Just Enough Project Management: The Indispensable Four-step Process for Managing Any Project, Better, Faster, Cheaper by Curtis Cook

by Curtis R. Cook

Practical, proven techniques for managing today's smaller, more mission-critical projects Managers who can bring projects in on time, under budget, and within specs are among the most valuable and marketable in today's project-driven environment. Just Enough Project Management -- written by globally renowned project management authority Curtis R. Cook--is a quick-hitting, no-nonsense pocket guide on how to successfully handle projects of any size, in any environment. This versatile book's one-of-a-kind, customizable templates free managers from the time-consuming process of having to reinvent basic techniques and methods from one project to the next. Valuable for projects of every size, but especially helpful for today's newer breed of tighter, more focused projects, Just Enough Project Management will help project managers

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published October 20, 2004

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not knowing much about project management and not having used the processes and principles in this book, I can't really comment on how accurate or useful it is as a whole. I read it because my boss was passing out copies to help deal with a big project I didn't end up being able to work on.

However, "Chapter 7: Juggling Multiple Projects and Dealing with Project Overload" was really useful to me. My life is usually full of multiple small projects, not things that need a whole project management book, so that chapter was great. I had seen the four squares representing degrees of urgence/importance before, but hadn't heard an explanation of what that looks like in reality, i.e. surfing the web or handling emails is usually not urgent and not important, but it's something we do when we feel overwhelmed. And we feel overwhelmed because our important tasks aren't broken down into manageable steps, or our expectations of how fast they should get done are unrealistic. That's me right there.

A good quote: "Sometimes the work we haven't yet begun becomes, in our imagination, a huge undertaking. By bringing it out into the open, we see its real size and challenges." (p. 113)

Yes.

[Vinod VN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary and engaging!

I liked the simple and practical solutions discussed, although i would have a bit of more detail..
Recommended for people with a bit of experience in project management.

[Annie Dorsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is aptly named "Just Enough". Was grateful for only the best practices, practical tips, and no further discussion.

Short, concise, and helpful: would recommend to anyone who touches project / product.

[Laura Knaapen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good, short intro to project management basics. The work that needs to be done regardless of the software tools you may use.

[Kyle Kiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abridged PMBOK

Curtis Cook did a great job of hitting the PMI PMBOK from 25,000 feet. He stated his intention up front. Its possible to hold the PMBOK structure on small projects and he does a good job relating the concepts to small projects; put the emphasis on planning. Recommended read, especially if your not PMI CERTIFIED. He stays out of the weeds.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect manual for everyone who thinks the PMI template used by PMPs is make-work and overkill. Most projects don't require 2 days of effort documenting and linking tasks in MS Project. A 2 hour read that will save you 40 hrs of PMP certification coursework.

[Dana * · Rating 2 out of 5]

The usual information about project management, no true short cuts, you are not going to find a tried and true way to downsize or strip a process to streamline your project managment. It is adequate as a PM process book just as much as any other book would be.

[Patrick Quirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone with 15 years of PM experience, I didn't find this book very useful, but someone just getting into project management for a small business might find it useful.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you need to get organized