{"product_id":"9781430239918","title":"No-Drama Project Management: Avoiding Predictable Problems for Project Success","description":"\u003cp\u003e    \u003cem\u003eNo-Drama Project Management: Avoiding Predictable Problems for Project Success\u003c\/em\u003e is a book for project managers who want or need to be more effective. Having a project crash and burn is never a great situation, author \u003cstrong\u003eBart Gerardi\u003c\/strong\u003e explains, but it’s not a career buster—unless the failure appears on the short list of recurring, avoidable problems that can and will pop up during any project. If your project fails due to a lack of planning, for example, expect a trip to the woodshed. Why? Your “unexpected problem” was actually both predictable and avoidable. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  This book is an exploration of the preventable problems that cause project failures and how to steer clear of them. It includes far more than simple rookie mistakes like trying to please the wrong stakeholder or misunderstanding your role on the team. Those who have been around the block a few times will also find tips and insights that can help them reignite a stalled or meandering career. The sections on managing change adroitly or handling truly unexpected challenges, for example, can get veteran project managers back on track. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  There are plenty of books about the \u003cem\u003escience \u003c\/em\u003eof project management that cover such things as creating a work-breakdown structure or a Gantt chart. \u003cem\u003eNo-Drama Project Management\u003c\/em\u003e is about the \u003cem\u003eart\u003c\/em\u003e of project management. It contains methods and techniques—illustrated with stories from Gerardi’s rich store of experiences—that’ll help project managers shine and become promotable. This book: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003eDescribes the common obstacles that all projects face, and how to defuse or avoid them \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eExplains how project managers can hold a mirror to their own  performance and improve it \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eShows project managers how to become masters at expecting the unexpected and thereby ratcheting up their success rates \u003c\/li\u003e  \u003c\/ul\u003e           What you’ll learn\u003cp\u003eThis book shows you how to:\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003eUnderstand the problems that every project faces, and how to avoid them \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eAdjust your management style if it causes problems for your projects \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eDetermine just what your program manager is thinking, and what he or she wants from you \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eMake sure, if your projects fail, that they do so in interesting and educational ways, not mundane ones \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eEnsure that your projects run smoother, with less focus on the mistakes and more on the challenges \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eBecome a top project manager in your company, your field, the world! \u003c\/li\u003e  \u003c\/ul\u003e  Who this book is for      \u003cp\u003e     \u003cem\u003eNo-Drama Project Management: Avoiding Predictable Problems for Project Success\u003c\/em\u003e is for project managers who have had projects go awry in the past and don’t understand why. It is for the project manager who wants to think like a program manager and keep from making the kinds of mistakes that will get them in hot water. It is also for program or portfolio managers who need to help train project managers to keep projects on track by managing the “known unknowns.” Finally, this book is for project managers who are ready to think beyond their current projects and look ahead to a job as a program or portfolio manager.         \u003c\/p\u003e     Table of Contents\u003col\u003e   \u003cli\u003eIntroduction: The No-Drama Project Manager \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eProject Management Success—“What do you mean 'expect the expected'?” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eIdentify Requirements—“Tell me again—what are we trying to do here?” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003ePrioritize—“Which is higher: critical, must-have, or essential?” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eManage Change—“I'm sure we can squeeze that in without adjusting the schedule.” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eAlign with the Client—“Hmm . . . I don't remember talking about that.” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eTesting Assumptions—“Well, when we started this project, we were assuming...” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eIdentify Decision Makers—“You weren't the one to make that call?” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eCommunicate Effectively—“I must not have gotten that email.” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eDevelop a Plan—“Let’s just get started; we know what we need to do.” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003ePrepare for Problems—“Honestly, we really hoped this wouldn’t happen.” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eEstablish Metrics—“What’s the score now?” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eKnow the Roles—“Coach, tell me again where I’m playing?” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eHandling the Truly Unexpected—“Uh oh . . .” \u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003eThe End of Drama \u003c\/li\u003e  \u003c\/ol\u003e","brand":"Apress","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47139379642608,"sku":"9781430239918","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781430239918_p0.jpg?v=1763749804","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781430239918","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}