Project managers are no longer judged by the technical success oftheir projects alone. They're also held accountable for theircontributions to the company's financial goals. Yet most projectmanagers don't have the business knowledge necessary to makeproject-based decisions that lead to bottom-line success. In thisbook, Dennis Cohen and Robert Graham, both former universityprofessors and experienced project management consultants, providethe skills that, until now, could only be gained through a graduatedegree and years of hands-on experience. Cohen and Graham walk project managers through basic businessconcepts such as value creation, accounting and finance, strategy,and marketing. They connect these concepts to the decisions projectmanagers face every day. And they make it easy to apply theresulting solutions on the job through a unique business systemscalculator. Readers can use the online calculator in conjunctionwith the book to understand how different project variables affectbusiness outcomes, to determine the overall impact of proposedproject changes, and to evaluate the economic results of manydecisions they make. Cohen and Graham's principles apply equally to projects inbusiness, non-profit, and government organizations. And each one isillustrated through case studies drawn from a range of industries,including pharmaceuticals, the technology sector, even thewinemaking business. Whether the mandate is to get new products tomarket, improve the infrastructure, or better serve customers andclients, this book teaches project managers how to make day-to-daydecisions from an upper-management perspective. And it provides ablueprint for planning and pitching potential projects thatdemonstrates a higher level of business savvy.

Now in its third edition, this project management classic has been updated with an array of field-tested tools to help upper management ensure the success of projects within organizations. For over twenty years, Creating an Environment for Successful Projects has been a staple for upper managers who want to help projects succeed. This new edition includes case studies from companies that have successfully applied the approach, along with practical tools such as templates, surveys, and benchmark reports for savvy leaders who want to ensure project success throughout their organizations. The insights in this book will help management speed projects along instead of getting in their way. All too often, well-intentioned managers put roadblocks in the team's way instead of empowering them with the tools they need to succeed. This approach to project environments, grounded in decades of research and practice, will help you make your organization the most project-friendly it's ever been. Organizational changes rarely work unless upper management is heavily involved. Although project managers are most closely responsible for the success of projects, upper managers are the ones who ultimately create an environment that supports those projects. The way upper managers define, structure, and act toward projects has an important effect on the success or failure of those projects and, consequently, the success or failure of the organization. This book helps all managers understand the need for project management changes and shows how to develop project management as an organizational practice.

Since it was first published in 1997, Creating an Environment for Successful Projects has become a landmark work that shows how to develop project management as an organizational practice. This second edition offers solid, results-oriented advice on how upper management can create an environment that supports the success of special projects and the development of new products. The book also includes a wealth of examples from the authors' workshop participants and readers of the first edition who have successfully implemented these concepts within their organizations. New in the second edition: Ideas and practices about portfolio management to achieve greater overall success from a portfolio of projects Advice for helping project teams come together to become more effective Information for developing the chief project officer Suggestions for implementing project management information systems More descriptions about organizations and people who have used these principles to develop vastly improved environments

The easy way to make sense of managerial economics Does the study of Managerial Economics make your head spin? Relax! This hands-on, friendly guide helps you make sense of complex business concepts and explains to you in plain English how Managerial Economics enhances analytical skills, assists in rational configuration, and aids in problem-solving. Managerial Economics For Dummies gives you a better understanding of all the major concepts you'll encounter in the classroom: supply and demand, elasticity, decision-making, quantitative analysis of business situations, risk analysis, production analysis, pricing analysis, capital budgeting, critical thinking skills, and much more. Tracks to a typical Managerial Economics course Includes easy-to-understand explanations and examples Serves as a valuable classroom supplement If you're enrolled in business courses looking for a supplemental guide to aid your understand of the complex theories associated with this difficult topic, or a manager already in the corporate world looking for a refresher, Managerial Economics For Dummies has you covered.

Creating the Project Office is written for managers who are searching for ways to transform their organizations into more effective and efficient project-based workplaces. As this important book reveals, there is no more effective way to make that change than to create a project office tailored to the needs of the organization. While a project office model leads to better products from projects, it is also a vehicle for generating overall organizational change -- by transforming the organization from function-based to project-based. This model incorporates projects into the very fabric of the organizational strategy and revitalizes organizations, creates competitive advantage, and increases shareholder value.

Also known as Project Management; Combining Technical and Behavioral Approaches for Effective Implementation. Included in this book are discussions of managing people, managing projects, management style, and advantages and disadvantages of matrix design.

Ensure the success of your company's special projects Crisp execution of projects is critical to the survival of today's organizations. This practical book is filled with ideas and examples that will teach you how to build project management competence in your organization. --Lewis E. Platt, chairman, president and CEO, Hewlett-Packard Company Finally, a book that fills the void on how to develop project management as an organizational practice. Using the enviable processes already in place at Hewlett-Packard and other progressive companies as touchstones, Graham and Englund serve up solid, results-oriented advice on how upper management can create an environment that supports the success of special projects, especially the development of new products. Building on an incisive examination of the critical role upper-tier management plays in the overall success of projects, the authors show managers exactly what they must do to support the process and implement project management as an organization-wide directive. Packed with leading-edge, real-world examples, a sample project review and other tools, this book will help your organization make and sustain the cultural changes that encourage a project manager's best work.