Although there are numerous project management resources available, most are either too academic, focus too heavily on IT, or provide quick-fix advice without the theory required to understand why the solutions work. Following and expanding on PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®), Project Management Theory and Practice provides students with a complete overview of project management theory—in language they can easily understand. This classroom-tested textbook translates the abstract model vocabulary and processes from A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), Fourth Edition into accessible discussions complete with contemporary views and projections for the future. The text integrates the organizational environment that surrounds a project to supply students with the well-rounded knowledge of theories, organizational issues, and human behavior needed to manage real-world projects effectively. Providing a clear picture of the state of the art in project management, it details numerous project-related frameworks, including: Enterprise project management Project portfolio management Work breakdown structures Earned value management Professional responsibility Project team productivity The text reaches beyond traditional core project management topics to include discussions on enterprise maturity, virtual and outsourced organizations, project management offices, operational governance, and multi-project management. Filled with numerous end-of-chapter questions, scheduling and budgeting problems, scoping projects, and sample worksheets that illustrate various analytical tools and management decisions, this is the ideal text for classroom use and essential reading for anyone seeking project management certification.

Table of Contents:
Conceptual Overview of the Project Environment Introduction Evolution of Project Management Project Management Body of Knowledge Industry Trends in Project Management Project Types Project Organization Concepts Project Life Cycle Models Quick Start Example Projects as State Change Vehicles Role of Projects in the Organization Project Initiation Defining the Triple Constraints Project Plan Development Scope Management Time Management Cost Management Advanced Planning Models Analyzing Variable Time Estimates Project Simulation Critical Chain Management Model Planning Support Processes Human Resource Management Project Communications Procurement Management Quality Management Risk Management Plan Review and Approval Project Execution—Managing the Plan Project Execution and Control Monitoring and Controlling Techniques Change Management Project and Enterprise Metrics Earned Value Management Tracking Project Progress Enterprise Reporting Using the Balanced Scorecard Closing the Project The Closing Process Contemporary Topics Organizational Maturity Project Portfolio Management Enterprise Project Management Office HR Outsourcing High Productivity Teams Project Governance Professional Ethics and Responsibility Ethical Project Management Practices Appendix A: Financial Metrics Appendix B: Templates Appendix C: Project Repository Architecture Index