimating costs --
PMI cost process 2 : determining the budget --
PMI cost process 3 : controlling costs --
The earned value formulas --
A few key cost and accounting concepts used in selecting projects --
Top ten pitfalls to avoid in cost management --
ch. 6. Building in quality --
Fundamental quality concepts --
Anatomy of a few recent quality scandals : what went wrong and lessons learned --
Planning how you will design and conduct your testing --
Best practices for quality testing --
The three PMI quality management processes --
The basic tools of quality --
Quality certifications --
Top ten quality management pitfalls --
Answers to the self test at the end of A50 --
ch. 7. Controlling risks on your projects --
Key definitions and terms --
Reserve analysis --
Risk planning --
Identifying risks --
Responding to risks --
Risk analysis --
The last risk process : monitoring and controlling risks --
A few more important risk concepts, tools, and strategies --
Top ten project risk management pitfalls --
ch. 8. Procurement and contracts --
Procurement --
Contracts and contract types --
The statement of work --
Bidding and evaluation --
The buy-or-build decision --
Sole source versus single source procurement --
Proposals and related documents --
A few more key terms and concepts --
Legal documents and terms PMs should know about --
Project closeout --
Top ten pitfalls in procurements and contracts on the customer side --
Top five pitfalls to avoid on the seller's side --
Top five pitfalls to avoid on both the buyer's and seller's sides --
ch. 9. Ethical considerations PMs face on the job --
Ethics in project management --
Managing others' expectations ethically --
Escalation, whistle-blowing, and ethics boards --
Unethical behavior --
Avoiding unethical behavior --
Other ethical considerations --
Creating an ethical workplace --
Top ten ethical pitfalls --
ch. 10. Communication skills for PMs --
Listening skills and emotional intelligence --
The PMI communications management processes --
Communicating with stakeholders --
Using communication technologies --
Agreement and diplomacy --
Communication practices to avoid --
Top ten written communication pitfalls --
Top ten face-to-face communication pitfalls on projects --
ch. 11. Managing your human resources --
Project management environments --
Human resources management processes --
Developing the human resources plan --
Acquiring the team --
Developing the project team --
Motivational theories in project management --
Team-building and awards --
The five forms of power in project management --
Managing conflict --
Team roles --
Top ten human resources pitfalls for PMs to avoid --
ch. 12. Leadership best practices --
Sustainability --
Elements of leadership --
Fostering a positive PM environment --
Reviewing performance --
Managing low-performing employees --
Meetings --
Mentoring and training --
Presentations --
Collocation --
Virtual teams --
Management and leadership problems --
Top ten pitfalls to avoid in leadership --
ch. 13. How to become PMP® certified --
The basics --
Applying to take the PMP® certification exam --
Other project management certifications --
About the PMP® exam : logistics and tips --
Preparing for the PMP® certification exam : prep classes and other resources --
Studying for the PMP® certification exam --
Top ten pitfalls to avoid in the PMP® certification process and on the exam --
Final words --
Appendix A. Networking tips and social media for PMs --
Appendix B. The formulas PMs need to know for certification exams --
Appendix C. Quick study sheet for the processes covered on the PMP® exam

Includes advice and information for those involved in project management. This title offers real-world tips, practical techniques and worldwide practices. It includes topics such as: bringing projects in on time, on budget and on scope; controlling risks; building quality into a project; and, making use of the appropriate management tools.