Customer Reviews

Project Management For Dummies

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A solid book that introduces many tools and techniques central to project management. If you have to manage projects in addition to doing your "real work" this book is for you. If you're a project manager by profession, you should be past this book by now.

Individuals with any experience in running a project, whether it is a small focused job or a large-scale product development effort, will find subject treatises too fundamental. The chapters lack the in-depth coverage and focus as the apparent goal is to present a broad-based overview of basic concepts in the field of project management.

Here is a guideline to use in deciding whether or not to purchase this book:
How comfortable are you with using the Microsoft Project software?
If you are very comfortable with MS Project, I recommend that you try "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" instead.
If you have never used MS Project and/or have no idea what it does, then you should probably buy this book.

I'm completely new to project management and this books gives me a good overview. Also, it provided me with a lot of practical advices/tools that I could use right away.

Project Management for Dummies isn't really for dummies. It covers a broad range of topics in enough depth that a seasoned veteran of projects can learn something. However, for people who are new to projects, the list of suggestions and guidelines is excellent, the examples are clear and so is the writing. It follows a logical progression through the phases of a project beginning with understanding and rationalizing the reasons for the project, provides practical techniques to break down a project into steps even if you have never done a project like it before, how to schedule it, how to enhance a teams performance, and then sums up the entire book beautifully in chapter 20 and appendix B. This is a must read for anyone that's working in a project environment, if only to see what you're doing written down.

No book can be the end all be all on a subject especially a subject like Project Management. If you're a fair idea of what project management is and want a fare overview than this book can work for you. Even if you are in the field and just want a different perspective to chew on then this book can still work. It is full of the obvious so most of the time you will say that is obvious; however once in a while there i9s an obvious that you obviously did not think of. Some times looking at a book on a subject you a different way you can obtain new insights. Remember there are worlds outside the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge.)

If you thought that the PM was the Prime Minister. Then this book even though it says for dummies can get overwhelming in detail. On the other hand the examples (especially charts) were derived by some secret formula that was not revealed in the book. If you live and breath projects then this book may be too fundamental and disjointed. If you are going for your PMP (Project Management professional) credentials then again this is not the book for you because that is not the purpose of the book. Knowing the subject well you may find the statements too simple and a little degrading.

Bottom line is this is a good book for those that need it. However the is room for Improvement.

This book covers the basics of project management but does not include the "how to" tools to be "the reference guide" for project managers. Perhaps to be a project manager you can't be a dummy.

The author details all of the processes, reporting requirements, and pitfalls that go into managing projects intelligently. A great primer on the subject.

Stan is an excellent trainer (I have attended 2 of his courses), and it turns out he is a good writer, too! He presents PM concepts and tools in an easy-to-understand way with great real-life examples. As a new PM, I have found this book to be a great reference as well as good "flip-through" reading.

This book gives the professional insights of a master of his job. Stanley Portny knows what he is talking about. He allows the average person to read this book and feel knowledgeable in the field of project management. He should be proud of his ability of making such a complicated subject seem so easy. "Dummies" are lucky to have found him.

Had to buy the book for a class and it was a fast read. However, it was more relevant to project management within an organization than simply within a class group, although there were obviously important carryovers.