Practical Guide to Project Planning

by Ricardo Viana Vargas

Practical Guide to Project Planning is filled with project documents and templates ready to use for planning and managing project. It explains project analysis and modeling techniques so these documents and templates can be used for effective project management. In addition, the book is also a guide to best practices that comply with the PMI’s PMBOK ® 3.0. Throughout the book, a real-world, practical project plan is used to explain all management issues related to a project, including scope, time, costs, quality, human resources, communication, risks, procurement, and integration. This example also covers every stage of implementing a project management office (PMO), from initial analysis to post-deployment review. The text is filled with insightful tips on using the most popular project management tools and software, including Mindmanager for initial planning sessions, Milestone Project Companion for report generation, and Microsoft Project, the most widely used tool for project planning. Project documents discussed in the book are on the accompanying CD ROM, so readers can use them to develop and track their own projects.

232 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Passionate about transforming ideas into action, Ricardo Vargas is a chief advocate in the project economy. Specializing in implementing innovative global initiatives, capital projects and product development, Ricardo has directed dozens of projects across industries and continents, managing more than $20 billion in global initiatives over the past 25 years.

Ricardo shares his expertise with millions of professionals around the globe through his “5 Minutes Podcast,” which he’s hosted since 2007. He has written 15 books on project management, risk and crisis management, and transformation, which have been translated into six languages and sold more than half a million copies. His influence on the sector was affirmed when he became the first Latin American to be elected Chairman of the Project Management Institute.

More than two decades ago, he founded Macrosolutions, a global consulting firm with international operations in energy, infrastructure, IT, oil and finance.

Between 2016 and 2020, Ricardo directed the Brightline Initiative, a Project Management Institute think tank bringing together leading organizations into a coalition dedicated to helping executives bridge the expensive, unproductive gap between ideas and execution.

Prior to his work with Brightline, Ricardo was Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Infrastructure and Project Management Group, leading more than 1,000 projects and $1.2 billion in humanitarian and development projects.

Ricardo holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Federal Fluminense University in Brazil and an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering, a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil.

Reviews

[Ricardo Vargas]

Practical Guide to Project Planning is filled with project documents and templates ready to use for planning and managing project. It explains project analysis and modeling techniques so these documents and templates can be used for effective project management. In addition, the book is also a guide to best practices that comply with the PMI's PMBOK® Guide. Throughout the book, a real-world, practical project plan is used to explain all management issues related to a project, including scope, time, costs, quality, human resources, communications, risk and procurement. Published in English and Brazilian Portuguese.

O livro é preenchido com documentos e modelos prontos para utilização no planejamento e gerenciamento de projetos. Ele explica as principais técnicas de análise e modelamento de forma que esses documentos e modelos podem ser utilizados efetivamente no gerenciamento de projetos. Adicionalmente, o livro é também um guia das melhores práticas contidas no PMBOK® Guide do PMI. Ao longo do livro, um exemplo real e prático é utilizado para explicar todas as questões relacionadas ao gerenciamento do projeto, incluindo escopo, tempo, custos, qualidade, recursos humanos, comunicações e aquisições. Publicado em Português e Inglês.