Title of the book : Successful Project Management (Fourth Edition)

Authors name : Milton D. Rosenau , Gregory D. Githens

Year Published : 2005

Number of Page : 355 pages

ISBN Number : 0-471-68032-X

Part 1 (Projects, Projects Management and Program Management) is obtain about project

is a type of work distinguished from other types of work because projects are temporary, unique

and progressively elaborated. A task is similar to a project in that it is temporary but typically a

project is larger and more complex than a task. Task is just smaller elements of work in a project.

This book presents five managerial functions for project which is include defining, planning,

leading, controlling and completing.

Part 2 (Linking the Project to the Product) is tell about everyone on a project team should

understand the rationale for the project besides the request is not a requirement. Recognize two

distinct organizations where contain of consuming side and delivering side which is have a

different between both of that. Management authorization signals project initiation. Then,

projects are complete when they meet their requirements and have completed the administrative

process of delivering organization where all projects involve agreements.

Part 3 (Balancing Competing Demands with the Triple Constraints) is about the project

planning is the process of developing a model of a project. Modeling is a process of trading off

simplicity for fidelity. The triple constraints helps to evaluate planning assumptions and tradeoffs

in developing planning for the project baseline. The triple constraints also help the project and

customer understand the process of balancing competing demands.

Part 4 (Contracts, Negotiations and Proposal). Contracts are agreements that can be

informal (verbal) or formal (written). Government contracts include numerous special

regulations. A proposal should be made only if a reasonable contract can be negotiated. There

are several contractual forms, including fixed price, firm fixed price, cost plus fixed fee. Both

parties must be prepared to make concessions during negotiations. A proposal is a sales offer

showing that the offered is willing to enter into a contract. Four issues involved in the decisions

to bid a proposal opportunity are the nature of the requirement, the value of project, the

organizations response and ability to win. International projects introduce a special problems

such as unfamiliar business practice, laws and regulations, language,

Part 5 (Planning The Project). The process of planning is one of the most important

elements of the project management and there is a large tool chest that was expose in this

chapter. It is also important to recognize that the plans generated by the planning process

increase the probability that the people will have a common understanding of the project. The

documentation have a value where it given a clear thinking and make communication more

understandable and everyone who involve must receive every plan revision.

Part 6 (Scheduling). In many ways, the worst schedule planning problem is to avoid the

indicated scheduling problems. For instance, the schedule may show that required materials will

not arrive at a needed time. Some people will avoid or dismiss the issue by saying that the

schedule can be adjusted later. The solution is to admit the problem exist and revise the schedule

to overcome it.

Part 7 (Time Estimating and Compressing the Schedule). Time estimating is very

challenging. A network diagram can provide the earliest and latest start and finish dates for each

activity. There are many good technique for compressing a schedule like fast tracking, crashing,

assumptions analysis and so on.

Part 8 (Cost Estimating and Budget). Resource planning is an activity that precedes cost

estimating. Cost estimates can be made top down or bottom up and its good to do both to ensure

that we have valid estimate. Cost budgeting is the process of developing a baseline by combining

the cost estimate with the time schedule. Beside that, a parametric cost estimate may be useful

and simple, especially if our project is reasonably similar to others which historical data are

available.

Part 9 (Project Risk and Issues Management) was shared about the risk involves discrete

events that may or may not happen, whereas issues are certainties that must be resolved. Identify

and evaluate our risk before we developed response. Then, we need to perform risk analysis and

response planning as a team. There are four generic risk-response strategies includes of

avoidance, acceptance, mitigation and transfer. Analysis then will identify both threats and

opportunities. Most technical problem issues is they will be resolved given sufficient time and

money.

Part 10 (Organizational Design for Delivering Projects). Each form of organizational

structure has its advantages and disadvantages. The only problem occurs when project manager

believes that a different organizational form will solve all the organizational problem he or she

experiencing. In fact, no organizational form is perfect for all situations for all the time. Thus,

reorganization is required regularly.

Part 11 (Building the Project Team). Team building is one of the most important

functions of the project manager. This part was discuss about the sources of project personnel

and consider the necessity to compromise by using whomever is available. Then, that is

importance to make a task assignment as means both to assign the work packages and obtain a

commitments.

Part 12 (The Role of Project Manager). The project manager is ultimately responsible for

making the project successful where it will have many competencies. Project manager should

learn how to wield influences and have a creativity to conduct a project.

Part 13 (Project Review). Reviews are important to control a project because it will help

to ensure that the project team member understand and report the issues. Review are a good way

to evaluate variation from baseline and other potential problems with expectations of fostering

agreement on the needed corrective action.

In my opinion, each person that was involve in a constructions industry must have a

learning about Project Management. There are a lot of benefits was contained on this sources. If

we are follow this way, the procedure or steps during the construction process will going smooth

and the project will going follow on a date given. The team member in a construction should

play their role as a way in making a great organization. Beside that, if a construction industry

follow this sources, they will catch a goals and can planning the work to leading a team,

monitoring progress and completing the project. Finally, this sources will gave a great way and

also a quick reference to make a successful construction in Malaysia.